It's amazing what pleasure you can get out of making your own food.(Or letting others in the family do it.)
In a garden you can grow grapes. On a balcony you can grow aloe vera. On a windowsill you can grow herbs.
Even in a rented flat at home or overseas with a small area, you can grow food.
The USA - problem
I remember when I first arrived in the USA. Knew nobody. Didn't grow anything. Mistake.
Solution - Windowsill
Even if you don't have a balcony, you can have a windowsill. Entertain the children with watching a plant grow every day. You can grow from seeds. If you cant' afford seeds, save pips from fruit.
Solution - Windowsill
Even if you don't have a balcony, you can have a windowsill. Entertain the children with watching a plant grow every day. You can grow from seeds. If you cant' afford seeds, save pips from fruit.
You could do the same with plants. Grow your own plants. Just start. Day one. Never mind how long you will be there. We moved into a flat in Singapore. Two year contract. We stayed there ten years. Grow plants. Leave plants wherever you go.
Singapore flag.
During my first six months in Singapore I was miserable. I was homesick and had no hobby and no conversation. When I met up with other expats, we simply made each other miserable by complaining. I have the answer to that.
Conversation Starter
No job, no friends? Homesick? Stuck at home alone with a partner at work whilst you wait for your work permit? Can't stop complaining?
Here's a solution. Find something to do and talk about. Grow herbs or fruit or vegetables on a windowsill or balcony. Even talking to shop keepers, people at the bus stop, taxi drivers, it is a conversation opener, and a neutral subject.
Aloe Vera
In Singapore we found one friend who was growing aloe vera. I admired it and she gave me a tiny one.
We left it alone when we jetted home. I thought it would die. Instead it grew to a monster.
During my first six months in Singapore I was miserable. I was homesick and had no hobby and no conversation. When I met up with other expats, we simply made each other miserable by complaining. I have the answer to that.
Conversation Starter
No job, no friends? Homesick? Stuck at home alone with a partner at work whilst you wait for your work permit? Can't stop complaining?
Here's a solution. Find something to do and talk about. Grow herbs or fruit or vegetables on a windowsill or balcony. Even talking to shop keepers, people at the bus stop, taxi drivers, it is a conversation opener, and a neutral subject.
Aloe Vera
In Singapore we found one friend who was growing aloe vera. I admired it and she gave me a tiny one.
We left it alone when we jetted home. I thought it would die. Instead it grew to a monster.
Strawberry Jam Story
Growing food and making bottled or frozen items can be a lifetime passion, or a rollercoaster.I don't cook now. I eat what my husband cooks and encourage him to cook from the plants I grow. I must admit that I have fond memories of when I was a child in London, England, when my mother used to make strawberry jam from garden grown strawberries. However, after a couple of years of this she was fed up with slugs in the garden, wasps on the apples. She did not want scalding hot containers in the kitchen. Sterilising. And hours of work.
Instead we invested in buying the more expensive brands of strawberry jam which contained whole strawberries or at least bits you could see. However,strawberry making was nice whilst it lasted.
Instead we invested in buying the more expensive brands of strawberry jam which contained whole strawberries or at least bits you could see. However,strawberry making was nice whilst it lasted.
Why Wine And Beer But Not Spirits?
What happened when I left my parents home and first married in a home with a garden. Our next ventures were home made wine. Beer has to be made in big containers. Making spirits at home is banned because of the risk of ending up with poisonous methanol. Our early attempts at home made wines from kits were not successful. However, growing our own grapes was good.
Eating Garden Grapes
Even if you don't eat the grapes the leaves are attractive.
The first couple of years in England we grew grapes which were too small to eat. When the vines matured we made our first batch of a bottle and a half of so so wine.
The following year we could not be bothered and just ate the grapes. Small but good. Dual purpose grapes, eating or making wine.
The first couple of years in England we grew grapes which were too small to eat. When the vines matured we made our first batch of a bottle and a half of so so wine.
The following year we could not be bothered and just ate the grapes. Small but good. Dual purpose grapes, eating or making wine.
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. See my other posts on the miniature orange tree and making marmalade
Please share links to your favourite posts.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. See my other posts on the miniature orange tree and making marmalade
Please share links to your favourite posts.
No comments:
Post a Comment