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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.
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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