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Merchant Homestead
Merchant Homestead
Kitchen Seeded sourdough bread

Seeded Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Debbie,
August 19, 2024August 19, 2024

I’ve lived most of my life as a plain white sourdough bread enthusiast. The classic….

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Kitchen Roasted white beans and tomatoes on toast

Roasted White Beans and Tomatoes

Debbie,
May 26, 2024May 26, 2024

This recipe for Roasted White Beans and Tomatoes is a highly nutritious, delicious and vegetarian…

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Garden

Salad in all Seasons

Debbie,
March 21, 2024March 21, 2024

Salad greens are a staple in many diets, offering a burst of freshness and nutrients…

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Kitchen harvest of lemons and tangelos

Tangelo Spritzer Cocktail

Debbie,
October 27, 2023October 27, 2023

It’s Spring cocktail time! This is my go-to sunny evening sip for this time of…

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Garden Large blueberry grown in a pot

Potted Blueberry Forest

Debbie,
September 29, 2023September 29, 2023

Blueberries are a delightful and delicious addition to any garden. While they typically thrive in…

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Garden Italian basil

Basil Growing Guide

Debbie,
September 21, 2023September 21, 2023

Fresh basil is such a wonderful addition to the summer garden, check out our Basil…

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Chickens

The Multi-coloured Egg Carton

Debbie,
September 15, 2023September 15, 2023

While we are very used to the standard supermarket brown eggs in New Zealand, us…

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Kitchen cornbread

Cornbread Recipe

Debbie,
July 12, 2023July 12, 2023

Let’s be honest here, when I was a child the only good thing about Soup…

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Garden

How to Grow Spinach

Debbie,
July 10, 2023July 10, 2023

Spinach, known for its vibrant green leaves and nutritional value, is a versatile and easy-to-grow…

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Garden

Marigolds – Blossoming Benefits to your Garden

Debbie,
July 6, 2023June 28, 2023

Your garden is a sanctuary of nature’s wonders, a place where vibrant colors, soothing scents,…

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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.
Just a lil basket of homegrown bananas 😊🍌 Just a lil basket of homegrown bananas 😊🍌
White flowers in a fresh breeze. Cool autumn air. White flowers in a fresh breeze. Cool autumn air. Pockets of sunshine peeking through the clouds. Great music. A gentle pace. Dreams of the future. What are you grateful for today? #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #mindfulness #gratitude #peace
Stumbled across this on the weekend while I was ti Stumbled across this on the weekend while I was tidying up a little in the gardens. Not 100%, but I have a suspicion it's a brussel sprout I planted last year that never came to anything. That or a cabbage gone rouge. We'll have to wait n see! 😅🥬
One of the most satisfying parts of a little garde One of the most satisfying parts of a little garden tidy up is coming across all of the old plants left to seed. These are spinach seeds, and before I tear back the old dead branches, I rub them off and drop them into the soil. Some won't grow, but some probably will, and next season I'll have spinach all over again and it's completely free. 😊🌱 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #mybackyard #natureisbeautiful #gardening #fromseed
Happy banana harvest day!!! Finally!!! 🍌🍌🍌 We have waited such a long time for this. After a sad situation with our first bunch via a neighbours early harvest, finally we have our second bunch of bananas. Properly fleshed out, plump, sweet, and delicious. I am a happy camper!! Homegrown bananas FTW! 🍌 🤩
Tabouleh is my current fav salad, and there is not Tabouleh is my current fav salad, and there is nothing better in a tabouleh than fistfuls of fresh mint! I recklessly planted mint in my garden against all advice and sensibility, and I'm nowhere near regretting it yet! 😅🌱
If your chickens are running to the same schedule If your chickens are running to the same schedule as mine, it's time to settle in for a winters rest and hit pause on the frittata. We still have the odd egg laid here and there, enough for a weekend brunch, but the girls are due a rest, and they are taking it. Good on you ladies, thanks for your service ❤️🐔
A few sunny autumn days and the capsicum are flowe A few sunny autumn days and the capsicum are flowering again.... get outside and bloom y'all! ☀️🫑
I forgot I planted peas 🤣 my brain has been dec I forgot I planted peas 🤣 my brain has been decidedly custard these last few weeks and so imagine my delight stumbling across a pea blossom! Hopefully this weekend we'll get a gap in the rain and I can give this lil lady the support she deserves!
The last loaf of bread baked in our old faithful s The last loaf of bread baked in our old faithful shacklock oven. Only baked one because all our bread tins are already in storage. This beauty shall help to feed us while our kitchen is ripped out and replaced! 🍞 #merchanthomestead #urbanhomestead #fromscratch #homemadefood #sourdough #bakingbread #sourdoughbread
The luffa grows! In amongst all the wintering and The luffa grows! In amongst all the wintering and waning, the luffa still grows. Will this one day be big enough to harvest? Only time will tell.
Mixing up a little sourdough for my Saturday, and Mixing up a little sourdough for my Saturday, and filling the house with fresh bread smells. What a joy ❤️🍞😊 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #fromscratch #homemadefood #sourdough #sourdoughbread #bakingbread #dough #mindfulness
A fistful of spice coming in from the greenhouse t A fistful of spice coming in from the greenhouse today 🤩🌶
We spent the weekend with friends away on Waiheke, We spent the weekend with friends away on Waiheke, lounging at the beach, baking bread, hunting Easter eggs and having a jolly old time. Meanwhile storm clouds had skirted around our edges and dumped a tropical cyclone on our little homestead. High winds, big rain, my little garden was left to fend for itself. I got out this morning to see how she fared and I will say, better than expected! A few pots blown over and vertical plants now sideways. The chicken fence barely standing but chickens still happily contained. And my beautiful bunch of bananas still happily dangling in the tree 😍🍌 Good job little homestead ❤️
Baking bread and sharing skills with beautiful fri Baking bread and sharing skills with beautiful friends... what better way to spend a long weekend! 🥰🍞 #thegoodlife #fromscratch #homemadefood #sourdough #focaccia #homesteading #qualitytime
It's that time of year where rain drops hang heavy It's that time of year where rain drops hang heavy in the asparagus ferns. We are braced for a storm this evening and while I wish all of you a safe and secure night, I'd also like to admire the beauty of our changing seasons, and the untamed world in which we still somehow live so comfortably. ❤️
Well, even though my luffa plant is very late to t Well, even though my luffa plant is very late to the party, it seems to be giving this fruiting thing a crack! I don't have high hopes but nothing's impossible 😆🥒
Shout out to the serrano! This plant has received Shout out to the serrano! This plant has received a number of shout outs this summer, I think, due to its ongoing tolerance, resilience, and understanding. I've been less than attentive, and by consequence, this plant, tucked in the shelter of the greenhouse, has been living in significant manmade drought conditions. Regardless, she continues to support my harvesting needs with these beautiful, spicy, sweet red numbers. Thank you for your commitment to the cause! 😍🌶🌶🌶
You know how some plants love to climb? They wrap You know how some plants love to climb? They wrap their little tendrils around and grip on as they work their way up. You wonder how they know to grab on. It is because of these teeny tiny little hairs, often hard to see, but in this moment, catching the light just perfectly. 🌱
Hello sweet friends! Some of you know with baby on Hello sweet friends! Some of you know with baby on the way, we're heading into renovations at our place, and so the time has come to sell our gorgeous antique stove. We've thrown it up on trademe and would love it to go to a loving home. If you know someone who loves antiques, European vintage, or just the most charming offgrid appliance you've ever seen - please pass this on to them. ❤️ Find it here https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/antiques-collectables/appliances/listing/5253962517 or search 1920s Belgian Leuven oven stove #antique #offgrid #homesteading #vintage #Belgian
The rain has come! Hope you're snugged up cosy ins The rain has come! Hope you're snugged up cosy inside while your garden gets a nice watering 😊🌱🌧
Anyone else been fossicking around their feijoa tr Anyone else been fossicking around their feijoa trees today?! These beauts smell divine 😍
My bananas are looking so plump. My last bunch nev My bananas are looking so plump. My last bunch never made it this long and I am EXCITED 😍🍌
The broccoli are settling into their new outdoor h The broccoli are settling into their new outdoor home in fine form. They've already started decorating with their little dew drops every morning 🥰
The lawns are getting done today, possibly for the The lawns are getting done today, possibly for the first time all summer (actually, it's not even summer anymore). We've been otherwise occupied and things have just grown, as they do. So tonight was the beginning of the lawn wrangling, but before that could be done, just a moment to appreciate one of the cute little sprouts who have found their home here amongst the wild. 🌱
Somehow, I don't think these stripey bois are goin Somehow, I don't think these stripey bois are going to ripen up, but I don't have the heart to tear them out today 😅🍅
Autumn colours have arrived on the homestead, beau Autumn colours have arrived on the homestead, beautiful reds and oranges amongst the last of the greens. 🧡🍁
First harvest off the backyard feijoa trees today, First harvest off the backyard feijoa trees today, and they're teeny charming delicious balls of joy 🤩🥰
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