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Applewood and Earth

Notes from a garden at the end of the world

cockatoo sunset

on August 1, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Red tailed black cockatoos at dusk. Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin

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about me

about me

Tasmania is a magical little heart-shaped island at the bottom of the world, and I live at the bottom of the island, living the slow life in a cosy corner of the south. I mostly write (sporadically) about adventures in gardening, local travel, food and nature.

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low waste life

Looking for some ideas on how to live a little more low impact? I've collated a few tips here on how to cut back on waste.

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applewood_and_earth

A moment of pause in between the hectic late sprin

A moment of pause in between the hectic late spring garden job season.
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#cottagegarden #cottagegardenstyle #harvest #garden #broadbeans #jardin #jardinage #potager #gardenshed #latespring #springinthegarden

Deliberately chose mourning black today to channel

Deliberately chose mourning black today to channel how I feel about the state of reality right now. A lot of fine minds will deliberate at length about the whys, hows, and wtfs coming out of the USA. I have a lot of thoughts but honestly I'm too tired. I work in the conservation sector, disappointment in humanity is my default setting. And really we don't know how it will play out. Yes, it'll be bad, we just don't really know how bad yet. It's a lesson in not giving one country so much power and influence though. Time to start making stronger alliances with Japan and Germany? Who'd have thought, eh?
But we're all connected on this globe and I feel this outcome solidifies what was probably already a likely future and my eternal frustration about how brilliantly stupid the human race is. Standing on the shoulders of giants while trolls bite the ankles of our foundations. We've had so many chances to learn the easy way. So Many. At any time over the past 50 years of abundance and ingenuity we could have taken that seriously and made real adjustments. We had a whole Pandemic Reset era and lots of us went right back to hyperconsumerism as soon as it was safe to take our masks off, leaving a whole lot of abandoned sourdough cultures in our wake. So, turns out we've chosen the 'let's do this the hard way' door. Time to build community, plant potatoes and keep fighting. Buckle up buttercups.

#planttreesburyfascism

I don't care if I'm late for work, I need to stick

I don't care if I'm late for work, I need to stick around and watch these black cockatoos take their morning bath in the river
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#australianwildlife #blackcockatoo #australianbirds #nature #tasmania #southerntasmania #huonvalley #countrylife #morningwalk

Bottled sunshine. I mostly keep my fruit preserves

Bottled sunshine. I mostly keep my fruit preserves for mid winter, occasional desserts and/or the zombie apocalypse but I'm getting bored of apples and pears.

#gardenproduce #homegrown #preserves #homemadepreserves #nectarines #tasteofsummer #cottagegarden #growyourownfood #countrygarden #countrylife #pantry #breakfast #morninglight #nikond90

Peaaaaas. Nom. #gardenproduce #peas #homegrown #s

Peaaaaas. Nom.

#gardenproduce #peas #homegrown #springproduce #gardenersofinstagram #cottagegarden #springinthegarden #growyourownfood #countrygarden #countrylife #viewfromthegarden #cockerspanielsofinstagram #cockerspaniel #englishcockerspaniel #gardenhelper

The last apple of the season. Every autumn I sit

The last apple of the season.

Every autumn I sit down with a stash of wrapping paper and a couple of apple crates and individually wrap my winter supply of apples. Stored in an old cupboard on my back porch, they keep me going through the winter months and beyond. It's an idea I decided to try after reading The One Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka, who sung the praises of letting stored fruit settle into their natural dormancy. It's not a solution for all apple types, some just have a very short shelf life, but these Jonathans (I think) keep for months. I lose about 10% to the compost and they're a little wrinkly and without much crunch by the end of it (aren't we all?) but it consumes zero energy and the flavour is just fine.

#gardenproduce #zerowaste #zerowasteliving #homegrown #apple #appletree #gardenersofinstagram #cottagegarden #springinthegarden #growyourownfood #countrygarden #countrylife #viewfromthegarden

Mid spring means everything's floofy and frothy ga

Mid spring means everything's floofy and frothy garden-side. Lots of greens in the veg patch and the berries are only weeks away. But also endless mowing, and don't ask about the weeds.

And a bonus bit of Jethro Tull. Because, y'know, Jethro Tull! He made all us flute geeks cool 😎

#gardenersofinstagram #cottagegardern #springinthegarden #romanticgarden #springflowers #instagarden #sountrygarden #countrylife #viewfromthegarden

I guess 2024 is turning into the year of the auror

I guess 2024 is turning into the year of the auroras. View from the garden.

#auroraaustralis #southerntasmania #tasmania #huonvalley #naturesbeauty #aurora

Really really ridiculously good looking #cockersp

Really really ridiculously good looking

#cockerspaniel #cockerspanielsofinstagram #instadog #dogsofinstagram #spanielsofinstagram #interiordesign #70sstyle #70sstyleanddesign #lounge #interiorstyle #sofa #sofadog #neutralstyle

Early morning moment from the weekend. Yes, these

Early morning moment from the weekend. Yes, these feral goblins are a pain in the derriere but you can't deny they have a charming warble.

#blackbird #garden #countrygarden #springinthegarden #romanticgarden #springflowers #southerntasmania #gardensofinstagram #cottagegarden #merle #earlymorning #morninglight

Bianco Sfumato ranunculus #ranunculus #springflo

Bianco Sfumato ranunculus

#ranunculus #springflowers #romanticgarden #cottagegarden #flower #springinthegarden

Cooking by candlelight....and preparing an entire

Cooking by candlelight....and preparing an entire packet of mussels for dinner (moules marinière) thanks to the power being off for the past 8 hours.
#kitchenscene #cooking #lowlight #wine #lowlightphotography #wine #frenchcooking #cuisinefrancaise #nofoodpoisoningplease

My poor soggy garden pushing through despite the r

My poor soggy garden pushing through despite the relentless sogginess of this year's spring (aka second winter). My garden is producing an abundance of greens at least, and some early flowers. Doggo in the daffs, my first properly successful tulip year (I've somehow mucked it up the last few years), pink ajuga, gold lace primrose, Spanish bluebells and marsh marigold.
But oh man, I am done...☔️☔️☔️
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#springflowers #springinthegarden #springrains #huonvalley #Tasmania #southerntasmania #gardensofinstagram #instagarden #gardenlove #flowers

Collage is one of my favourite creative outlets, a

Collage is one of my favourite creative outlets, and probably the cheapest. Paper ephemera is easy to find, from flea markets to junk shops, postage to packaging, business cards to wine labels. I've been following a series of 50 art prompts by @margarete.miller to build my first homemade collage book and I've been enjoying it immensely (so much so that I whipped through them in a flash).

A lot of what's been used in this project is bits of paper I've had for years (even decades!), fragments from travel, friends, family and childhood. Liberated from a life in old tins and shoeboxes, there are threads of memory amongst the creativity. And now my stash is considerably depleted so if anyone wants to post me some cool vintage scraps of paper from around the world I wouldn't complain! 😄

Here's a handful of favourites

1. envelope security pattern
2. transportation
3. playing card
4. map
5. newspaper scrap
6. dictionary page
7. grid paper
8. repeating pattern
9. window or door
10. business card
11. something with wings
12. paper money
13. clothing tag
14. postage stamp
15. geometric shape
16. book page
17. something in the mail
18. paint chip

#collageart #margaretemiller #vintagepaper #vintageephemera #memories #artproject #creativity #collage

in Evandale where I stayed for work during the wee

in Evandale where I stayed for work during the week. Deep pile carpets, thick velvet curtains, rich paintings and dark wood tones at every turn. It was a murder mystery waiting to happen.

#periodhouse #evandale #oldhome #homedecor #otherpeopleshouses #oldhouses #oldhouselove #northerntasmania #antiques

Back from a couple of glorious days in the northea

Back from a couple of glorious days in the northeast on a mission to capture some footage of a rare endemic fish with @spectralpics for a work project. Following back roads and forestry tracks to the sites, I filled in the time I wasn't helping behind the scenes capturing some of the temperate forest and taking about 750 photos of flowering sassafras (which smells amazing FYI). It's an area I haven't explored til now, though I've been to several other places around it. There are some absolute show stopping landscapes around the Blessington area, with the craggy backdrop of Ben Lomond/turapina resembling a European mountain range. Definitely a spot to revisit during some free time.

#tasmania #tasmaniannature #northernmidlands #exploretasmania #northeasttasmania #sassafras #forest #nature

Spring has gone from 0-100, and while it's still t

Spring has gone from 0-100, and while it's still technically winter, the flowers and birds are singing a different story, with the call of strident striated pardalotes, blackbird biffos in the backyard, vibrant violets and stonefruit setting flower (I do so love a bit of alliteration).

So, I'm reluctantly emerging from hibernation earlier than planned and getting my grumpy bear butt to tending the rapidly waking garden before the winter veg all bolts.

It's probably for the best though, I walked up a steepish hill last week and was stuffed for the rest of the day - my end of winter fitness level is decidedly embarrassing...

But as far as winter goes, I got a big promotion at work, failed to finish a single book in the bedside table pile, won big at the op shop lottery, embarked on yet more DIY projects (which of course meant buying more power tool and needing to sort the garage for the 714th time since the start of the year), had a big old burst of creativity for the first time in a while and bought my first ever new couch (I know, right? I've gone into relationships with a more casual attitude than couch purchases...which I have to say has been brutally reflected in the calbre of both).

In a nutshell, life has been slow but good, but I'm more than ready for some warm sunshine.

#springflowers #springiscoming #goodbyewinter #countrylife #slowlife

First day of the last year of my 40s. I mean, I'm

First day of the last year of my 40s. I mean, I'm sure it was 1993 like, just last Wednesday, but here we are. And yes I absolutely took the day off (and the week 😁). Somehow my day still ended up being chores though. Rude. Crisp walk around the fruit loop at Franklin to finish the day off. Then onto pizza, wine and ice cream like a proper responsible adult.

#happybirthdaytome #midwinter #huonvalley

Im one of that irritating lot that always finds th

Im one of that irritating lot that always finds the Good Stuff at op shops (so folks say). I say that I pray to the right gods and leave it there. But I've been luckier than usual lately, so here's today's haul + some tips to improve your op-shop luck.

1. That's me in the corner, that's me in a merino-cotton Saba jumper, $9, RRP ~ $200. Visit op-shops regularly. Because us op-shop mavens don't tell you about the times we didn't find anything.

2. Portland sandals and Diana Ferrari leather sneakers, $18, combined RRP ~$250. Don't buy stuff that is 'close enough' in fit and justify it because it's cheap. I've been so guilty of this, but now I'm as strict with fit/need as for a full price item. There's always more stuff.

3. Billingham camera bag, $9, RRP about $500 (!) Check brands online for quality/price while you browse. Op shops price accordingly for popular brands, but a lot of quality product flies under the radar.

4. Zyliss garlic crusher, $2, RRP $35. I know because I needed a new one and recently looked at this exact one in a homewares shop. Decided to wait and try my luck second-hand. Make a list, be patient, keep checking. Make the correct sacrifices etc.

5. Noni B top, new with tags, $9, RRP $90. Would you still have bought it for full price if you had the $ to spend? If not, maybe it's not worth buying second hand either.

6. Mr Vintage tee, $5, RRP $45, Cue pants, $11, RRP ~ $200. Check tags, what's it made of, and where. I avoid synthetics and years of browsing have given me an eye for good quality. You can't get past the dominance of made in China but I still find a lot of stuff that isn't. F*ck Shein though, jesus.

7. Some basics, ~$25, RRP dunno, inexpensive. While I generally prioritise quality, op-shops are still great for basics.

8. Liz Jackson and Zara jackets. Combined $16, RRP unsure. Green jacket discounted due to mark on lapel. Check for stains, holes, pilling, missing buttons, unravelling seams. If the item is damaged and you still want it, mention it at the register, they'll generally mark it down.

Here endeth the haul and the lesson.

#buysecondhand #secondhandlife #secondhand #opshopclothes #charityshop #secondhand #recycle

Lapin chasseur (rabbit stew) was one of my materna

Lapin chasseur (rabbit stew) was one of my maternal grandmother's standard dishes, and I wish I'd paid closer attention to how she made it (like many grandmothers from a certain era, she didn't follow a recipe from a book). It's a classic French dish (appropriate for Bastille Day!) that doesn't get much attention here in Australia as it's not always easy to source rabbit (despite the fact we have millions of them overrunning the country), they can be quite expensive when you do find them (for some inexplicable reason) and it's a difficult meat to cook well as it's so lean.
Anyway it's a dish that makes me think of her cooking, stewing away in her bright orange cocotte, served with a side of boiled potatoes and getting told off for not eating enough of said potatoes (mind you, she lived to 104 so perhaps there's something to it), and topped off with a dry cider - Breton style.
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#frenchcooking #cuisinefrançaise #lapinchasseur #rabbitstew #homecooking #countrystyle #sundaylunch

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