Garden to bed, sailing and garden inspired art

We are getting ready to leave for the winter.

We finished building the raised beds in the deer proof garden area, purchased some top soil and sea soil compost and filled the new beds with this mix.

Have spent some time cleaning out the summer beds and moving plants around into the new beds. Then any bare spots got sown with a green manure- a mix of field peas and buck wheat. The buck wheat may be killed off if we have frost during the winter, but the peas will keep going through to the spring. All helping to hold the soil together and protect it from the winter rains.

The buck wheat doesn't take long to get growing in the warm soil.

We managed one last sailing trip. Took the boat to the main land- to Echo Bay. Incredibly beautiful and lots of sitings of hump back whales and dolphins.
We took along lots of veges from the garden-lettuce, arugala, peas, beans, broccoli, zucchini and pac choi.

We even managed to catch the odd fish.

I have been taking inspiration from the garden this summer and have produced some garden art.

Next week we are off to Thailand where we are developing a new piece of property we are moving on to up in the mountains. I'm sure there will be lots to learn there.

Finishing up in New Zealand

Our bags are packed and our boxes are ready to go to the shipping company as we wind up our life in New Zealand.
The whole experience is very emotional but we are also excited about the next adventure.
The garden is sadly neglected so will benefit hugely from some fresh energy from the new owners.
We are still harvesting lettuce, pak choi, tomatoes and Chinese cabbage and there are still dozens of chillies on the pepper plant.

The chrysanthemums are putting on a impressive display, and brightening up the garden.

The kiwi fruit are huge and only weeks from being ready to eat. the odd one falls to the ground and if I am quick I get at least a taste.

The persimmons are hanging like jewels from their tree. They are still not quite ripe, so may miss sampling them as well this season.
Our next stop is Thailand. As it cools down here this autumn season, it is heating up there as they move into their rainy season. What a contrast it will be.