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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.
I had a spare minute before work this morning, and I had a spare minute before work this morning, and I snuck out to the garden to make the most of it. Found a whole handful of beans, even though the plants are looking tired, a little forage around still brings up the goods. I got a little bit too carried away collecting that I was just about late for work, but hey, there are worse things. 😅🌱
Thanks to the bees! To the summer and the sun. Th Thanks to the bees! To the summer and the sun. Thanks to all who do the work needed done. To grow the big blossoms, the flowers so bright To bring us a meadow basked in daylight Thanks to the people, the birds and the bugs Who spend their time planting and pollinating shrubs So that each little plant can grow to its fullest of fulls And each little person can feel the garden, it pulls Because every human, we are drawn to the plants They bring us a calmness, and nourishment grants They fill our lungs with a breath of fresh air And all can relax when we find ourselves there So here's to the gardeners, the tenders of growth Here's to those nuturers who encourage us most Thank you for your mighty yet unsung efforts For after all, it is you, we owe for these sweet warm comforts 🌱🙏❤️ #natureisbeautiful #gardeners #gardening #poetry #sunflowers #nature #gratitude
The first of the feijoas are here! I adore this ti The first of the feijoas are here! I adore this time of year, where I pull into the driveway after work and wander over to see if any feijoas have fallen for me today. What an excellent way to be welcomed home. ❤️
Summer colours from the summer garden 🤩🍅☀️
This lil red is coming inside tonight! How gorgeou This lil red is coming inside tonight! How gorgeously crisp does he look?! 🫑🤩
This little blossom makes me feel pretty blessed. This little blossom makes me feel pretty blessed. My summer garden has been a law unto its own. Left to ramble and burst however it pleases while I've been popping in here n there collecting tomatoes hidden in thigh high grass and gherkins the size of gerbils. Much has been lost already to the mildew and fade, the vine hoppers and heat, while I've been under the weather and blanketed on the couch. And yet, this tomato, still brings forward another round of blossoms. Another bright yellow beacon for the little bees. Another glimmer of hope that the tomatoes are still coming. That summer marches on. And I think that's a pretty special thing. 🥰🌼
Last night, as a little birthday treat, we made a Last night, as a little birthday treat, we made a rustic Potato Dauphinoise and it did not disappoint. Creamy cheesy herby slow baked potatoes. Ultimate indulgence. 😍🥔🤤 #fromscratch #homemadefood #potatoes #homecooking
It looks like one of the last big bowls of blueber It looks like one of the last big bowls of blueberries to come in from berry forest this season. The bushes are just about finished, and it feels like summer has just flown by in a blink. 🫐☀️
It's my birthday, and my sweet flock all pitched i It's my birthday, and my sweet flock all pitched in and got me some eggs! Aren't they the best? 🤩
Over Auckland Anniversary weekend, we were booked Over Auckland Anniversary weekend, we were booked to hike the Routeburn Track. Unfortunately, the forecast wasn't looking promising for us, and at the last minute, we decided to cancel. Instead, we spent rainy days enjoying Glenorchy, but then on Monday, the sun came out. Determined to make the most of it, we set off from Routeburn Shelter, climbing over 15kms and 1200 vertical metres to the Harris Saddle in time for lunch. We ventured through old river beds, mossy wonderlands, fern filled forests, alpine tussocks and rocky mountain peaks to reach the stunning vista. Then we turned around and did it all again, downhill to the car. A huge mission, a mighty effort, and a trip well worth it. ❤️🏔 #natureisbeautiful #hiking #tramping #trekking #thegoodlife #outtheredoingit #mountains
We've been battling a rough cold this week, so I'v We've been battling a rough cold this week, so I've been indoors more than I would like and missing the garden. But today, I hoisted up my pjs and managed to get myself out to berry forest. Of course, I was richly rewarded. 🫐
Summer tomato bowls 😍🍅 Summer tomato bowls 😍🍅
Homegrown peach snacks - it's a yes from me 😍🍑
Just a lil peachy number today, bringing this fuzz Just a lil peachy number today, bringing this fuzzbowl inside for summer fruit indulgence 😍🍑
It's a good afternoon for a cup of tea and a bowl It's a good afternoon for a cup of tea and a bowl full of future pickles. These pickles got away on me and have grown bigger than ideal, but they're still good, so into the pickle jar they go! 😅🥒 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #fromscratch #homemadefood #picklelover #pickling #preserving #gherkin #pickles #homegrownfood
Cherry tomatoes are such a summer joy. Different c Cherry tomatoes are such a summer joy. Different coloured little bursts of sunsweetened juice. 😊🍅
When you haven't done a harvest in far too long an When you haven't done a harvest in far too long and the gherkins have been left unsupervised 😅🥒
Sometimes self care looks like a leisurely blueber Sometimes self care looks like a leisurely blueberry harvest 🫐 ❤️
Do you salt your gherkins before pickling? I do! T Do you salt your gherkins before pickling? I do! They sit in this little salt spa for a good few hours, which pulls a lot of the excess water out, making for crispier crunchier more delicious pickles. 😋🥒 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #fromscratch #homemadefood #picklelover #pickling #preserving #abundance #homegrownfood
Venturing into the summer garden without my basket Venturing into the summer garden without my basket 😅🍅
Plum cake fresh from the oven! 😋 #merchanthome Plum cake fresh from the oven! 😋 #merchanthomestead #fromscratch #homemadefood #homebaking #homemadedessert #treats
Quick pickle harvest this evening for another roun Quick pickle harvest this evening for another round of weekend pickling ahead 🥒🥒🥒😁
Alright folks. I have been blessed with an abundan Alright folks. I have been blessed with an abundance of gorgeous plums from my gorgeous friends. I have a few treats in mind but I'm also open to further inspiration. Hit me with your best plum recipes 😁😋
Where to go if you want to spend some time up clos Where to go if you want to spend some time up close and personal with New Zealands white tail deer? Port Williams hut on the Rakiura Track, Stewart Island. These beauties were completely unphased by a tribe of smitten on-lookers. This hind, and three spikers, entertained us for the afternoon. Grazing around the lawns, paths, and picnic tables, and playing chasing games down the beach. What a special experience. #natureisbeautiful #deer #stewartisland #greatwalksnz
I love the colours of a summer harvest basket, esp I love the colours of a summer harvest basket, especially the tomatoes 😍🍅
This evening, after all the chores were done, I to This evening, after all the chores were done, I took my little bowl (the one I handmade at pottery class) out into berry forest and filled it up with hundreds of little blessings. Each sweet berry, a treat from my own backyard, right at my fingertips. And it felt pretty special. 🥰🫐 #merchanthomestead #thegoodlife #urbanhomestead #mybackyard #natureisbeautiful #gardening #blueberries #pottery #handmade #gratitude #blessings #foodforest
The feijoas are starting to look pretty promising The feijoas are starting to look pretty promising this season 👌 😍 I remember last year, being able to walk over every day after work and pick up a couple to snack on before dinner. It was such a satisfying little ritual. Here's hoping we can do the same again this year! 🥰
Another beautiful courgette blossom. Yellow and br Another beautiful courgette blossom. Yellow and bright like this summer sunshine ☀️ 🤩
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