Towards Sustainability In My Tiny Home And Garden

Monday, 15 August 2016

Pollinating The Pumpkin

I have never planted pumpkins before and all these darlings grew from seeds and peels I buried in the soil as compost. A well meaning friend taught me how to differentiate between male and female flowers but her instructions were not very clear. Or perhaps I was too dense. Females have a bulb below she said. So I looked inside each flower everyday for that bulbous thingy instead of outside. I thought bulbs outside were baby pumpkins! Yesterday it dawned on me. Female flowers are few and far in between! This one opened this morning so I rubbed my hands in glee and set out for the choicest male.

Here he is. Nice and fat and powdery.

This is way easier than a finger. Or electric toothbrush. Though the garderner used that more for his tomatoes. Grow pumpkin! Grow....!

Rainy Morning

I love it when it rains early in the morning!

When I built my tiny house I made my kitchen and dining area outside. Sort of partially sheltered to save cost and have circulating air when I cook. I wanted to be able to look out into my garden when I eat and listen to the birds chirp when I sip my coffee. The rain gets in sometimes but that is ok. Am planting some climbing vegetables for shade. Looking forward to the day when I can pluck my beans and cucumbers from them. From wall to wok....!

No gardening until the rain stops!

I can always go back to bed. My dough is rising....soon I will have steamed buns for breakfast. Blisssss.

Man Tou (Plain Steamed Buns)

Sometimes when I don't feel like eating rice I will substitute with plain steamed buns. I will end up having them for breakfast, lunch and dinner because for one I love them. And two, I have to finish all that I make.

Here is my recipe which is super easy to make.

Put 360g "bao" flour with 1.5 cups water, half teaspoon dry yeast and 2-3 tablespoons sugar in a mixing bowl.

Mix together with a dough hook until all the flour comes together.

Scrape dough onto a dusted board and knead into a smooth ball.

Place in a bowl and cover.

Leave to proof overnight.

Next morning punch out all the air and knead briefly till smooth.

Cut into 8 portions (or 6 if you want them bigger).

Knead and roll into smooth balls.

Place a piece of paper at the bottom of each and leave to rest for 30 minutes or until it has doubled in size.

Keep it covered while it is rising.

Steam 15 minutes and there you have it. Breakfast :)

Want some, Coco? What? Only with butter and jam?!

Sunday, 14 August 2016

Today's Spoils

That pretty young lady should not have placed that pot of Cuban Oregano in front of me. She should not have told me where she got them from. Because I had to go find this herb nursery and blow a lot of money on more plants and soil. But anyway, I found my favorite banana the lakatan or as we call it here pisang berangan.

Not to be mistaken with the cavendish though (lacatan with a c instead of a k). This is Musa acuminata. I love it in its semi almost ripe state when it is firmer and slightly tangy. Delicious. Please grow quick and strong and bear bunches for me.

And my other spoils. A mixture of kale and herbs uncommon in the tropics. Still I want to try growing them. Lets see....there are 3 types of kale, a lemon plant and a herb called lemon balm. Can't wait to get them into my new vegetable beds :)

Saturday, 13 August 2016

Cherry Tree (muntingia Calabura L.)

I have always loved this tree. I remember visiting someone as a child, with my mother and there was this beautiful tree growing in the middle of a well kept green, green lawn. Before anyone could stop me I was under the tree plucking and eating. Then I heard my Mom shouting probably out of embarrassment over such an impolite child. The kind man who owned the tree said, "It is alright! The fruits can be eaten, they are very delicious!"

And today my neighbor has my dream tree growing by our fence. Half of it cascades over to form a shady canopy. Over here we just call it very simply the cherry tree. This native of Mexico/Central America/tropical South America/Trinidad/St. Vincent/Greater Antilles (must google that) are known by many other names. Jamaica cherry, Strawberry Tree, Japanese or Chinese Cherry, Jam fruit to name a few. The proper name is Muntingia calabura L. I myself have planted two little trees inspite of all the horror stories about their invasive roots and bats coming to feast on the fruits. Bats are cute anyway, their faces look like doggies. Looking forward to the day when I can sit under the shade of my cherry trees.