Winter Solstice

Ahh, yes, the life of a cat!  Shanti Shakti Shiva spends much of her day and night in such supine positions.  I try hard to follow her example (not that her pursuits change much during the other seasons of the year) during Winter but alas!  Everywhere I look, there is work to be done.  Inside and outside!  Why oh why does dust never rest or even weeds, for that matter??

The last blog I wrote about sustainable-down-under was obviously not to everyone's comfort - however, I would like to add that after having tested the Lunar Pads, I can truly say that they work, don't leak, are comfortable, are not too gruesome to clean and now I will be making more, since they have passed the test with flying colours!  Wish I had stumbled on this idea much much earlier, would have saved a small fortune and not left a huge pile of waste in the landfill on my behalf.  Anyway, thought I better add an after-note on that matter.  Today is the Winter Solstice - the Shortest Day.  Hooray - things can only go from dark to light from now on in!  Bring it on!

Moving right along, there has been not too much happening in our little garden, other than harvesting the usuals - mandarins, the last of the persimmons and cherry guavas (sob!!), potatoes, jerusalem artichokes, the ever-productive chillies, chard and kale leaves and not much else.  The new banana bunches have been bagged in preference of age; we have 6 new bunches, and I have made 3 clear plastic bags to wrap them up in, to increase the heat levels - kinda like a mini hothouse for 3 of the oldest bunches. 

Gee, it is amazing how the universe provides exactly what we need!  I had taken the day off of kindy, on account of not having a voice (instrument of instruction).  So I was sitting here in the lovely sunshine, blogging away, thinking of the next moves in the garden, and how wonderful it would be to have a little help.  The phone rings and it is 2 young Spanish travellers looking for helpexchange - bed and food in exchange for help!!  They will arrive in less than an hour!  One just never knows what each day will bring!  At last, some help with the weeds.  And maybe the dust too!

One thing I like to keep brewing in the kitchen at this time is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).  To make it is soooo easy!  Take a big jar (ceramic one would be preferable) - I use a glass one.  Fill it 3/4 full of filtered water and then start to add the apple cores that you would normally discard after eating.

Apple cider vinegar brewing

As the apples grow a little mushy after 3-5 days, you want to remove them, while still adding fresh ones.  Spoon-remove the froth and scum that appears on the surface each day.  Slowly, over 5-7 weeks, the water infuses the apples and fructose and changes to a beautiful golden colour.  The smell is a good indicator of what we are trying to achieve as you can smell the acidic fumes of vinegar!  I am always amazed by the growth of skin - a jelly-like layer which connects all the apple cores together which forms after some weeks.  Remove this and eat, don't throw it away - it tastes like coconut gel, with a strong vinegar taste (great for health).  I always think of it as the apples trying to replicate themselves and growing this incredible apple cider layer!

The ACV "skin"

Apple cider vinegar has incredible health giving properties and is a powerful cleansing and healing elixir.  It can be drunk before a meal, to help with digestion (1/2 teaspoon in a half glass warm water).  It is an antiseptic healing agent for sore throats, disinfecting wounds, helps arthritis, improves skin condition, helps cleanse the colon etc. etc.  The list is so long I would hate for anyone to get skeptical...... just drink it and see and feel the difference!  And better still, if you brew your own, it costs nothing but time!

Ka kite ano!