Dearest Reader, even though I have not been writing I do think of you! So here is a very partial update. Today has been a day of gardening, in which I’ve laid cardboard down to limit weeds on a path and laid street tree leaves over it; my beloved dug out a compost bin; I collected more scraps to begin filling it again (and more leaves for the carbon component); and I problem solved a friend’s “broken” sewing machine over the phone.
She had thread stuck in the machine! Broken! She had never heard the expression “bobbin casing” or “bobbin race” before, and was very grateful that I had suggested she read the manual for her machine. She has had it for decades and never known how to wind the bobbin. I found the manual online and we printed it out a few weeks back. Her machine is running better than ever! So should you be in her position–there are LOADS of sewing machine manuals on the internet, and cleaning, oiling and threading up your machine according to the manual, then replacing the needle? Almost miraculous. Also, getting stuck thread out of “the workings” is do-able at home, by YOU.
I also gave away seedlings to friends I came across on one of the bike trips of this day; finally gave away our stash of used bubble wrap and the sweet potatoes I dug yesterday, through Buy Nothing.
I wanted to love these purple tubers but we have tried them so many times and find them tasteless.
I’ve joined #winterofcareandrepair with @thepeoplesmending on instagram, but since I am in Australia, it is not winter, and for me it is #seasonofcareandrepair. I’ve been a bit fast and loose with what I include, but it’s all in what I hope is the right direction. Basically, I’ve reached the point where I have a lot of textiles that require responsible disposal. Upcycling cannot be a reality for everything. So there is some downcycling of raggedy textiles to rag or stuffing or compost.
Here we have: worn out cotton knit to cleaning pads, elastic for reuse + stuffing; worn out hemp shirt to buttons for re-use; cleaning cloths + stuffing; and (sob) my thoroughly worn out Harris tweed top on its final trip to the worm farm where I am sure it is being devoured with satisfaction right now. The care and repair focus has had me trying to be a bit more thorough on a few things. I cleaned out the U-bend in the bathroom sink! And when I found this little case full of Fowlers Vacola bits and bobs at an op shop, I shared them with friends who also preserve fruit, and figured out how to fix the locks, hinges and re-attach the hinge that had pulled out. I did have to reacquaint myself with the pop riveter, but it is not rocket science and YouTube is an amazing resource! Plus, the life changing magic of lubrication rolls on and on.
Is that not cuteness? I know. It’s rusty, bashed up cuteness. But–I am glad to have rescued and repaired it and I will use it. I think I might use it for carrying essential mending kit when I teach mending. It is lined with a 1976 newspaper full of ads for shops that have long since closed. And it was MADE in South Australia. You don’t see too much of that any more. I’ve added a sticker on the inside where something else has been ripped off, leaving a messy patch.
I also picked up this tea tin from Buy Nothing. I will make a mending kit from it.
And so, to guerilla gardening. I’m back on one of my train line patches. I went out with ruby saltbush and bitter saltbush, water, stakes, tools and gloves.
I dug holes, added stakes, allocated seedlings, watered them and collected lots of leaves. There was so little soil I headed home to get compost and more water. Yes, as a matter of fact, I do live to haul filthy stuff around my neighbourhood on my bike!
There was track work going on, on the train line, and one of the workers set up his chair right beside where I was working. He said that poisoning from the track side should not go outside the rail corridor, but that drift might be causing the poisoning I see in this patch. Hmm. It’s an interesting thought and it may be a clue that someone else is involved in this patch, where there has recently been mowing of areas further along so only the larger specimens and plants with stakes remain; and this patch has had a haircut in line with the kerb. Anyway, I planted the saltbush into compost, gave almost all of them a stake since that seems to be a winning strategy at this stage; and watered them into their newly applied duvets of eucalyptus leaf mulch.
On the trip home, street tree leaves for our composting setup, empty pots and my stuff.
I hope you’re travelling well and your gardens are growing wherever they may be. And to conclude, I felt so good this morning when I was on the phone with my sewing machine owning, grateful friend, and there was a tickle on my ear. I brushed off the tickle, and it was a ladybird larva!! Now THAT is a blessing if ever there was one. Grow and thrive, little one!
Local & Bespoke 