Thursday, February 28, 2013

Foodie Penpals February

Poor Ms Tagalong. She was nearly crying when she was reading all the foodie penpal blogs for February. During her grown up gap year in the UK she had been happily partaking in this penpal parcel pleasure.

Must be withdrawal symptoms. On her return to Australia she has been champing at the bit to start the same programme here.

So Aussie bloggers and foodies– get in touch and let's share some of the wonderful locally made produce with each other.

The wonderful Lindsey at Lean Green Bean and Carol Anne at this is rock salt have been organising this wonderful sharing of goodies. So check out the details on their websites to find out more.

Ms Tagalong could even share some of this wonderful calamondin marmalade homemade in Coomba Park on the shores of Wallis Lake on the mid-North Coast of NSW. But on second thoughts this pot is too precious.

She has even found out what a calamondin is. Think cumquat! Tangy and tart it will grace any muffin or crumpet.

Ms Tagalong is waiting to hear with bated breath.It's great to have some feedback, so please leave me some comments.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Growing Community

Coffee and chillies
So why is a community garden so important?

Ms Tagalong posed this question last time she was at the Sunday cafe. Sipping her lovingly made coffee curled up on one of the many comfy chairs strewn around the large deck; she was musing.

But she thinks she got an answer. The wonderful Hewison Street host told me what he had once heard. A definition to die for, in today's parlance.

'A vegetable garden grows vegetables, a flower garden grows flowers and a community garden grows community!'

Well there you have it. With Ms Tagalong's prolonged absence from the garden she definitely feels her growth has been stunted. But never fear, Ms T and Mr Ideasman will keep going to the Sunday cafe to get their injection of community until they are allowed once more beyond the garden portals!

Ms Tagalong has waxed eloquent about this wonderful community cafe before but it deserves more. Quirky décor, community members old and new, the best coffee in Newcastle, kindness, friendship and support. 

Art and craft classes, stitch and bitch, young Mums' support group, the cafe's versatility never ends. Just open a case and take your pick!



It's great to have some feedback, so please leave me some comments.

Monday, February 11, 2013

New Ideas!

Ms Tagalong is back and bursting with ideas. She hasn't burst into the garden yet, but just seen it longingly from afar. Won't be long now...

She learnt that sadly two of the ladies (chickens) turned up their claws on that scorching 45 degree day last month bringing the total down to 7.

The fence is complete and the autumn growing season is about to begin.

New ideas? How about Potting Shed Poems? Ms Tagalong saw this idea in Bridport, Dorset part of the Bridport Food Festival and an Arts Centre initiative creating a poet in residence working with schools and the public in writing garden related poems. Lovely!

Ms Tagalong wanted to stand on a raised bed and declaim, but guess what it was raining and was postponed to another time! She did however spot the shed and accompanying poems on another occasion and kept the photos to show on her return.  

Any poets amongst the gardeners?

Ms Tagalong was so glad to be welcomed back into the fold at the Union Cafe on Sunday last and enjoyed some spectacular coffee with Mr Ideasman, Ms Glamourpuss and Mr Mop. How lucky is Tighes Hill to have this wonderful site/house for communal activities. Of course the family that goes with it is pretty special too!

It's great to have some feedback, so please leave me some comments.