Planning a gourmet garden.

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

Chinese cabbage and basil

 9 October 2014.

And so all of the Eid activity has died down and school is in full swing here, although many schools are still on holiday. Some students are off to the Ijtimah in Port Elizabeth and I am in full swing with studies and busy with the last tweaking and preparation for our Global Leadership and Life Orientation Course.

The last bits of pastries are utilised for pies and tarts and fresh pastry is made for when the hujjaaj arrive home this weekend Insha’Allah. What’s up with Cape Town blowing hot and cold? We have gone from extremely hot and sunny with sandals to brrr cold and a bit of rain but the garden's not complaining. I am happy because the weather is so suitable for the planting of new basil and yellow pepper seedlings and the garden received a good watering from the clouds. Cucumber plants are starting to creep as are the rest of the cucurbits Alhamdulillah.

This weekend I hope to plan a new organic garden with the youth – we’re calling it The Gourmet’s Garden. So I prepared suitable vegetable seedlings. First we work out a plan based on the size of plot and sun positions. We will need to trim off the low hanging tree branches. Then we have to remove any rubble left behind and dig two spades deep. Then we’ll compost it well and water for a few days. Note to self – check for water point close by and waters that can be reused for the garden.

cleanseed lettuce

When the new campus term starts we can start planting. So what to plant for a gourmet garden? Of course herbs – chives, oregano, thyme, sage, basil, coriander, parsley, celery and some red onions.

marigolds

We could of course do some edible landscaping and plant cosmos, lavender, calendula, marigolds, borage and comfrey in between because they are good companions to vegetables and awesome to attract butterflies and bees on the lookout for nectar. Oh, I should not forget the nasturtiums and allow them to ramble around. The flowers are delightful, filled with Vitamin C in salads. Did you know capers come from the seeds of these delightful flowers?

chard and red cabbage

And then we’ll plant tomatoes, peppers – green and yellow, all kinds of lettuces, broccoli, beet, spinach, Swiss chard, red and green cabbages and Chinese too. Some fennel, rocket, and maybe some strawberries under the trees? Yes? And a row of radishes right in the front. We could also plant a gooseberry bush seeing that it grows so quickly.

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Some cucumbers to trail up the trees – how grand would that be? Can you visualize it? Cucumbers and butternuts and squash hanging in trees.

I am quite chuffed that I received some presents for Eid, Alhamdulillah. A sprinkler from my older children, a lime tree filled with blossoms and baby limes from dear, dear friends. Now the orange tree with teeny tiny fruits have a friend. And a gift to myself – a picnic basket, old school woven with proper cane. All I need to do is line it with some colorful fabric, pack in some plates and cutlery and a tablecloth and napkins. Maybe throw in some canned mussels and crackers and a passion cordial and we’re good to go! So long for a day at the beach or a river, how calming is the water. Or a walk on Muizenberg beach is long overdue and a pop in at the Lucky fish for a Florentine, or maybe not, enough sweet things.

Later,

Grow food and pack a picnic basket.

Yasmine

ps. Forgot about rosemary, ha ha. what about some spring onions, peas, beans, pakchoi, maybe one or two artichoke plants if there is space.