More home: food production 3

We are briefly back amongst the cabins again, to visit the final three raised beds in the upper vegetable garden, before looking at fruit and nuts tomorrow…

Two of the beds are clearly visible in the foreground of the photo. The third one is on the terrace above them, and you may be able to make out the scarlet runner bean wigwam there.

These beds were here when I arrived and given the quality of the soil I decided to carry on cultivating them. They grow cabbages/cauliflowers, beans and root veggies on a 3 year rotation.

The root veggies are carrots (on a monthly sowing regime through the growing season), beetroots, parsnips and potatoes.

The beans are scarlet runners, bush (or French) beans and Muriel’s Magic.

A handful Muriel’s Magic seeds were given to me in 2009 by a work colleague whose mother in law (Muriel) stole a few mature beans which were overhanging a Christchurch footpath. She grew them, liked them, saved some seed and shared - in the great tradition of gardeners everywhere.

They are similar to selka beans, although shorter. Also similar to pea beans, although the beans inside are less pronounced. They have a flat smooth pod, about 10cm long, with juicy beans inside. They are delicious steamed and served with nothing more elaborate than salt and pepper.

I also leave a lot of pods on the plants to fully mature and later on I remove the dry beans to store for winter casseroles, soups and hummus. They are much the same as borlotti beans.

Having a glut of beans is never a problem because I simply don’t pick the excess and leave them to dry on the plants - even the scarlet runners, which are the ‘meatiest’ of all the dried and then rehydrated and cooked beans.

And yes, of course I usually then end up with stupid amounts of dried beans. But they make awesome gifts, packed in layers of different beans in glass jars, or packed with dried chillies and dried peppers with a chilli-bean recipe enclosed.

Incidentally the main shot also shows the truck about as clearly as it can be seen from any position on the property. It is heavily camouflaged by various shrubs and trees. The triple window you can see has the window seat behind it.

The extra is just in case you thought the real centre of attention was no longer here. Far from it!

Here she is sitting looking out of the middle one of that triple window…checking on what’s going on over the road. The new cabin is just under her chin.

Thank you for all the comments, stars and hearts. I’m delighted you are enjoying the tour and it’s great to receive your ideas and observations.