Self protection with a gemsquash (or a few)

So it turns out we have had an abundance of food coming out of the garden, with a special mention going to gem squash. After sharing them with all visitors and taking some to work, not to mention eating plenty ourselves, I decided to offer them to the people I see daily on the roads at traffic lights, begging for support. I figured squash would be a good offering considering the heat of the day they might have to survive before getting eaten, plus they're easy to carry AND you can juggle with them. If anyone tried they might even busk some well earned spare change with them.

I was particularly looking forward to giving them to a very demanding guy that waits at the grayston off ramp. Even when I have had nothing for him he persists with a severe victim approach to his dire needs and my owing him assistance. Armed with bright and beautifully coloured gems, I saw him pick me out past all the other cars and headed straight for me, ready to deliver his cause in desperation. I smiled widely and offered him the gems. He asked what they were and I shared that they could be boiled or even put directly on a fire and cooked to perfection. He took them reluctantly. The following day I brought more, and again he picked me out and came my way. I asked about the squash and if he enjoyed them but he didn't.He declined my offer of more and instead wanted to marry me or get money from me. I told him I could bring him food, but not marry him, nor did I have cash to hand out.

Since then he avoids my car completely. I thought it strange and interesting that food, even though it was the humble gem squash had been the thing that protected me from a man who used his self claimed poverty to intimidate me.

Saved by the humble Gem Squash.

Trying to get Jack Frost to bite!

Three weeks and no Shampoo!!

There are some advantages to a black frost if you can get him to bite! We've been warned not to water too late in the day, to avoid ground freeze, not to mention burning the plant material and finding the signature black leaf death disappointment. The advantage of frost bite in the garden is in the compost heap and mulch.

We're experimenting on a bed we want prepared for spring that we've covered with Teff mixed with horse manure from a local stable. The problem is that it is fresh and we need it broken down a bit before we plant - could frost be the answer. We'll let you know.

We've watered it at all the wrong times and against the current we're wishing for a black frost - if only a local one on our little patch so as not to upset your garden of course. We'll let you know if it's worked!!

As narcisitic as it feels like it is to pay so much attention to my hair - understand the value of a good hair day to any woman with long curley hair (however secret that desire might be kept) - this is an important example of falling for good marketting that leads you from the old school methods to fall back on.

I can't fault a successful campaign - any one of us would consider putting our products forward as 'a need' if we convinced ourselves it were true, and telling us there is an alternative would be a joke. So cool, pantene makes my hair curl and shine really nicely, but this bicarbinate of soda rince and apple cider vinegar does too - for a fraction of the price, with little to no impact on the environment (my garden specifically) and I have frequent good hair days!

In fact - I think a persons hair is the tell tale sourse for a measure of their physical state of health, so if you are using a product that fools you into believing you are healthy and well ("you can see it in their hair"), then who is really the fool - for R39 bucks a bottle?? Could you go 'poo free??