"My kitchen is my garden, every time I step outside, I am inspired."

I wish that was my quote but it isn't, it belongs to Skye Gyngell. No matter! I'm using it anyway because I think it perfectly describes the way I feel. I love her simpler and more produce inspired style of cooking. Her focus is on local, seasonal produce (she grows most of the vegetables/fruits/herbs in their garden at Petersham Nurseries Cafe) and makes for unpretentious and honest food with flavours that are simple,clean and clear.

People these days are more conscious of where their food comes from and there are few things in life that are more satisfying and rewarding than eating fresh, healthy home grown fruits and vegetables...cultivated and produced by your own hard work and care. There is definitely something therapeutic and soothing about cultivating the earth and watching it produce the very foods that give us life. I love starting the day watering my garden and discovering veggies that seem to have appeared overnight.

There is no way I, my family or friends would have foreseen me having a vegetable garden three years ago.... a vineyard yes... vegetables, no.  It truly amazes me how different stages in your life lead you to new and wonderful experiences.

And who would have ever thought I would own........

Chooks

I love my spice girls (named after the band because there are five of them, not because one day they will be tasty morsels for the table) - they are a delight to have around. I love watching them roam my yard, I love that they come when you call, I love collecting their eggs, I love watching the kids get excited about collecting their eggs. They are the best pets ever. For starters they eat all of my kitchen scraps and turn it into several products. The obvious one is fresh, organic eggs and the other is fertilizer for my veggie garden. Poached eggs would have to be my favourite way to eat an egg and I have never had success at poaching until now. Fresh organic free range is the answer for perfect poached eggs every time. Divine!

My hens live in the Hilton of hen houses. Designed by us and built by my wonderful and talented husband from recycled materials. The weatherboards actually came from a demolished ferry house on the Hawkesbury river and the slate roof from a skip on a building site. The site for the coop was originally an unsightly part of our land, mostly rock and not very good for anything. But now along with the vegetable garden, a permaculture paradise.

We can supply and build similar exquisite coops if you live in the Sydney/Central Coast area. Send your details via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will be happy to discuss the project with you.