Today in the kitchen....
Aren't these gorgeous? I am trying to harvest as much as possible before we move, this was the result of the Chilli bush raids.
There are 3 varieties there.
And here they are dried, amazing how little they are reduced to when finished!
I actually prefer them this way, finding it too hard to judge the amount I was addding to any recipe when I ground them.
Our first harvested Loofah!
I placed a slit in the side of the one I picked and hung it under the patio to dry out, cut in half, shook the seeds out to save and put into a bucket to soak and clean.
I have about 6 more that just might make size for harvesting before we leave, I hope so, this really is simple, fun and they make for great bathroom and kitchen sponges.
What I love best about the loofah is that once they become a bit daggy I can throw them in the compost and there is no pollution, no tip dumping, no footprint!
I also harvested the soapwort plants, heated up the water, soaked the leaves, gave them a good stirring and poured the liquid into some squeeze bottles I have. One bottle is a gift to a friend who suffers from a skin condition (soapwort is a wonderful herb that assists with many skin conditions) the remainder will be used in our bathroom & laundry. Of course I forgot to take photos of these, and at this time of the night I can't be bothered, so you will have to wait until I do the next batch lol.
Hope the week is going well for you
Take care of you and yours:)
Aren't these gorgeous? I am trying to harvest as much as possible before we move, this was the result of the Chilli bush raids.
There are 3 varieties there.
And here they are dried, amazing how little they are reduced to when finished!
I actually prefer them this way, finding it too hard to judge the amount I was addding to any recipe when I ground them.
Our first harvested Loofah!
I placed a slit in the side of the one I picked and hung it under the patio to dry out, cut in half, shook the seeds out to save and put into a bucket to soak and clean.
I have about 6 more that just might make size for harvesting before we leave, I hope so, this really is simple, fun and they make for great bathroom and kitchen sponges.
What I love best about the loofah is that once they become a bit daggy I can throw them in the compost and there is no pollution, no tip dumping, no footprint!
I also harvested the soapwort plants, heated up the water, soaked the leaves, gave them a good stirring and poured the liquid into some squeeze bottles I have. One bottle is a gift to a friend who suffers from a skin condition (soapwort is a wonderful herb that assists with many skin conditions) the remainder will be used in our bathroom & laundry. Of course I forgot to take photos of these, and at this time of the night I can't be bothered, so you will have to wait until I do the next batch lol.
Hope the week is going well for you
Take care of you and yours:)
12 Responses:
Wonderful things you've got going on in your kitchen! I keep trying with the chillies -- one year it was hot enough Summer and they came through so I strung them up to dry and used them for years that way! Most years I don't get any despite efforts. But I'll keep trying.
The loofahs are intriguing -- haven't tried as yet because I think it too cool here for success...
I bet you get tired of hearing this! But I enjoy seeing what your warmer climate results in. Not to complain about the weather here -- cool Summers are fantastic, but there is a trade off.
Have a good week!
Those peppers look so beautiful! Did you use a dehydrator to dry them? I don't have a dehydrator and I was wondering if I could dry them another way ... we grew habaneros last summer and made sauce with them but ... a little goes a LONG WAYS. I was thinking dried might be nice.
Thank you for posting a picture of the loofah. I want to try growing those ... what a fantastic idea.
Nature is amazing!
Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com
Looks good. After seeing on Down-To-Earth just how easy the processing of luffas can be, I want to see if I might be able to grow them in our new garden.
Good luck with the move... only a week til we move now!
Hey Wild! I never thought of stringing them, thats a great idea too, and would save using a dehydrator, perhaps FOOTPRINTS might like to try that method, thanks!
What about building a greenhouse when you get time? That would help in growing warmer climate plants perhaps?
Hi Footprints! Yes, I used my dehydrator to dry them, however Wild above had a wonderful idea to dry, string them!
The loofahs are simple to grow, and make wonderful household scrubbers/sponges, you can also eat them as long as you pick before they are about 10cm long, somewhat like a zuchinni in taste.
You have the absolute best all-around site, Lady! I never fail to learn something or leave in awe of your efficiency...
Keep it up! As I'm sure you will...
Dixie, you will find the instructions on the right hand side of my blog, under the "how to" section, it truly is easy and fun!
Why thank ya kind sir..Cygnus, I am glad you enjoy the antics of this mad aussie, however to give credit where credit is due, I am merely following in the footsteps of those before me :)
Yup! You caught lazy ol' me, LOL! I had success when I started very early indoors and then did the majority of growing them in a greenhouse (plus warmer weather helped too)!
Lately I've been concentrating more on what can grow here unaided, without protection... We're still in winter mode here.
Molly, I hope your move (and everything) is going exceptionally well!
Wow! What a neat kitchen you have!
Hey Notes!
Who says you cannot have fun in a kitchen LOL
Hey Wild! I forget your seasons aare the opposites, I am looking forward to our winter, I cannot stand the heat we get here, and of course our winters are much milder than yours, the lowest I have ever known it in my area is -8c lol
Very cool loofahs!
Thanks Sherry, they are fun to do too, they take no time to prep and clean and last for ages in the bathroom and kitchen!
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