Community Gardens, week 12

I'm excited to bring you another big week for the community gardens :)

Thanks to our amazing team, we were able to get so much done on Thursday. Take a look at the photos below for details...

Logs and branches all lined up as neatly as possible for the loppers to mulch. I admit, Thursday was not a great day for me, so I didn't carry much at all. The boys did most of the work- Hubby, Graeme, Shane & Mick all worked hard either carrying trees or chopping them down.

Our first plant donation! With thanks to the beautiful, bubbly and generous Lorraine. These bromeliads already have a great space picked out for them- above the new patio/ seating area hubby has already started digging out.

Thank you!

Not easy to see from this distance, but the boys did a great job of removing the wire fence and brush cutting the weeds a bit. This area will soon be opened up. Exciting to slowly but surely create more usable space.

Friday, and the tree loppers are here! When I asked if I could take photos, they gladly obliged :)

The boys in action. The machine was incredibly loud! Even with ear muffs on. It was also faster than I expected. Even with hubby lopping additional weed trees, the boys smashed through the mulching in record time.

It doesn't look too impressive, but this is a great result!

The pile is best appreciated from a distance- it's quite a good amount of mulch to use for the bottom garden beds. After it's let to sit and weed seeds germinate for a few weeks first.

After a week of strong winds, some seedlings didn't fare so well. I replaced them with tough marigolds and daisies. 

These snapdragons are full of buds ready to bloom.

Can't wait to see the whole bed flowering soon.

Little by little, things are starting to come together. We have plans for a bridge, new walkways, a revamped bike track, seating and more! Stay tuned for more updates soon!

A reason to smile

I've got to admit, not feeling particularly chipper lately. Life has been a little, well, colourful these past few months. We've had a pay cut; an extra adult move into a home that was already too small; spare spaces, such as my walk in robe and the kitchen table be turned into mini offices/ study spaces. We've had neighbour complaints about our cars; a prowler that persisted for a few weeks, breaking some property, but nothing police could do. We've had snappy, moody young adults and grown ups; busy schedules; toddler tantrums; viruses; tight uni deadlines; a car to register; unexpected bills. 

We've had to all walk around and leap over power tools and wood as hubby desperately tried to complete a sculpture project without a work space. This blocked the washing machine. When I could wash, it had to be covered with a sheet to prevent sawdust coating it. So much saw dust! Despite much cleaning, it still lingers.

We have a new development going on directly behind us. Five days a week from 7am- 5pm, a shorter day Saturday,  for 6 months, we can expect loud , heavy machinery, foul smells from the swamp ground being dug up and a home that shakes. 

Today, my sweet toddler is extra whingy as she has a tummy bug. 

And, of course, I'm still going through my own hormonal changes and challenges.

All of this makes finding a reason to smile difficult. However, I'm too stubborn to let this current season beat me!

Positives are many! Despite the craziness, I love having my big girls home with me. And I'm very aware, it isn't forever. My eldest has plans to move in the coming months, and with my youngest turning 21 in a matter of weeks, I know the call to independence will lead her off on new adventures all too soon.

So, I'm enjoying the now while I can.

A pay cut is rarely ideal, especially on an already low income. However, it does makes us more determined to give our all to study, God's house and the community gardens. We don't need more stuff anyway. Being a blessing for people, and really, future generations, is what makes a life rich. 

A recent trip to the doctor left me feeling overjoyed. Results came back, and I was thrilled to discover that my cholesterol is the best it has been in years. While I am still going through perimenopause, I'm not yet at the stage where I need to be concerned with my heart or bones, as my estrogen isn't that low yet. I am aware my moods are still a bit erratic at times, but compared to where I was a month ago, I'm miles ahead. I sleep better, eat better, have lost 2 kilo's, am active, and even though I still have dizzy spells and fatigue filled, headachy days, I'm feeling more in control than before. Better days ahead! 

I have a reason to smile.

Today, I will share my favourite smoothy recipe. This smoothy makes me smile, is simple to make and packed with antioxidant goodness, protein and fibre. What I also love about this, other than it's amazing colour and taste, is that it's cheap to make. Beetroot is now a super food, with expensive powders sold to promote healthy eating. Do yourself a favour- buy the real thing! They are quite cheap and easy to prepare. And for the diva's out there (me at times!), just wear gloves when cutting them up :)

Beetroot & Berry Smoothy Serves 1.

ingredients:

1/4 large or 1/2 small beetroot, skin on, chopped roughly

1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

1 heaped tbsp plain yoghurt

1 heaped tsp cinnamon

1 scoop plain, low carb protein powder

1 tsp pysllium husks

1 tsp chia seeds

water

Place all ingredients into a blender or magic bullet.

Blitz until smooth.

Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of www.blenderbabes.com

To all of you out there going through a challenging season, day, week, month, whatever, I hope and pray that you too can find a reason to smile :)

Thanks for reading. Until next time :)

Community Gardens Weeks 8-11

At long last, I am thrilled to bring you another community garden update!

As you will see, quite a lot of work has gone on. Mostly, in the form of collecting pavers. 

Week 8

I was out with a virus, so the boys continued digging a garden path without me.

Week 9

Hubby had been scouring Gumtree for free pavers, and after much searching, we headed off to Mudgeeraba with our trailer for what we thought would be just the one load...

This is the pile we had to collect from. The home owner assumed it would be about 1 cubic metre.

So, it was onto hands and knees, under the giant plant, to clear out paver after paver after paver...only to discover more and more.

I'm glad I'm not easily spooked. So many spiders! I even watched, at eyeball level, a large huntsman spider remove her equally large egg nest out of harms way.

We had a narrow, tree lined side drive to park in, making collection a little difficult. 

Three exhausting loads and a full day later, a Tuesday was well spent! Here is our impressive collection.

The next day, we went to check out another lot of free pavers for collection. A man had purchased a house to renovate, and wanted the pavers gone. We ripped up a few and discovered it wasn't too hard.

This section easily filled our trailer. But this was only a tiny amount of what needed to be removed.

So, the next day, we hired a truck, and rounded up as many helpers as we could. It was hot, hard work, but everyone did a phenomenal effort, clearing practically all of a huge, double driveway. 

From around 9am to 5 pm, our tag team of helpers, and my absolutely amazing hubby, collected tons of pavers. And I overcame my nerves and drove the truck!

This pile was the result of the day! Amazing effort, and more than enough to get the garden paths under way.

Week 10

More paver collection today. This time, the side driveway. I admit, I wasn't much help. Annoying fatigue and dizzy spells hit hard, so I could only do minimal work. My awesome hubby and Ben did a stellar effort though.

I was able to help Ben stack some pavers as he used the matic to pull them up.

Ben did a great job! Hubby too- lifting load after load of pavers into the trailer. He is a machine! Thankfully, we stopped after 2 trailer loads.

My eldest daughter came to the community garden site and helped unload when we got back. Grateful for the help!

Week 11

Though we still have a number of pavers to collect, we decided the best thing to do for now was to lay some and reduce the clutter around the garden. We have stored a lot of pavers! But this was also time for me to do some more relaxing aspects of gardening by sprucing up the front of church.

Hubby attached a hardwood cross to the front of church after removing some shrubs a few weeks back. Another amazing guy, Dale, re-painted the front. And I wanted to freshen up the space by planting some flowers.

I added few snapdragons, lavender, alyssum and verbenas for a splash of colour. It delights me that some adorable kids have taken an interest and like to help me water too :)

Hubby and our 2 awesome work-for-the-dole guys are starting on the path; one laying side pavers, hubby laying the main pattern, and one leveling ahead. I'm the photographer/ paver carrier :)

After the guys left, hubby and I continued. Quite the work-out I must say! 

Even collecting and adding the sand by sweeping it over the pavers is not easy.

Satisfying to see a solid pathway in though.

This week, we also got a tree-lopper in to quote us on the use of a chipper. It's expensive, but means we can make good use of all the trees we have been allowed to remove, and any dead ones we can collect. Ten cubic metres of mulch coming up! That is, after we move ALL of the trees we have cut down back into the clearing for ease of access. Next week promises to be a brilliant workout yet again.

As does the week after. Tony, the guy from whom we have collected the bulk of pavers, is happy to let us collect the remainder as he is still doing renovations and we won't hamper his work. Grateful for the pavers, but aware I need to purchase knee pads like hubby if I'm to survive another epic day!

We have run into a few issues with the gardens. One is the removal of what I now know is Singapore Daisy. This has got to be the most invasive weed I have ever come across. After doing some research, I now know that the reason the weed spray didn't kill it is it doesn't respond to a glyphosate based weed killer.  Lesson learned. 

We have also been a little frustrated by locals, literally using bolt cutters to break through re-wired fences. Traffic still persists, even after my terrible attempt to re-wire the fence last week. Now, they are back to jumping over the gates. Not sure how we will fix the 7 metre gap in the freeway fence though.

And today, hubby informed me that his several acres of marked out walking track ties have been removed and dumped in a hidden pile. I wonder who has time and energy for such activities?! And why would they bother?

As frustrating as setbacks are, we will forge ahead. It does seem apparent that many people aren't aware it's not public land. Soon enough, the place will start to take on new life, people will realise we aren't restricting their old pathways, but creating an amazing new space for everyone to enjoy. 

Setbacks won't stop us, we just need to get creative, and be as persistent and hard to stop as a Singapore Daisy!

I look forward to bringing more updates soon :) 

Quinoa & Chia Bread

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Last week saw me flattened with a virus my hubby shared. Sharing is caring, so I gave it to my eldest daughter.

I confess, while being ill, I may have eaten things that required a mini marathon to burn off. Since I'm not in training for a marathon, I decided to take a good look at my diet.

I really like eating meat, am a sucker for those tempting low-carb protein bars and tend to forget to eat my veggies and fruit everyday. Sad, but true story.

Insanity is doing the same thing but expecting a different result. My body has been going through enough hormonal turmoil without me making it worse. It is definitely time for a change. 

I'm sure most of you ladies out there have intuition. Mine has been whispering regularly these past months: eat vegetarian. I finally decided to listen to that voice. I include some fish with that, which technically makes my new label pescatarian. However, for the most part, I am a veggie gal.

May I confess, after only a few days, I feel so much better! I have more energy and a clearer mind already, even after visiting my sweet dad on Monday and eating less than ideal food. My cycle started back this week and is quite normal, and I was able to help my hubby with a massive collection of tons of pavers. Veggie food packs some power!

I have to say, veggie based meals are also soooo delish! Why, oh why, have I been afraid to eat like this before? I have been incredibly satisfied, and found my sleep is better just by making a dietary change. And if I eat carbs, it has to be whole food where possible.

Take a look below at the highlights of my week, and the recipe for my new addiction: Quinoa and Chia Bread. 

My weekday lunch: Quinoa/ chia bread with cottage cheese, tomatoes, basil and cracked black pepper. 

A beautiful sunset reflection on the clouds during an evening beach walk with my loves- hubby and my sweet toddler.

A super healthy, low carb cauliflower fried rice, made with minimal oil.

My three babies. Love these girls so much, and they motivate me to take care of my health.

And now, for the recipe of the day...

QUINOA & CHIA BREAD (thanks vegannie for the recipe).

ingredients

• 1 & 3/4 cups quinoa & enough water to cover it. (I used 1/2 a cup of linseed/ oat bran/ psyllium mix as I didn't have enough quinoa left).
• 1/4 cup chia seeds soaked in half a cup water.
• 1/2 cup extra water.
• 1/4 cup olive oil.
• 1/2 tsp baking soda.
• splash vinegar.
• 1/2 tsp salt.
• juice of half a lemon.

method

• Soak quinoa in cold water and leave in fridge overnight.
• Do the same for chia seeds.
• The next day, rinse and drain qinoa (I drained but didn't rinse).
• Preheat oven to 180 C.
• Line a loaf tin or baking tray with baking paper.
• Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blitz until batter like. I left mine with visible quinoa.
• Pour into tin/ tray and bake for approx 1.5 hours.
• Cool before serving. Store in fridge for up to one week.

I found an odd thing happened- the top popped up like a giant air bubble, creating a crispy top layer that I could peel off once cooked. It was actually tasty and crunchy, while the bread underneath remained a firm, but softer texture.

I just love it! It has a lemony tang to it and is a great savoury bread, high in protein, omega 3's and fibre.

The finished product. It doesn't rise like typical bread, but is a dense, nutrient rich and very satisfying bread that can also be toasted.

Enjoy!

That is all for today. My next post will be a community garden update,  where you can actually see how much hard work  I did on my new veggie based diet :)

Until then, thanks for reading.