Category: other
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FarmersMarket: Bunbury – WA
My draw dropped when I visited the Bunbury Farmers Market last weekend for the first time. My wife had to keep pulling me away from one display only to lose me at the next. I love farmer’s markets at the best of times but this place is something else.
This under cover market reminded me of what supermarkets were like when I was growing up, in Perth 20 years ago, but with modern touches. All of the food, 90 percent sourced locally from 150 growers and not cold stored for months, is of exceptional quality but doesn’t feel over processed. They also use that same fresh produce and meat when making their value added products right there on the premises.
Each section is well presented, serviced by very friendly staff and there are kiosks giving out samples and cheerful advice. The service starts in the car-park however with attendants helping you park during busy hours and ends with a cafe (where I got one of the best espressos I have ever had).
Here are some details from the website and then I will show you some of my photos of the visit :).
PH: (08) 9724 2999
Web: https://bunburyfarmersmarket.com.au/
Address: 2 Vittoria Road, Glen Iris, Bunbury, Western Australia 6230
Opening Times:Weekdays 7:30am – 6:30pm Saturdays 7:30am – 5:30pm Sundays 8:30am – 5:30pm Related Links:
- More posts about Farmers Markets can be seen here
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PK Reviews: Nylex 5L Shoulder Sprayer
The Nylex 5L and 8L Shoulder Sprayers are perfect for people with kitchen gardens, even large ones. I am reviewing several of the Nylex Sprayer range and I started with their Nylex 1.5L 360° Sprayer. Please see the other Nylex reviews here.
In short I couldn’t be more pleased with my 5L Shoulder Sprayer and I bought it for next to nothing from my local Bunnings. At ~$22 AUD it is very good value for money and one of my units has been in use for 3 years now.
This pressure sprayer is perfect for spraying plants with dense hard to reach foliage (such as chili plants and tomato plants) with both targeted solutions such as pyrethrum or full plant coverage solutions such as bio-oil. You could even use it on trees such as large citrus plants.
My favourite bio-oil by the way is http://ecoorganicgarden.com.au/products/pest-disease/eco-oil/ and no they are not paying me to say that :).
A trigger spray (although Nylex makes good/affordable versions of these) is not going to suffice as they can’t spray upside down and don’t have the holding capacity. Turning the leaves is going to end up getting spray on you and also leaf/foliage damage.
Note: This is not a paid post.
Product Reviewed:
- Nylex 5L Shoulder Sprayer
Pros:
- Very good build quality for a very low price
- 2 year warranty on the UV resistant plastic bottle
- Fibre glass wand with fan and jet nozzles works well with the D shaped handle or supplied shoulder strap to allow you to spray where you want and only where you want
- D shaped handle also makes for easy pumping and even stores the wand when not in use
- Lockable trigger on the wand
- Safety pressure release valve that also makes for easy de-pressuring when you are finished
- Easy to read incremented 1.0L marks so you can accurately mix your concentrate solutions
- Plastic sleeve for holding labels to indicate what type of solution you are keeping the sprayer for e.g.. fungicides vs insecticides (this is one of my favourite features as I don’t like to use the same sprayer for different treatments)
- Filter mechanism avoids blockages
- Spare o-rings etc are available
Cons:
- None that I can tell, sorry 🙂
Availability:
- Available at your local Bunnings https://www.bunnings.com.au/nylex-5l-shoulder-garden-sprayer_p2962002
The Verdict:
Great product at a very reasonable price and easy to store when not in use. Build quality is very high and you should get many years out of it. Once I bought my first one I could not go back. You are going to use a lot less plastic packaging and save money by using such a sprayer.
If you have any questions about the product range I recommend contacting the Nylex team at http://www.nylexwatering.com/contact-us/
Hope this review helps and feel free to send me any comments or corrections.
Enjoy,
PK
Related Links:
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Happy 1st Birthday
I almost can’t believe it has been a year since my first blog post, PK’s Beef Jerky.
What started out as a mental outlet in the middle of the night (I was up a lot at night after my second child was born) has become a focal point for sharing my passions with all of you.
Highlights from the year:
- so many helpful comments and tips from readers
- money raised for charity
- new friends made
- loads of excuses to be in the garden all the time (‘…it is for the blog honey’)
- new dishes tried and munched on
- bonding with my children over gardening, cooking and fishing
- spreading the work of other passionate people
- got in contact with amazing people on Facebook and Instagram.
I guess I just wanted to say thanks to everyone and promise to keep working with you to create exciting content next year. A special thanks to the guest bloggers for doing things I can’t, coming to my house to teach me things and answering a million questions (Ben) on garden pests, composting and chilis :).
I really need to get more catching content to you (fishing mostly) as I have been a bit lax in 2016 there. At the very least this will involve a fish species guide/index and lots of equipment guides and reviews.
Hope to see you before growitcatchitcookit.com turns 2 :),
PK
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Josh’s Weber Q Baby Review
Weber has been around since the 1950’s and we have seen the shape change ever so slightly over the years, with each new model keeping the “round” kettle shape.
In 2004 a new model (and shape) was released, known as the “Weber Q” Series. A couple of years later, a “Weber Q Baby” was released, and it’s as it sounds, a smaller version of the Weber Q.
Here are the differences – the Baby Q is on the right:
I acquired the Baby Q Q1000 from Myer when they had a special on a few weeks back for $289, normally they are around the $320-$330 price range. The Baby Q was purchased for camping mainly, and events where a small BBQ would come in handy. My old man has a Q2000 (The big guy) and it’s a great BBQ to use, whether it be for smoking meats, or just simply grilling them.
Once it was home, it was an easy assembly and you simply need a Philips Screw Driver. The new grill and flat plate, being cast iron, was then lightly oiled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and then with low heat, was left running for 15 minutes, to burn the new BBQ in. Once this was completed, a quick wipe down and it was boxed back up.
If you purchase one of these, based on this or any other review, the Baby Q only comes with the grill on each side, and I would recommend getting the flat plat for the right hand side (around $60) as its definitely worth having a flat plate!
It uses a normal LPG gas bottle, with the POL fitting. BCF sells a 4kg bottle which is more than enough gas for a week away, with it being used for dinner and breakfast.
For those who wish to be prepared, it would be about 30-45mins a day burn time, 5 days total usage and we have about 2kg left of the 4kg of GAS we left with.
A week ago, my partner and I left for Bremer Bay and Albany. A week later and we absolutely LOVE the Baby Q and it’s the perfect size for portability! We cooked multiple types of food, being: bacon, eggs, toast, tomatoes, burgers, steak, corn and chorizo sausage. None of the times, did the food come out undercooked and was flavoursome.
Like with any review, there are a few things worth noting that would make the unit better.
I also have a few tips that will help you get the most out of your Baby Q:
- The hose requires a bit of stretching. It took a couple of days cooking to get the LPG hose to the right movability to connect to the gas bottle.
- A hook to hang your cooking utensils on would be welcomed. This is an easy fix by getting the stand. Depending on size of course!
- Get a couple of spare drip tray’s, or have some spare alfoil (aluminum foil) around. We used the alfoil to make a drip tray and it worked just as good as the Weber branded ones.
- Keep the lid down while cooking, there is a lot of heat loss when it’s up. Remember it’s more like a portable oven than a BBQ.
- When you have finished with it, wash it and keep it clean. A well cleaned BBQ is easier to cook with and will produce a better taste. Also ensure a light oil coating is applied before storing it away long team to protect from rust on the Cast Iron.
Would I recommend this?
YES I WOULD 🙂
Josh
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PK Reviews: Beer Can Chicken Roasting Rack
I got this beer can chicken roasting rack from Bunnings for a steal. I used it with a half full can of beer the first time and the result was very pleasing.
Between you and me though, I prefer to skip the beer can and use a lemon instead. The lemon keeps the stuffing inside the chicken, imparts a beautiful citrus aroma and keeps the chicken just as moist.
Check out the result:
Cheers,
PK
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2L Fermenting Glass Jar With Airlock
The addition of a food grade one-way valve turns this preserving jar into a small batch fermentation vessel. It should cost less than $30AUD pre-made and you can make your own if you buy the airlock for around $10AUD.
Perfect for making thinks like:
- cider
- ginger beer
- kimchi
- sauerkraut
- kombucha
- vinegar
Tip: Never fill a cold glass vessel with boiling water without warming it in a bath of hot water from the tap. It will crack otherwise.
Enjoy,
PK
Related Links:
- see PK’s Small Batch Hard Ginger Beer
- see more preserving posts here
- see more equipment posts here
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PK’s No Recipe Pizza Warmers
Winter is trying to get back at Perth at the moment and although the sun is out, we are getting cold winds and rain. This makes for chilly evenings, so my family fought back with these really easy pizzas.
Steps:
- Make or buy your pizza bases (I did the latter).
- Make or buy pizza sauce (I did the former with some reduced tomato pasata and Italian herbs from the garden.
- Spread the sauce over the pizza bases.
- Layer your pizza with your favourite toppings. My secret is to put any leafy greens on top of the sauce but under the cheese. It stops them drying out but you didn’t hear it from me :).
- Whack them in the oven on ~180°C for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy,
PK
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PK Reviews: Romak Shed Shelving
I am finally getting my main garden shed in some sort of order storage-wise. It is only a small rectangular brick shed so storage efficiency is the key as is maximising the available footprint for working in.
To this end, I just bought two Romak brand shelving units that came flat packed from my local Bunnings. I am writing this post because any time a flat pack anything goes together so easily and sturdily people need to know :).
Products:
- Romak 1830 x 910 x 410mm 5 Tier Adjustable Shelving Unit ($89 AUD)
- Romak 1500 x 810 x 310mm 4 Shelf Unit ($39 AUD)
Pros:
- Very good value for money considering the high quality of the product.
- The instructions were well laid out, clear and suitable even for beginners.
- The parts were labelled with letters that matched the instructions.
- A hammer or rubber mallet is the only tool (not supplied) required during assembly.
- The taller/larger units have cross braces for stability.
- The shelves, excepting the top and bottom most, are height adjustable.
- The finished unit can be easily bolted to a wall for safety.
- There is a local phone number supplied in case there are any missing parts.
Cons:
- The shelves are made from particle board and I noticed a slightly poorer finish of the shelves in the cheaper unit.
The Verdict:
The lower end of the Romak range is definitely for you if you want a cheap, quick and easy storage solution in your shed or garage. You will get a better product than you expect for the price.
Clear Instructions:
Easy Assembly:
I hope this review helps.
Enjoy,
PK
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PK Reviews: Ryobi 36V Outdoor Power Tool Range
I love outdoor power tools but growing up I didn’t learn to keep anything with a petrol engine running in good order for very long. I was however really into electrical gadgets and for that matter I still am.
I persevered with petrol whiper-snippers (line trimmers), lawnmowers and leaf blowers however because I found electrical gardening tools, especially the cordless variety, poor alternatives.
So I was really excited when I heard about Ryobi’s 36v Lithium Battery range. The brushless motor versions especially are comparable in grunt to their petrol cousins but without the noise, maintenance and emissions. Australia has a way to go on the renewable energy front but my gut tells me it is better to use electric engines and hybrids over the oil and petrol models.
The geek in me loves the fact that with a couple of the 36V lithium batteries I can swap them in and out of the tools as I go around the garden. The long life 36V batteries are the key to the range’s success and grunt. I have two, a 2.6Ah pack and one of the newer 5Ah packs. Both charge exceptionally fast and hold their charge.
I can go out to the shed and grab a battery that hasn’t been used or charged for months and off I go. They are pleasingly heavy so you know they mean business. Don’t worry about their weight during use though as each tool has them in a balanced position to counteract that. There is also a button on the front that lights up a charge remaining indicator.
I recommend having two batteries at the very least. Especially if like me you lend your tools out a lot and need to keep using other ones. My friends and I now own most of the range and like to help each other out.
The full range covers (* means I have and will eventually review):
- leaf blower *
- pole pruner
- hedge trimmer*
- brushless chainsaw*
- leaf vacuum
- lawn mower
- lawn edger
- line trimmer*
Review 2: 36V Brushless Chainsaw
This is my favourite in the 36V range and the first chainsaw I have owned. It is amazing how often it gets used by my mates and I. They laugh at first and don’t believe it is powerful enough until they use it :).
From the Ryobi website: ‘Its powerful brushless motor produces high torque and chain speeds of 21 m/sec, meaning you can achieve better results, faster. Our chainsaw’s 356-mm cutting capacity also ensures you can perform large cuts with ease’.
I have used petrol chainsaws before and the 36V brushless chainsaw feels as powerful as a small petrol model eg 30cc but without the weight, kickback, fumes and ‘the always on’ characteristics. I love how it starts every time and comes to a stop as soon as you release the trigger.
Putting it together is a snap:
- Put the chain guide onto the main part of the unit.
- Put the chain on the guide and around the sprocket. The guide has a picture to help you get the direction of the chain’s teeth right.
- Turn the chain tensioner wheel now to remove most of the slack out of the chain. It moves the guide away from the sprocket to achieve this tension.
- Put the sprocket cover on and tighten the knob (inner black ring).
- Adjust the tensioner ring (outer grey ring) to get the correct tension on the chain.
In this video you can see the chainsaw make short work (full time was around 4 minutes) of a peach tree that I was removing. I like how light and balanced the chainsaw is, allowing you to achieve the cutting angle you want without feeling like you are wrestling the sharp bitey part. I also love how you can hang the unit on a tree branch if you need to clear vegetation away. At the end of the 4 minutes I cut the limbs down further so I could keep them for smoking meat in my Weber. I still had a full battery so I used the 36V Blower to clean the area up and blow down the outer skin of the chainsaw.
Note: This is not a chainsaw usage tutorial, I am no expert. I keep everyone well away from the area when using this product until the job is done and the battery is removed. I was wearing safety glasses but should also have had long sleeves, gloves and head protection. I urge you to make good use of the chain brake too.
I don’t use the chainsaw every week so I am a bit pedantic with the strip down and storage of it. I bet you don’t need to be this careful as the product can take a beating.
Look at the gunk though:
Here is what I do:
- Break down the unit.
- Rinse the sprocket cover, chain and guide bar.
- Re-lubricate them and store them in oily rags.
- Use a clean cloth, a small screwdriver and sometimes compressed air to clean the main part of the unit.
- Remove any bar oil left for reuse later.
Review 1: 36V Blower
When my wife and I moved into our current house we realised that lots of trees means lots of leaves. Even the neighbours’ trees like to get in on the act. So I ditched the broom for my first tool in the 36v lithium range, the leaf blower. Ryobi makes two versions and I have the ‘entry’ level product. I am glad because the more powerful model would probably shift the bricks :).
From Ryobi’s website, the stats:
- 250km/h air velocity
- Variable speed control
- Lightweight and sturdy design
- Comfortable one handed grip
This product really delivers. It is perfectly balanced like they say and easily shifts mounds of wet frangipani and flowering plum leaves, lawn trimmings and sand. The trigger speed control gives you control when you get into the nooks and crannies and when you are making piles of leaves. I got mine from Bunnings and it has never given me one spot of bother. Maintenance is a breeze, I simply brush it down (especially around the air intakes) and hang it on a hook in the shed.
Hope these reviews help,
PK
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