30 Days of Thrifty Tips

A frugal person isn't mean, nor austere, nor stingy, nor a miser, nor a skinflint, but careful, economical in the use of resources and money, saving, prudent and cautious, always looking for value.  The Scots have a word for it - canny .... Frugal people waste not, want not;  they cut their coats according to their cloth; they believe enough is as good as a feast; they try to make ends meet and they simplify, simplify!

                                                    Keith and Irene Smith, The New Hard Times Handbook, 1999

With the aim of sharing some insights I have gleaned over the years - and also to help get myself back into the habit of blogging - tomorrow I am going to begin a series called 30 Days of Thrifty Tips.

Every day in June I will publish a new tip or idea for thrifty living.  I will share successes (and failures) in my own life.  Throughout the month I would love to hear your ideas, whether you agree or disagree with my opinions.

I look forward to sharing my 30 Days of Thrifty Tips with you!

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Stuffing for Roast Chicken

Nearly every Sunday I roast a chicken for our dinner. And I almost always make the same parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme stuffing.

It's really easy.  I collect a handful of parsley, a few sage leaves and a little thyme and rosemary from the garden then whiz them around in the food processor.  Sometimes I add a little lemon zest or a few onion greens or garlic scapes.  Some diced bacon or ham would be good too.

I then add a few bread crusts or leftover, dried out bits of bread and whiz them with the herbs (I keep bread ends in the freezer for this purpose).  A sprinkle of salt and pepper and the stuffing is ready to be stuffed into the cavity of the bird.

Home made stuffing is much nicer and more economical than the mixes you can buy at the supermarket.  And the added bonus is that you know everything that's in it.

Art Gallery, Adelaide

 

 Some days, when time allows, I walk to the Art Gallery at lunch time.

In my short break I have time to walk around one room.

Then I return to work refreshed.

Essential Edibles Urban Orchard, May 2012

On the first Sunday of each month I meet with other locals at a nearby park to participate in Essential Edibles Urban Orchard.  Everyone brings along something that they have grown or made, then at 10 o'clock we swap and share.  No money changes hands and nobody goes home empty-handed.

What amazes me every time I attend, is the variety of backyard produce that people bring along to swap and share.

This month there were cherry tomatoes, red roses, Jerusalem artichokes, mint, parsley, thyme, basil, various types of chillies, persimmons, tangelos, rocket, apples, eggplants, bok choy and warrigal greens - and all were grown in backyards in the local area.

Essential Edibles Urban Orchard is an initiative of Sustainable Communities SA.  You can find out more at our Facebook page here.

Autumn Garden: May 2012

 My May garden looks tired and brown around the edges.  It's looking forward to a winter rest.

Some of the roses are still flowering, but not with the happy abundance of a few months ago.  The leaves on the most of the fruit trees are fading, preparing to fall.  Only the citrus trees look happy and bright, promising a good winter harvest.

 Most of the main vegie patch is taken up by ripening pumpkins.  After I bring the pumpkins indoors, I'll dig the beds over then leave them for a month or two - at least, that's the plan.  Usually I can't resist popping in a few lettuces and extra broad beans to keep things ticking over until spring.

Jap pumpkin

bok choy in flower

turnips

A jungle of rocket

Mint in flower

A tenacious eggplant bush, still flowering

Tired marigolds; dill and parsley

Horseradish nearly ready to dig up