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Merchant Homestead
Merchant Homestead
Chickens

Backyard Chickens

Debbie,
March 24, 2023March 24, 2023

There’s been a huge influx of people looking to keep their own backyard chickens, and…

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Garden growing from seed

Growing from Seed

Debbie,
March 17, 2023March 17, 2023

Why to grow from seed Growing your own plants from seed can be both fun,…

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Garden Aphids

Aphid Control in the Garden

Debbie,
March 9, 2023March 2, 2023

If you’re wanting to grow your own food throughout the year, there will no doubt…

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Kitchen sourdough focaccia

Sourdough Focaccia

Debbie,
March 2, 2023February 27, 2023

I adore sourdough. I adore focaccia. Smash the two together and the resulting Sourdough Focaccia…

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Kitchen How to make basil pesto

Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe

Debbie,
February 23, 2023February 17, 2023

Homemade basil pesto is super fresh and flavoursome, and such a good way to use…

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Garden Starting seeds for Autumn

Seed Sowing for Autumn

Debbie,
February 14, 2023March 8, 2023

If you have been stuck inside and yearning for the garden, now is a great…

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Kitchen harvest of lemons and tangelos

Homemade Lemon Cordial

Debbie,
November 10, 2022November 10, 2022

It’s harvest time for a lot of juicy good citrus fruit, and it’s also starting…

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Garden

Propagating Tomatoes for Free Food!

Debbie,
November 2, 2022November 2, 2022

Look, I think this is the best news. We can turn one tomato plant into…

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Kitchen

Homemade Pickles

Debbie,
October 12, 2022February 16, 2023

I am a pickle fiend. When I go to McD’s I’m an extra pickles kind…

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Kitchen quick pickled onions

Quick Pickled Onions

Debbie,
October 12, 2022March 7, 2023

The other day I went to a birthday party with a build your own slider…

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Welcome to Merchant Homestead

Gardener Debbie
This is me, Debbie, in my natural habitat. Messy hair, natural face, wearing Dan’s borrowed jersey. This is the happy face of a girl in the sunshine, snacking on peas and picking spinach. It’s a good time and I’m glad you can enjoy it too. Thanks for following along my garden journey.
Peep the gardener! 👀 But for real, gardens are alw Peep the gardener! 👀 But for real, gardens are always under maintenance, there's always weeds creeping in or old dead growth to clear away. And while we don't need to do it every single day, it often is easier when we stay on top of things. Life seems much the same you know? Little bad habits or niggles can creep in, old ways of being might not serve us as well as they used to. There are always things to be pruning from our daily lives to stay happy and healthy, and while it's not something we have to obsess over daily, it is much easier when we regularly prune just a little here and there. It's a good time to reflect on what I could prune to make my life more lovely. #thegoodlife #mindfulness #japanesegarden #gardening #intentionalliving
Long time, no post! If you haven't grown suspiciou Long time, no post! If you haven't grown suspicious yet, the rumours are true. We are adventuring across Japan as we speak. I have a huge backlog of photos and videos that I haven't had the time to post because I've been too busy living life to the fullest. Perhaps I'll catch up at some point, but for now, let me show you a beautiful torii gate at Meiji Jingu. The first Shinto shrine we visited on our trip and one of the most beautiful. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this place, I highly recommend taking a tour with Alex from @welcome_to_jpn_ he is the best tour guide we've met on our trip so far and made it a great and insightful experience. Sending love to everyone back home ❤️✨️
Sourdough kit from @symbiota_fermenting has delive Sourdough kit from @symbiota_fermenting has delivered! Look at this beauty of a loaf. Got to be happy with that! 🤩🍞 #gifted #homebaking #fromscratch #sourdough #sourdoughbread
I know these aren't turning into fruit this time o I know these aren't turning into fruit this time of year, but I still appreciate the effort and the little blip of yellow in the winter garden. 💛
Smashing out some banana pancakes, too easy 🤤🍌 #f Smashing out some banana pancakes, too easy 🤤🍌 #fromscratch #homemadefood #cookwithme #breakfastideas #satisfying
The first harvest from the winter crops, and it fe The first harvest from the winter crops, and it feels good 😊🥬 #thegoodlife #harvestbasket #gardentotable #nzgardening #urbanhomestead
Give you one guess which way the big wind came fro Give you one guess which way the big wind came from 😅🥦
To my sweet baby, thank you for making my journey To my sweet baby, thank you for making my journey to our first Mother's Day eternally sweet. And to my wonderful husband, thank you for loving us and caring for us endlessly. What a blessed life we have the honour to live. ❤️ #thegoodlife #gratitude #motherslove #blessed #love
New sourdough era officially underway 🥖✨ Got gifte New sourdough era officially underway 🥖✨ Got gifted this starter kit from @symbiota_fermenting and I’m fully invested already. No beautiful loaves yet, just feeding the little science experiment and hoping for greatness. Will keep you posted on the journey 👀 #sourdoughstarter #sourdoughbread #homebaking #fromscratch #bakingbread
Our lawn mower died a few weeks ago. I loved that Our lawn mower died a few weeks ago. I loved that lawn mower. It was an absolute trooper and put up with a lot of hard yakka. I'm hoping we can get it fixed. But in the meantime my lawn looks like this. Long. But also, long enough to sparkle dew drops in the early morning sun. There are silver linings. 🌱💧
You know it's going to be a bread weekend when the You know it's going to be a bread weekend when the mammoth @ageenz flour jar gets a restock! #gifted #homebaking #fromscratch #kitchenaesthetic #breadmaking
I looked away for one second and boom - mandarins I looked away for one second and boom - mandarins 😮🍊
The beginning of every good meal 🤤 #homecooking The beginning of every good meal 🤤 #homecooking #comfortfood #cookingreels #fromscratch #homemadefood
The spinach is absolutely thriving out there these The spinach is absolutely thriving out there these days. Popeye would be pleased. 💪😊
Planting red onions today to fill my pantry next s Planting red onions today to fill my pantry next season. This punnet of seedlings cost me about $4 and it had close to 50 seedlings in it. Such good value! Especially when red onions are like $1.50 each at the supermarket right now. Here's hoping they all grow! 🤞🤩 #gardeningnz #GrowYourOwn #SlowLiving #gardentotable #homegarden
Winter veg loves a good cyclone apparently! These Winter veg loves a good cyclone apparently! These broccoli seedlings have absolutely taken off since the storm dumped a bunch of water on them. Remarkably they didn't even get flattened in the wind. How good 🤩🥦
Trying to buy less treats, so baking them instead! Trying to buy less treats, so baking them instead! 🍪 #fromscratchcooking #homebaking #homecooking #nzlife #cookies
Quick pesto with the last of the summer basil. Try Quick pesto with the last of the summer basil. Trying to make a bit more from scratch (and spend a bit less on food). Simple things like this go a long way. 🤩🍃 #gardentotable #fromscratchcooking #homecooking #nzlife #simplemeals
Been meaning to plant these for weeks but kept put Been meaning to plant these for weeks but kept putting it off. Finally got them in today, during a small window of sunshine 🌱 #homegarden #gardeningnz #thegoodlife #gardening #springbulbs
Hot crepes on a rainy Sunday morning, freshly cook Hot crepes on a rainy Sunday morning, freshly cooked from scratch and with love ❤️ #fromscratch #simplemeals #SlowLiving #cookwithme
Ultra satisfying water feature 👌 discovered on a l Ultra satisfying water feature 👌 discovered on a little wander around Darling Harbour a few months back. Rediscovered in my camera roll today and had to share the satisfaction because it's too good. Enjoy 😘 #satisfying #mesmerizing #zenvibes #mindfulmoments #soothing
Appreciating the garden blossoms before the cyclon Appreciating the garden blossoms before the cyclone rolls in this weekend. There's so many stunning flowers holding on to this autumn sun with dew kissed petals. I hope at least a few brave the storm and hang around to grace another day. If you're Auckland based, or even North Island by the sounds of it, batten the hatches because it sounds like winter is coming this weekend and coming with force. Hoping that you and yours stay safe and dry. ❤️
Looking for a cheatcode for making deep delicious Looking for a cheatcode for making deep delicious restaurant flavour food at home? Toast your spices whole! Freshly grind after that and you will have mountains more richness of flavour than if you're just using pre-packaged pre-ground powders. These beauties ended up in some absolutely kickin venison meatballs at my place. What have you got for dinner tonight? 🤤🍴 #homemadefood #fromscratch #inmykitchen #cookinghacks #dinnerideas
Some people think nasturtiums are a weed. And it's Some people think nasturtiums are a weed. And it's true, they grow and spread enthusiastically. But that's been such a blessing for me, as they sprout and weave their way amongst my front garden flowers, filling in the gaps with their whimsical round leaves and their bright and cheerful flowers. There are the little seeds responsible. There are so many and they happily sprinkle around the place, but if you don't want them to spread you can pick these off and remarkably pickle them into something that resembles a peppery caper! How cool is that?
Continuing the series, there's still so much garde Continuing the series, there's still so much garden to reclaim! This bed remarkably still has a dahlia, some chamomile and a couple of nice looking beetroot to harvest under all that! Now it's ripe for the planting. What shall I plant here for winter? #thegoodlife #mybackyard #gardening #transformation #oddlysatisfyingvideos
Say hello tiny carrot cube! This remarkably square Say hello tiny carrot cube! This remarkably square baby beauty has been tucked beneath the weeds that had taken over my garden bed since becoming a mama. What a find. Of course I ate it moments later.. 😅🥕
I'm not the only one enjoying the garden today. Th I'm not the only one enjoying the garden today. The tūi are out singing their songs and snacking on nectar. Pop sound on for a listen 🎶 👌 #nativebirds #thegoodlife #nzbirds #birdwatching #birdsofinstagram
I'm feeling a real love for autumn this weekend. T I'm feeling a real love for autumn this weekend. The blue skies and the fresh cool air. The leaves that crunch under foot. And my little garden, settling back in to some form of intention. The little broccoli seedlings have grown a new leaf and that feels very nice indeed. 🥰🌱
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