Do we really need to produce our own foods?

Time and time again I come across people whose eyes glaze over whenever I jump on my 'PLANT foods, REUSE things, SAVE money' soapbox. Even The Husband (miser frugal wizard extraordinaire :) ) has been known to mutter

"Just go to the bloody shop and buy a new one" When I am on a roll.

The baby formula/milk crisis in China has really shaken him though. He has issued strict instructions that on no account are we to buy any foods produced in China. Now as you may know, The Husband is Chinese, this ban is going to hit him hard as a lot of his favourite condiments are only produced in the PRC. He is taking a stand though; A stand against how his own people can do such an horrific thing as tamper with a child's only source of nutrition (In China, most babies are formula fed :( )

Of course, this is excellent for my goal of our family eating only locally produced foods.

Now here is a picture of the potatoes from the Potato Co op which I organised (on a forum I'm a member of)



Can't wait until mine grow and then I can save my own seed.

Yesterday I did one of the many things on my list of 'to do's'. I popped into a fabric shop and bought the pattern for the Tot's X'mas present. They were having sale so the pattern cost me $4.95 (I will be selling this later if anyone is interested in purchasing). I also found some lovely lilac cotton for $1.99 a metre. All up this present will cost me $25.


IThey have also put in orders for dolls, can anyone recommend a pattern for those old Holly Hobbie dolls?

Now to update my gardening for the week. When we bought this house I inherited a huge garden bed edged with sleepers (and six palm trees, blergh!). To keep it simple I haphazardly planted into that bed in a random riot. This week I realised that to maximise my planting and for ease of access, I needed to turn the huge bed into a series of keyhole beds. This has now been done and I urge anyone faced with the same issue as I was to do the same. Yes I have lost a little planting space but it is so much easier to get to my plants now. Should have done this in the first place!