We have now finished our cane structure that will support all the lovely plants as they grow, underneath it are pumpkins, courgettes, cuecumbers, aubergines, tomatoes, lettuce, chillies, onions, basil and some plants that I don't recognise that climbs over the canes - I think they eat the leaves. At meal times Laura is always popping into the garden to pick herbs and produce that end up on our plate in some form or another. Last night we were invited to a barbe...

Just starting our second week. The weather has cooled and the wind dropped to normal levels. Temperature is a nice 22 degrees this morning. It has been a quiet weekend for us but not so for the Sicilians who go at everything with great gusto and varying levels of disagreement between family members. As we don't understand Italian it comes across as varying levels of noise as each person tries to get their point across. It can be quite exciting at times!

HOT, HOT, HOT... not that we are complaining! We are staying in the hills of Palermo in the area called Suvarelli with Laura and Rosario. Their projects are working towards being self sufficient and growing plants in 'synergy' so everything is eco friendly. We are creating a network of canes around a spiral of vegetable plants. However the last couple days temperatures have risen to 40+ with ' hurrican force winds. This hot mediterranean wind, we are told, o...