Getting something extra from something you use

I am always pleased when I manage to get either an extra preserve or products from the ingredients that I use regularly in the house i.e. when I make plum jelly  as I have the opportunity to make plum cheese from the pulp left over in the straining/jelly net.  That to me is making the most of what you have and reflects my philosophy of "Waste not, Want not"!

I have a couple of projects coming up in the next week or so. I have some wine to make from kits, and I have Apricot wine made from dried Apricots to make as well.  The bonus from making the wine is that I will end up with a dried Apricot chutney as well.  I also have dried Apricot jam and Apricot and Amaretto jam to make as well.  Dried Apricots make a lovely jam.  

I love Apricots and am looking forward to buying in fresh Apricots which I tend to bottle in a very light syrup.  They are delicious served with croissants and cream cheese.  Yummy my mouth is watering at the thought.

I am also partial to the odd Medjool date or two.  They have pips in them and I have grown these before into quite nice little plants and then ended up losing them.  I have done the same with lemon and orange pips.  They eventually produce strong little plants and they are the something extra, which I had not expected.  Even more of an extra if you have somewhere warm where they will thrive.  I hope one day I have the somewhere warm for them to grow as I would quite like an area where I could grow citrus.  That very much appeals.

Basically, you take some tissue paper and dampen this I do this with a Hand spray. I then add the seeds individually laying them on the wet tissue.  I then fold them in a pocket of foil and place them somewhere warm.  Every few days I open this up and if more water is needed then add this gently - don't overload but make sure it is moist.  Then wrap up again.  Do this until they start to sprout.  Then decant into some compost and pop on a warm windowsill.  Keep watering when required.

This works with both lemon and orange seeds too.

I believe that you can grow these plants on to adulthood and indeed if kept in the appropriate surroundings to fruiting stage.  I have no experience yet of this, but you never know.  I have someway to go, but at least I have given some seeds the chance of doing something more.

I am also interested in growing veg from leftovers.  This quite appeals to my "Waste not, Want not" philosophy and is something I am going to have a go at.  For further information on this please go to:

https://beesandroses.com/2015/10/15/22-food-scraps-that-magically-regrow/

and

https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/how-to-regrow-food-from-scraps

I also have plans to dry the egg shells I use to deter pests in the garden see the link here:

https://getbusygardening.com/eggshells-as-organic-pest-control

I know that my Nan always used to give the chickens back some grit using crushed egg shells,

I also have plans to use banana skins as a way of providing potassium feed for plants such as tomatoes,  Well it is making something out of nothing.  The link is here:

https://101gardening.blogspot.com/2016/03/banana-peels-as-fertilizer.html and

https://gardentipz.com/2016/06/29/how-to-use-banana-peels-as-natural-fertilizer/

Both natural products which can be re-used and kept away from the refuse tip.

It will also help save the pennies a little.

That is how you get something extra out of nothing. These are not the only things you can do, but every time we try something a little different we become more knowledgeable and you learn far more from actually having a go and doing stuff.

I am itching to get going with all sorts of things at the moment but some of it is on the dream list as the garden I have is not very big.  I have seen a swing pergola, some garden arches, a very large oblong pergola which is overplanted with vines, honeysuckle and roses to go over an outside garden table and chairs.  I am still owed my garden swing from OH as well.  I am after a three seater if possible.

It is early yet, temperatures need to warm a little more here as well although some seeds are going on the bathroom windowsill.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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