7 December 2018 Three Sisters

I have devoted a garden bed to the three sisters system of planting. I’ve planted corn (heritage seeds from Koanga Seeds) in a mini corn field. Next to each corn seedling I have planted beans i.e. white beans and brown spotted beans. I had saved seeds from the last harvest. I use them as shelled and dried beans. In between the corn I have planted squash seedlings which will grow between the taller plants and help as a ground cover to conserve moisture in the warmer months. I have also added a fourth “sister” which are Cleome flowers. These are meant to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. I also couldn’t resist adding some sunflowers to climb to lofty heights together with the neighbouring corn and beans.

Three sisters planting of corn, beans and squash. 

4 December Peach jam

I always have an excess of early peached (Orion peach) in Nov/Dec. So I make lots of small jars of peach jam to give to friends and family.

Peach jam

4 Sept 2018 Making Maple Syrup

I have just found out that my Box Elder tree which I thought was only useful for hanging my hammock on, is also known as the Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo).  This tree is closely related to the Sugar Maple so after a bit of research I realised that I could tap maple syrup from it. I collected some items e.g. 8mm tubes, clear hosing, power drill and 8mm drill bit, bottles and bucket. I only needed to drill two holes and the sap started to flow (slowly). My trunk diameter is only 35cm approx. so I only drilled 2 holes. I had read that the best time of year to tap maple trees is at the end of winter and start of spring when the sap rises, so Sept is the right time in NZ. It took three days to get 4 litres of sap.

Then I boiled it down for 3 hours. I kept the kitchen well ventilated because I read that the steam can make a sticky mess in your kitchen. I kept it at a rolling boil (note the jam making thermometer). It takes 40 parts of maple sap to make 1 part maple syrup. After 3 hours it had reduced down to 120 ml and was light brown coloured and a bit thicker.

After cooling I filtered the syrup through coffee filter paper to clarify it. then bottled it. So amazing to be able to make my own maple syrup, although at three days production to produce 120 mls I won’t do it too often.