Wild Basil

In the midst of re-making my herbs gardens I realise that
i can do nothing but leave my wild basil where it is for now.
The clump of bushes - originally planted from seed found on the Zambezi flood plane at RIFA has taken hold in a bed with indigenous trees and acts as a good cover for the bore hole. It always seems to be green and can be used as either a culinary herb or a medicinal herb.
Used in casseroles and stews it is slightly stronger than most forms of culinary basil. it has fury leaves and the seeds are brown and dry very quickly. They fall and reseed the bed naturally and need no care except for a little water during the dry season.

The branches can be thrown under tables to make a natural fly and mosquito repellent at a luncheon or supper outdoors party.

The seeds can be taken in the hands - rubbed to release their aroma and are a welcome relief to someone suffering hay fever when out on a bush walk.

This variety is Zulu Basil.

Vegetables here we go!

The vegetable garden is now in full operation with an abundant amount of plants to feed us and our gardeners. It took time but is worth it with everything coming up well and weeds having been banished.

We have started on the herb garden and I will be posting some before and after pictures - when I power comes back on. no Internet for over a week and now no power - again!

Seedlings and herbs galore!

Yesterday went and bought a mass of vegetable seedlings, seed, and herb plants. It looks like the vegetable garden is getting into full swing.

I am redesigning my herb garden and have most of the basics I need to get it started again. i fancy an informal design to fit with the rest of our garden

And we are holding a course on making compost and another on herb gardening - so this will really give the garden a boost! We are growing both traditional and indigenous herbs and teaching people how to plant them and where - as well as how to use them.

Rain and rain and rain!

The rain has put a stop to almost all our gardening - it has been pelting down almost everyday making weeding and mowing a nightmare.

There seems a bit of sun today so we might have some luck again!

Beds are cleared

The beds are being cleared and next the planting - you can only imagine what a mess the garden was in! The thought of all those wonderful organic vegetables is worth all the hard work. We use only compost and it works so well one wonders why people bother with fertilisers. The taste of an organically grown vegetable straight out of the garden is something that no shop bought produce can compare to or equal.

Oh where do we start!!!!!

Well here we have three willing gardeners surveying the mess. It is hard to decide where to start. The beds must be cleared and the mass of vegetation removed before planting can start. Fruit trees have to be trimmed and pruned. however we will get there soon.

Thank goodness my computer and the power is back and I can look on the Internet for tips I might need. We were without both for 12 days!

Our once pristine vegetable garden is now a mass of weeds. With no one to help an achre and a bit of garden can be too much to cope with.
However help is now at hand - we have allowed an old friend to take over our domestic quarters, which we are no longer using, in exchange for helping us out in the garden.
he held a vegetable gardening course a week back and we now have the start of a vegetable garden again!