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Merchant Homestead
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Kitchen Smoked fish cakes

Smoked Fish Cakes Recipe

Debbie,
September 23, 2022February 17, 2023

Smoked Fish Cakes are probably the first full meal I have made from entirely self-sufficient…

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Garden Snowland Chrysanthemum

Beneficial Flowers

Debbie,
September 16, 2022September 21, 2023

Often when new gardeners start out, there’s a huge focus on edibles and harvests, and…

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Kitchen

Chocolate Brownie Protein Bites

Debbie,
September 9, 2022September 9, 2022

This recipe is a delicious and absolutely guilt free snack, that my beautiful friend Amanda…

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Garden Heritage tomato harvest

Tomato Varieties

Debbie,
September 1, 2022February 17, 2023

Every gardener loves a good tomato, and there are so many tomato varieties to choose…

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Garden Candy kumara harvest

Sprouting Kūmara Slips

Debbie,
August 24, 2022August 24, 2022

One crop I am such a fan of in my backyard garden is kūmara, and…

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Kitchen

Sourdough Pita Bread

Debbie,
August 20, 2022August 21, 2022

I have really jumped aboard the Sourdough bandwagon, but we’re a small family who doesn’t…

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Garden Squash

Cucurbits & Bobs – Squash varieties & seed saving

Debbie,
August 17, 2022August 17, 2022

Did you know there are three main cucurbit varieties here in New Zealand? I did…

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Garden Homegrown Potatoes

Determinate and Indeterminate Potatoes

Debbie,
August 10, 2022August 10, 2022

Did you know there are determinate and indeterminate potatoes?! If you’re a keen gardener, you…

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Kitchen Pickled beetroot

Pickled Beetroot

Debbie,
July 29, 2022February 17, 2023

I love pickled beetroot. Beets are some of the most easy low-fuss root vegetables to…

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Garden Healthy peach tree

Leaf Curl Prevention and Control

Debbie,
July 28, 2022July 31, 2022

Every spring I see posts sprouting up across social media, where home gardeners are desperately…

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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.
I forgot I planted peas 🤣 my brain has been dec I forgot I planted peas 🤣 my brain has been decidedly custard these last few weeks and so imagine my delight stumbling across a pea blossom! Hopefully this weekend we'll get a gap in the rain and I can give this lil lady the support she deserves!
The last loaf of bread baked in our old faithful s The last loaf of bread baked in our old faithful shacklock oven. Only baked one because all our bread tins are already in storage. This beauty shall help to feed us while our kitchen is ripped out and replaced! 🍞 #merchanthomestead #urbanhomestead #fromscratch #homemadefood #sourdough #bakingbread #sourdoughbread
The luffa grows! In amongst all the wintering and The luffa grows! In amongst all the wintering and waning, the luffa still grows. Will this one day be big enough to harvest? Only time will tell.
Mixing up a little sourdough for my Saturday, and Mixing up a little sourdough for my Saturday, and filling the house with fresh bread smells. What a joy ❤️🍞😊 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #fromscratch #homemadefood #sourdough #sourdoughbread #bakingbread #dough #mindfulness
A fistful of spice coming in from the greenhouse t A fistful of spice coming in from the greenhouse today 🤩🌶
We spent the weekend with friends away on Waiheke, We spent the weekend with friends away on Waiheke, lounging at the beach, baking bread, hunting Easter eggs and having a jolly old time. Meanwhile storm clouds had skirted around our edges and dumped a tropical cyclone on our little homestead. High winds, big rain, my little garden was left to fend for itself. I got out this morning to see how she fared and I will say, better than expected! A few pots blown over and vertical plants now sideways. The chicken fence barely standing but chickens still happily contained. And my beautiful bunch of bananas still happily dangling in the tree 😍🍌 Good job little homestead ❤️
Baking bread and sharing skills with beautiful fri Baking bread and sharing skills with beautiful friends... what better way to spend a long weekend! 🥰🍞 #thegoodlife #fromscratch #homemadefood #sourdough #focaccia #homesteading #qualitytime
It's that time of year where rain drops hang heavy It's that time of year where rain drops hang heavy in the asparagus ferns. We are braced for a storm this evening and while I wish all of you a safe and secure night, I'd also like to admire the beauty of our changing seasons, and the untamed world in which we still somehow live so comfortably. ❤️
Well, even though my luffa plant is very late to t Well, even though my luffa plant is very late to the party, it seems to be giving this fruiting thing a crack! I don't have high hopes but nothing's impossible 😆🥒
Shout out to the serrano! This plant has received Shout out to the serrano! This plant has received a number of shout outs this summer, I think, due to its ongoing tolerance, resilience, and understanding. I've been less than attentive, and by consequence, this plant, tucked in the shelter of the greenhouse, has been living in significant manmade drought conditions. Regardless, she continues to support my harvesting needs with these beautiful, spicy, sweet red numbers. Thank you for your commitment to the cause! 😍🌶🌶🌶
You know how some plants love to climb? They wrap You know how some plants love to climb? They wrap their little tendrils around and grip on as they work their way up. You wonder how they know to grab on. It is because of these teeny tiny little hairs, often hard to see, but in this moment, catching the light just perfectly. 🌱
Hello sweet friends! Some of you know with baby on Hello sweet friends! Some of you know with baby on the way, we're heading into renovations at our place, and so the time has come to sell our gorgeous antique stove. We've thrown it up on trademe and would love it to go to a loving home. If you know someone who loves antiques, European vintage, or just the most charming offgrid appliance you've ever seen - please pass this on to them. ❤️ Find it here https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/antiques-collectables/appliances/listing/5253962517 or search 1920s Belgian Leuven oven stove #antique #offgrid #homesteading #vintage #Belgian
The rain has come! Hope you're snugged up cosy ins The rain has come! Hope you're snugged up cosy inside while your garden gets a nice watering 😊🌱🌧
Anyone else been fossicking around their feijoa tr Anyone else been fossicking around their feijoa trees today?! These beauts smell divine 😍
My bananas are looking so plump. My last bunch nev My bananas are looking so plump. My last bunch never made it this long and I am EXCITED 😍🍌
The broccoli are settling into their new outdoor h The broccoli are settling into their new outdoor home in fine form. They've already started decorating with their little dew drops every morning 🥰
The lawns are getting done today, possibly for the The lawns are getting done today, possibly for the first time all summer (actually, it's not even summer anymore). We've been otherwise occupied and things have just grown, as they do. So tonight was the beginning of the lawn wrangling, but before that could be done, just a moment to appreciate one of the cute little sprouts who have found their home here amongst the wild. 🌱
Somehow, I don't think these stripey bois are goin Somehow, I don't think these stripey bois are going to ripen up, but I don't have the heart to tear them out today 😅🍅
Autumn colours have arrived on the homestead, beau Autumn colours have arrived on the homestead, beautiful reds and oranges amongst the last of the greens. 🧡🍁
First harvest off the backyard feijoa trees today, First harvest off the backyard feijoa trees today, and they're teeny charming delicious balls of joy 🤩🥰
Forgot I planted a luffa quite some time ago. It'd Forgot I planted a luffa quite some time ago. It'd been buried under pickles n tomatoes for the summer, but now that those have come out.. we have surprise luffa flowers! 🤣 Most likely too late to grow anything harvestable but they look pretty cool none the less.
It's been a rainy old autumn week in the big smoke It's been a rainy old autumn week in the big smoke, and I haven't had very much time outside, but tonight there was a little break. I ventured out into the cool evening air and spent just a while amongst the long grass and gardens. There's still little sniffs of summer holding on, like this little tomato blossom, heavy from the rain. 😊
Mix up a couple of sourdough loaves with me 😊 Mix up a couple of sourdough loaves with me 😊 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #fromscratch #homemadefood #sourdough #bakingbread #sourdoughbread #homebaking
My little welcome home from the feijoa tree 🥰 My little welcome home from the feijoa tree 🥰
Getting some pep in my step and giving the chicken Getting some pep in my step and giving the chicken house a good clean. It's super easy with our new style coop, dump the bedding trays, hose off and water blast any grubby bits, leave to dry (and let a chicken perch a while) and then fresh bedding and back together. Happy nesting, my flock! 😊🐔🐓 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #mybackyard #chickensofinstagram #backyardchickens #cleaning #yardwork #homesteading
New sprout coming to Merchant Homestead this winte New sprout coming to Merchant Homestead this winter ❤️
Pickled the last jar of gherkins for the season on Pickled the last jar of gherkins for the season on the weekend before tearing out the plants to make way for something new. There were just a couple of tiny fruit still left so into the jar they went. I'm sure I've seen teeny tiny snack gherkins on fancy platters before, so hopefully that's where these lil beauties are headed! 😆🥒
I think it's time to acknowledge this beauty, whic I think it's time to acknowledge this beauty, which is my serrano chilli. It's taller than me (not hard), has been neglected many a time, shrivelled, blown over and yet still gets up again, and has started churning out these spicy little numbers like it's going out of fashion. What a star 🌶🤩 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #mybackyard #harvest #chillies #growingfood #gardening
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