lanacoora-chillies.com.au

Spring is well and truly here, and one fantastic annual event to celebrate all things growing, is Tamborine Mountain Garden Clubs “Springtime on the Mountain”. I am a bit slow with this notice – it started yesterday -however, this event is being held on 3rd, 4th and 5th October. It is essentially a trail of open gardens, and it is said that the gardens are truly amazing this year. At each of the garden stops on the trail, there are people to talk to, experts to consult, food and other goodies. Nardoo lavender nursery are annual hosts for the Landcare Stand, where you can look at the plants native to the area, get information on planting and weeds, and buy some rainforest species. At Stop 2, Slow Food Tamborine Mountain are providing food (including avocado with our fabulous smoky chipotles in spicy adobo). I’m heading up there myself at some point today. Everything is well and truly signposted, and tickets can be purchased from any of the gardens on the trail. If you are heading this way, give us a call, and come and try some of our chilli stuff. We will be “Springtime slightly off the mountain…..”

Another recently successful event in the area was the Scenic Rim Open Arts Trail, where local artists opened their studios for two days to display their work and their inspiration to create the art that they do. Local artist Nicole Jeske was one of the featured artists, and she was very pleased with the visitors to her studio, and that she sold some of her work. We got in first and bought one of her paintings and it looks great hanging on our wall. Thanks Nicole.

Hopefully the winter cold and flu bugs are behind us now, and we can get on with the growing. The kids go back to school this coming week.

Last night, we stirred some chipotle in adobo into sweet potato mash. Yum! For entree we had chilli parmesan crisps made with our chilli parmesan which should be on the shelves soon. Love coming up with ways of using chilli.
Enjoy
Katrina

Hi All, Tomorrow is market day. The Tamborine Mountain State School Markets is on tomorrow – Sunday 28th September, at the school car park, cnr Long and Curtis Roads North Tamborine.
We also have a permanent site at the Tamborine Mountain Country markets at the showground. That is on the second Sunday of each month.
We are getting a mobile eftpos machine, so we can take credit card and eftpos payments at the markets. Wow! Feels like a business. I have the advantage of having fun at the same time however. Please be patient while we are updating our ordering system. Time is a valuable commodity.
Hello Sue! I promised I would put that in. Hope she is looking.
Isn’t this weather amazing! We have warm days, and some rainy nights. Perfect weather for growing chillies. We have some new varieties growing this year, including Joes Long Cayenne, Caloro, and a veryfew of the yellow habanero. We are still trying to grow the mexican varieties – ancho, mulato etc, and hopefully they will produce for me soon. We hope you are all enjoying your chilli babies, and if you haven’t got any growing, now is the time – in the Southern Hemisphere anyway. They don’t take up a lot of space, and the plants and fruit are truly beautiful!

This weekend we celebrated Jim’s 40th birthday. Forty is fabulous. It is a time when you are allowed to be completely self-indulgent and love who you have become. The party here reflected that and a good time was had by all.
Many thanks must go to Chef Shane, who created the most amazing spit roast pork and beef ever eaten, Rachell and Phil, who happily did the fetching and carrying, and Sioux and Judy, who picked up supplies at the last minute. But I must confess that the biggest thanks go to Maladjusted ( the band with extras) who had been handpicked to perform and gave us four hours of the most amazing musical talent that many of us have seen. Some of these band members met for the very first time as they walked up our driveway, but they cruised through the afternoon, and everyone present (and all those that live through the valley) thoroughly enjoyed the music and passion.
We are slowly cleaning up afterwards, and resting our weary selves after a very busy few weeks. However, it doesn’t stop here! The chillies of course, are coming to life and small flower buds are appearing as the weather warms up. We are delighted, and to all those who have missed tasting our fresh chillies – it won’t be long now.
A new business locally is Morgan & Rogers – trading as A Taste of Tamborine. Picnic and gourmet hampers are now available, making the most of locally produced stuff. Sue and Rachell are really enthusiastic about getting a quality product out there and we encourage you to buy their hampers – I can assure you of their commitment to their new venture and support them every step of the way. When their website is up, we will provide the link.
Cheers
katrina

I have found out where I want to go next. Not normally a tour person, this one sounds right up my street… www.mayaexploration.org/tours_oaxaca_oct08.php Sounds great – take me now!

Well, what can I say! Sawtell’s 10th anniversary chilli festival in First Avenue was amazing. We were swamped by visitors and locals alike who had come for the laughter, the buzz, the food and of course…..the chillies! And we were able to provide. Our trademark chilli basket which began the day overflowing, ended up almost empty and offering up only a few meagre samples. It was also the launch of our product in jars and bags, with our stunning labels designed by Nicole.
We ran out of mayonnaise. We apologise to those who came back towards the end of the day to get some. We sold most of our chilli & rosemary salt, and as always, our smoked chipotles heightened the senses and inspired many.
…..We were too busy to take photos…..groan.
We met some fabulous people once more and caught up with those that we had met before. We traded products, and chillies, told stories, made stories and laughed a lot. Then we fell asleep reallllllllyyyy early!
As far as I understand it, A Taste of Byron Festival and Byron Bay Chilli Festival which usually happens in September, has been postponed due to ongoing discussions between stakeholders. So watch this space, and as soon as we know, we will let you know. However we are not expecting anything until 2009. A crushing blow for chilli lovers everywhere, but we will see what happens.
Instead, Lanacoora Chillies are heading to Toowoomba for the Flower, Food and Wine Festival, which is part of the annual Carnival of Flowers. It goes over three days from 19 to 21 September.
I am working on putting our new product on the mail order system. Please be patient and if you are desparate, please email us at chilli@lanacoora-chilli.com.au
Katrina

My friend and I went out for lunch today to celebrate her birthday. She really is 37! Honest! Anyway, we went to a new pub that has opened up not far away, called the Fox and Hounds. Ian is the landlord and he is very proud of his new venture. It is half English pub and half Irish pub, and Ian has paid attention to detail. We have taken the family there for lunch a couple of times now and we are always impressed with the quality of the food and the value for money. The sherry trifle was fantastic too. They don’t advertise, they don’t need to. So if you want to head there for lunch or dinner, make sure to book. It is on the corner of Tamborine-Oxenford Road and Elevation Drive, Wongawallan. It is on the way to Tamborine Mountain, so you could make a day of it if you are coming from the Gold Coast. Tel: 07 56657582

I’ve just visited my sister’s 2020 blog – www.lisaharvey.com.au - and I am most impressed with the stuff she has to say. Even though I am the more intelligent one! Have fun at the summit this weekend, even though you are missing my tv debut (how many sibling issues have been revealed here?). Our family is most proud, the kids are very impressed, and one day they will even get what 2020 is…. and then they can explain it to me.

Sawtell Chilli Festival is celebrating ten years this year with a huge program of events planned. Lanacoora chillies will take their place again this year. Book your accommodation soon if you are planning on making a weekend of it though, as it is big this year.

Cheers
Katrina

Just an update. I had said that Lanacoora Chillies would not be at the next school markets due to a trip to Sydney. As it turns out, things have changed and we will be back and at the markets – which is where we know best! So, a reminder to those who know us and an announcement to those who don’t.
Sunday 27th April.
Cnr Curtis and Long Roads, North Tamborine
6am onwards (I may not get there till 7.00!!!)

On the same day, if you are in Queensland, I encourage you to watch a show called Mercurio’s Menu. Paul Mercurio, who spent earlier years as a very talented dancer (Strictly Ballroom for example,) is now hosting this vibrant foodie show. The crew came to our farm to do a segment for their Gold Coast and Hinterland special, which airs on Channel Seven.
Sunday April 20. 5.30pm – New South Wales
Saturday April 26 5.00pm – South Australia
Sunday 27th April 5.30pm – Brisbane/South East Queensland
Victoria and Western Australia, I am unsure of, but keep watching. Visit www.mercuriosmenu.com.au for more information.

My sister put this website together for me so when I said I wanted to change it, she said, figure it out for yourself! So, with a few tentative phone calls to my very busy and cluey sister, I have been figuring out a lot of this stuff. And it has been lots of fun. The only problem is that I start to get cocky about my abilities and stuff it up. Thank the Goddess of all things chilli for the delete button!
Congratulations go to my sister, Lisa Harvey, for her selection to the 2020 Summit which kicks off in Canberra next week. Hats off to someone who considers herself normal (actually I am not sure that is true), going to the effort of putting herself out there. I hope manyof you made submissions to the 2020 site, although there wasn’t a lot of information on doing that.
The cold snap has kicked in, although it isn’t really that cold – 15 degrees celcius! Jim will be filling the wood shed this week so that the first fire can be ready to go. The smoker house is coming along – that’s jim’s other weekend job. Check out the progress here. The little tin smoker is working well though and will continue to provide.
I made a chipotle pickle yesterday. Very nice, but too hot for me.
I won’t be making the school markets for the next few months, but you can always contact me if you want anything chilli.
Katrina

It feels like I should wax poetic about the onset of autumn, but autumn is a bit of a sad time, as the chillies start to wind down. There is an impulse to rush with the last of the seeds to bring them on sooner. Let’s face it though, South east queensland is not the place to rush, because it will get hot again before it gets too cold for the chillies to grow. It is only March after all.

So in with a new Local Government system across Queensland, one which will apparently ensure sound financial management and effective local planning. Unfortunately, it still comes down to party politics and who won the election! Our new Mayor in the new “Scenic Rim” Shire (yes I know it sounds like a toilet cleaner) is a vegetable grower …… just like me! His operation is a little(?) larger than mine however and incorporates vegetable processing and snap freezing production. But he is a strong advocate for Primary production and is a believer in small business. So I wish him good luck.

The rain left us for a short time, but is back now and is welcome. There are another 400 fatali plants in seedling stage at present, and will add to our stock plants in the spring. We are still trying to get the smoker built, and the little metal tin works hard at keeping up with us. We have a prolific range of baby plants which we are trying to build up before the cold weather sets in. We don’t get frosts here, but we would like to be able to offer a full range of chillies all year round. At best, we are unable to provide fresh chillies from july to september.

This is just a short note to keep you up to date with what we are doing. We are now “batless” as all the babies have gone to be released. While this is what we do, it carries a little sadness for the babies that are now gone. Gone to good things we trust. Our site will shortly be undergoing an upgrade, as soon as I can work out how to do it. So be prepared for hitches glitches and stitches.

Coming events:

30 March Tamborine State School Markets

13 April  Tamborine Mountain Country Markets (showground)

Unfortunately Lanacoora chillies will not be at the April School Markets. Gotta go to sydney.

5 July  Sawtell Chilli Festival 10th Anniversary. Sawtell, New South Wales (coffs coast)

Thanks for your patience and your visits.