The 2015 garlic harvest is approaching at a rapid rate of knots – so I thought it would be great to take a moment and reflect on all that we have learnt over the last twelve months … and, by crikey, it has been a lot …
As the mornings close in and the nights are cool – even if the days are still muggy as heck and a steamy 30 degree plus – autumn is definitely in the air.
Exciting times. Autumn means garlic planting!
Now that the Australian garlic harvest season is in full swing, we thought it timely for a little reminder on how to care for your delicious Australian grown garlic.
It’s that time of year … the briefest of lulls between preparing the vineyard and garlic harvest.
Since the launch of our wine based pastes and marmalades (and soon to come, mustards), and with an exuberant, bounding "dog" logo, several customers have asked – just who is Spotty Dog?
After a few months of growing concern - and following a brilliant Australian Garlic Industry Association seminar presentation by Penny Woodward, Letetia Ware and Trevor Gray - we have finally come to the conclusion that the garlic varieties (technically known as groups) we thought we bought are completely different to what we were actually sold.
I am embarrassed to realise it is nearly two months since I last wrote a snippet. Cold mornings, dark early evenings, busy days of vineyard maintenance and school holidays have all combined to make the days distinctly shorter than I remember.
What a crazy, topsy and interesting Bureau of Meteorology month we have just had.
The weather just doesn’t know if it’s summer or winter – with mild, mid-twenties days, balmy nights and we’re still swanning around in our summer wardrobes.
One thing we would like is some rain.
Brrrrrr … there is a distinct nip in the air. Snow is predicted on the Barrington’s – the horses’ coats have fuzzed up like rabbit fur and they are now rugged at night – the oilskins have been unpacked – homemade pumpkin soup and garlic bread is back on the menu – Spot and Cheeky squabble over prime position in front of the hearth - winter is definitely looming.
Time to light the fire … or should we say “fires”.
The garlic is planted!
All 7,000 cloves (give or take a dozen) with no major incidences – asides from the unexpected green-ant-down-the-shirt episode that almost ended in mid-paddock nudity. Hilarious, apparently, if you weren’t the bite-ee.
