#southoffrance

faab64@diasp.org

Today's harvest of fresh dill from the balcony garden.

This is probably the 10th harvest I had and I'm going to use it to cook northern Iranian Baghala Ghatogh (chicken eggs and beans with dill stew).

Recipe for those interested can be found here:
https://www.thejc.com/lets-eat/recipe/recipe-baghala-ghatogh-broad-beans-with-dill-and-eggs-hznsp3ql

Some people have bastardized it and using fawa beans instead, but I use the large white beans, soak them in water and peel them before cook them in oil for a few minutes before adding to t to the stew.

PS. I love the smell of fresh dill, it reminds me of my childhood and my mother's hands that smelled like fresh vegetables all the time.
#Food #Iranian #Gilaki #BaghalaGhatogh
#Gardening #BalconyGarden #ContainerGarden #SouthOfFrance #Hydroponics #GrowYourOwn #Plants

faab64@diasp.org

long time ago, I saw these in a shop for 7 euros each. They have a small cups with holes in them that are easily replaceable (about 1L size).

Today, I picked up 12 of them for 6 euros. They are stackable or can hang on the wall. Best of all. They can be used as a very stable tower for a hydroponic or self watering setup.

I feel so lucky. They are UV safe plastic and can be placed on the balcony. Perfect for herbs, garlic, onions and bee friendly flowers.

#Gardening #BalconyGarden #ContainerGarden #SouthOfFrance #Hydroponics #GrowYourOwn #Plants

faab64@diasp.org

Some banana peels, egg shells, garden items, coffee grinds and used tea leaves to be mixed into a rapid compost mix

Going to start a New compost today, using the soil from last year tomato soil bag that was replaced into a large pot and let it sit until June or July when I replant some of the tomato cuttings.

Since I started doing this, I have almost 0 organic food waste and already given away 2x15L compost to a friend who starting a vegetable garden (helped with planning and purchase of material plus a few seedlings and some old seeds.

#Gardening #BalconyGarden #ContainerGarden #SouthOfFrance #Hydroponics #GrowYourOwn #Plants

faab64@diasp.org

Walked around our local park and found a pile of gardening clean up and collected a lot of spider web runners from the pile.

They did a spring clean up yesterday but didn't remove the "rubbish", lucky me, I found a lot of cuttings to add to replant at home.

I am planning to restart the hydroponic tower I used to have back in Paris with 36 of those on a 1.5m PVC pipe.

#Gardening #BalconyGarden #ContainerGarden #SouthOfFrance #Hydroponics #Plants

faab64@diasp.org

I have cut back my purchase of bananas because they are not local and most brands are from questionable companies.

Went to our local shop and found a huge pack of "old bananas" at discount price. So I purchased them.

This gave me the opportunity to create banana juice for my plants. Cut the peels into small pieces, added water and let it sit for w days.

Going to use the water as #potassium boost for my plants and crush the peels in a high speed mixer with coffee grounds, egg shells and a small amount of baking soda to adjust the pH level to create my speed #compost mix.

It will go into the bottom of the container I'm preparing for a friend with cherry tomatoes. Hopefully she will be able to grow them as tall as I managed (3M+) and get a lot of #tomatoes from it.

#Gardening #BalconyGarden #ContainerGarden #SouthOfFrance #Hydroponics #GrowYourOwn #Plants

faab64@diasp.org

Spent a lot of time in the balcony today. Cleaned up and got rid of some half dead plants, detaches and replanted strawberries from last year and added new compost into the pots.

I had 3 large strawberry plants growing from last year and I could see they were struggling.

Took them out and dividend then into 29 small strawberry plants and put them into 3 different planters with a lot of compost from the big bag I started last summer.

#Gardening #BalconyGarden #ContainerGarden #SouthOfFrance #Hydroponics #GrowYourOwn #Plants

faab64@diasp.org

Another failed experiment. Cocktail tomatoe plant on the balcony, the Kratky system didn't work at all and mix of heavy rain and lack of attention got it killed.

Cleaning up the balcony to have one side for sitting and other side for gardening as my wife is coming back in a few months and demanded to have her half of the balcony "livable" bor like a jungle as it is today.

Probably have to give up my second 220L water container as well because there was a no way I can have 2 of them fitting in one side of the balcony.

#Gardening #BalconyGarden #ContainerGarden #SouthOfFrance #Hydroponics #GrowYourOwn #Plants