what a day in the life on our homestead is REALLY like | off grid & working
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- Join us for a (sort of) typical day on our off grid homestead here in Ireland, but make it realistic! This is what life is REALLY like when you are working, renovating and homesteading in the Irish countryside.
Except the weather: the weather was not typical ;)
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Borage...flowers are lovely on top of your salads. Leaves taste cucumber like , you can use them in salads, make tea with them or use both leaves and flowers in your cocktails. They help your kidneys but are a diuretic. I love that you are beginning to harvest stuff. Chickens look really happy!
As others have mentioned, borage leaves, flowers, and seeds are edible, contributing a cucumber-like flavor. We use the leaves in smoothies when we're out of cucumbers, and the fuzziness disappears! The leaves are actually nutritious, rich in vitamins & minerals & fatty acids; teas and tinctures of them may have calming effects. Oil of the seeds is tedious to extract, but is somewhat useful for skin conditions, used in moderation. And of course, they are a great companion plant for almost all vegetables, and pollinators LOVE them! They self-reseed readily, making them essentially a perennial. And if you get too many, pull the extras & leave them around other plants that you want there in a chop-and-drop fashion of mulch/compost - their deep taproots (especially of more mature plants) bring essential minerals up to the surface to be shared through those fuzzy leaves! I enjoy your honest style of sharing, and I'm praying for you on this challenging journey. 🙂
You need a little table outside to set your tea cup. My favorite time of the day is my cup of tea sitting outside. So wonderful and peaceful
Hi, it’s Monday morning here in Australia. You made my day choosing my comment. Thank you for acknowledgment and appreciating it.
Wanted to tell you about my microwave named ‘Rooster’. Yep, crows every time he heats something up, (like….so boastful),and first thing in the morning (I heat milk),blares out his ‘crowing’ and I tell him to shut up and then I rip his lead out of the socket to stoooooooooop! (No electrical appliance was harmed in the making of this story). So loud and noisy. (It’s one of those convention/microwaves. Just sucks up so much unnecessary power. And that’s about as close to homesteading as I’m going to get at this stage. Haaaaaaaa
Your microwave sounds like a handful 😂 Thanks for engaging with us
Your garden is so beautiful and lush. But, your rooster is such a handsome fellow. I don’t know why but I love chickens. You have a wonderful channel. Really enjoying your content.
It’s a very good idea to show us the good side of your life and also things that go wrong as you said it’s not all sweet roses and hunky-dory all the time. Well done nice little video.
Just come across your
channel and after watching a
couple of your recent
episodes I have of course
subscribed. Wow! this is why
I luv RUclips, coming across
2 amazing people who have
opted out of the norm and
embraced the hard road with
all its challenges and rewards.
You have everything on your
side to make this succeed,
grit, determination and 2 fit healthy bodies to build an
amazing life for your precious
family unit. Inspirational. Take
care and God bless
Thank you for your kind comment. Appreciate you following along
Reminds me of the old joke. What did one snowman say to the other?..... Can you smell carrots?😂😂😂
Thank goodness you don't forget to switch that chicken fence off, it happens, of course I know about it.😂👍
Yeah made that mistake a few times ⚡
So much honesty...you have a wonderful family...love watching your videos...I am a 77yr great grand mom ..you bring a lot of joy into my life ....I will be watching...and thank you 💖 💖 💖 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
Woot SW Pennsylvania! Thank you for watching
I just love you two. You are so upbeat and cheerful all the time, even when things go south. And the fact that you are BOTH super cute, doesn't hurt. You make this old lady's heart smile.
Borage leaves taste like cucumber, so toss them in your salads. The texture isn't wonderful..but the flavor is..
Well done folks,lovely too go out and collect fresh eggs veg etc.👏👏👏👏🇮🇪☘️
Borage leaves are good in salads, yoghurt or cream cheese mixtures, or served with shellfish.
Awwww how lovely you have yr coffee with the hens my first job has a child was collecting the eggs i loved it at 79 i can still recall the warmth of a fresh egg in my hands good luck with all your projectx tc luv from the oldies 🤗🤗🤗👍👍👍
Beautiful dreamy feeling up yhere on the hillside with the coffee and the chickens. I assume that is dome of the peacefulness you are there to find! And how satisfying to incorporate some of your hard work into those amazing looking plates of food! Love the team work,as well.
borage is a medicinal plant, google will tell you how to use it. It attracts bees and I think you can use the leaves in cucumber salad.
welcome to another day, in the daze of homesteading.
My favourite pair of bumblefu##ers , 4th Irish revovation/homesteading vlog for me , the emerald isle is popular
It is a pretty spectacular place. How do we compare ? Thanks for following along
What a beautiful way to start your day with a run, dip and shower, all in such a beautiful landscape. I had my toes curling watching you get into the water though, its wet and cold here outside Cape Town.👍
Would appreciate it if you Capetonians would keep the cold weather to yourselves. This year, everytime you experience a cold front we freeze in Nelspruit. Saw there's another on the way!!
The veggie garden is looking so good thanks for the video 😊😊
Not too bad for complete newbies
If you drink pimms you can use the borage flower in the drinks. Not sure if you have a freezer up and running add the flower to water when making ice cubes
It's also a good plant to have around for pollination and help keep bad bugs away
Awwww the chickens are lovely! Do they follow you around yet? I love chickens, even if they aren't the smartest of God's creatures. They are smarter than turkeys though.
I adore beets. Have you ever had beets with a raspberry vinaigrette? Yummy!
You know what I enjoy most? You're having fun! You're really enjoying your adventure. That's priceless!
You are all living the dream that almost everyone wants to live, and I know when you have all this work done you can then sit back,relax and enjoy life even more than you are now, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia, Les
Hey Les, thanks for your comment. Being able to sit back and relax is definitely an image that keeps us motivated, might be an optimistic pipe dream though 💚
I live in a rural area and like my creature comforts, running water, electricity and Internet. So adventurous of you.
Found your channel a few days ago. Love seeing you transform the buildings. Not an easy task to undertake! Always interesting, to me, are the tools involved. My hearitage goes back to Ireland and I'm always interested in anywhere in Ireland. Love the scenery and how people build differently around the world.
Thanks for following along
Well done guys; of course it's hard work, but so worth it in the end! Lookin' very healthy too! 🖐😎
Beautiful looking vegetables!
Now my desire is to get the ‘comment of the week’. It’s unlikely I’ll come up with anything intelligent enough to qualify, however.😎
I have to say, "It is so much fun to watch you guys" .... Why because .... you are making progress and enjoying your journey. That is so important. You are level-headed knowing how to pace yourself. Your garden is growing wonderful stuff; when you put it all into your meals, it looks delicious and inspiring. Really look forward to seeing your videos.
Thank you so much for your kind words - appreciate you following along
I love how clean & ironed your clothes are.
I think you may have just cursed us. Washing machine just broke :( Funny I don't think we have ironed anything in over a year now. I used to hate ironing, now I vaguely miss it.
Love watching you both, taking your Time and Enjoying the Process. We Live in Western Washington State, Small Community near the Cascade Mountains. Good on you for what you are doing, Enjoy your Family! Very Happy for you ❤ will be Watching as you Grow.
Thanks for your kind comment and following our journey
Has Kayvan been on the sun beds? There’s no way he got tan in west Cork!! 😅 nice update this week and I’m glad your planting and hard work is taking root and providing you sustenance now 🙌 I had to laugh at the “I’m going to die, I need a lolly” lines 😂
Loved this episode to see what your days are like. 😊 It’s nice to see some of the reality of how it’s not necessarily always easy or exciting (I think people like me who watch can easily romanticize homesteading thinking it’s a walk in the park when it’s not. Even though I am sure it’s very rewarding especially when you pick your own veggies and have them that day in your meal) like it might look on the videos. You always make me laugh at the end with your outtakes and the way he carries you off 😅 always looking forward to the next episode. 👍🏼
That is perfect peace ❤
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🙏 Praying you'll be able to finish the renovations on the house to meet the grant requirements. 🤞
Evidently borage can be used as an herb. From Britannica: In the kitchen, borage can be used in a variety of dishes. Because of its cucumbery taste, it is perfect seasoning for lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, mushrooms and herb sauces. It will also lend a fresh, spicy touch to potato soup. The young leaves taste best, because their hair is softer and less dense.
Love seeing the sparks between you guys when the humorous moments arise, the wellies with shorts was so, so funny for me. Just the way it all went down had me in stitches, I might have to send Kayvan a wooden spoon award by the end of the year, looks like he loves stirring lol.😂😂❤
Hehehe
you can make candied flowers with the blooms, and can have some of the leaves in salad. borage oil is good at cleaning out your small blood vessels, but I have no idea how you make it, I get that at the pharmacy. :) looks like you had a lovely day! look forward to next weeks installment.
Amazing looking at this.
So positive.
Borage flowers are great decoration for everything, they taste a bit like cucumber. But first of all: they are perfect for bees. Borage seeds contain small amounts of precious omega-3 oil (antiinflammatory, important for the balance of many hormones) Thank you for sharing the joy of the fruits of your labour (or rather the veggies).
Your binned hens and eggs in the coop are handy, I have not seen those before. We had the usual laying boxes that resulted in a daily dash to reach under the broody hens determined to peck you away from their egg treasure. Pro tip - if you do end up with a snapping turtle like hen, using a small coffee tin to pop over their heads while you sneak out the eggs will save your hands from pecking. Coffee tins are a favourite 'tool' here on farms Canada, handy as feed scoops, popping over hen heads, popping over mice and cornered rats, holding nails, haybale string...very useful:)
Living the dream folks. Is there no fish in the lake be good adition with the salad bit of brown trout or somthing
A neighbour brought us mackerel a few weeks ago. Was absolutely stunning!
Howdy, from Texas! I happened upon your channel a few weeks ago after watching some of my fav. Chateau reno channels! I adore your personalities, smiling faces and humor during your homesteading episodes. I don't know that I could be so cheerful! Your land is beautiful! I can't wait to follow ya'll and your journey! You're now one of my fav channels to watch! Have a great week! (BTW, we don't all say, howdy! Lol! But, we do say, ya'll... a lot)
Howdy! As we both have been desk jockeys working at JPM Chase for years, we are both used to hearing from US colleagues throwing out howdy and y'all, so actually feels kinda normal for us. Thanks for your kind words and for joining us on the journey.
this is becoming my favorite channel!!!
Oh the JOY ❤❤ you two bring through the bumbling videos!!!!! Well done!!
You guys definitely need a quad or atv it'd make ur life sooooo much easier on your hilly land.....cutting down project times! Loving the content
Dreaming of the day with luxuries like that!
That lake. That view. That chest. WOW!!!!
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Beautiful garden and thank you for another video!
Thank you for following along
Hi guys, do you watch Countryside Acres, the family moved to Russia from Canada to start a homestead from scratch. They are building a house themselves with the help of their small children.
the photography has become very polished
I love the comment of the week scenario
honestly dunno WHY ?
maybe it's appreciation stuff. but hey. starting to love the channel 😮
maybe €199 for watching might work ?? 😭😭
JUST JOKING 😍
Not sure if it's been said but get a large waterbut size tub, fill up 3/4 rain water cut borage and stinging nettles and keep piling them in let them rot down in the water....the water left after a while is the best organic fertiliser for all your veg and plants, also good for health in small doses only because of the specific alkoloid inside of it, flowers are good in ice to pretty up drinks and also on salads etc..
The fertiliser isn't good for you the plant is! that was what i meant to say 😅
Had not heard of Borage as a liquid fertilizer until a few days ago, when someone drew my attention to the fact it is part of the Comfrey family, or rather Comfrey is part of the Borage family - so all makes a lot of sense now!
Thanks for following along 💚
We always loved steamed beet greens -- with vinegar dripped over it. salt and pepper.
There is literally nothing more satisfying then eating the food you grow yourself ❤
So true!
Does it include animals in your opinion?
What was You Budget, from start to finish?
Lots of people want to do what you're doing.
Don't pick to early 😴 even for your fella,only in emergency😊
I am jealous of all your eggs. A raccoon got my little flock about a month ago.
:( Sorry for your loss, heartbreaking. Challenging predator to defend against.
Enjoying you collecting the harvest of great fresh food, borage great for the bees have a good week Sharyn and Rosie New Zealand 🇳🇿
Hey Sharyn & Rosie, thanks for following along 💚
Just literally came across your videos by chance. Good viewing and I look forward to seeing more. I wish you every success.
Thanks a mil!
Great to see your realistic view of your daily life. Good luck with all your bumbling 🍀🍀
🐝 Thank you! 💚
Yeah! A new video! I love to see all the progress you are doing in the homestead. The best part was to see you taking all the fresh veggies for your salad, straight from your own land. We live in a condo on the 4th floor of a building but we have a balcony and try to make the best of it, by growing herbs, pumpkins and tomatoes. This is my second bell pepper harvest and even when it is not a lot, whatever you eat that you planted tastes even better. I’m always so excited to see that you come out with a new video. Hugs from Costa Rica.
Hi Maria, harvesting our own home grown produce was part of the dream of moving here, it makes us so happy. Pumpkins and tomatoes on a balcony - what a great use of the space, good for you! Will need a poly to grow peppers, hope to do more than we can eat to sell one day, I can't wait for our own spicy little wonders. Will have to be next year at least to spend money on luxuries like poly tunnels.
Borage is for pollinators. You can use flowers in salads or sugar coat for cake decorations which I use to use egg whites and castor sugar when I baked a lot of cakes for my children. The leaves dried can be made into a tea, which I used to bring milk on when breastfeeding. I think it has other benefits for kidneys but don’t quote me on that. Look at a herbal site or book. I love the plant in the garden mostly for the pollinators and give it a clean up like geraniums when things look a bit tatty. Wonderful herb in garden. Our native stingless bees love them.
Our first time growing it, just had the white version bloom next to the normal blue variety - absolutely stunning! Yeah we can see the pollinators loving them. Only problem is its under the netting with the produce, so a lot of the bees can't get to it. Thinking to grow it outside of the tunnels next time so everything can get to them.
Greets from Downunder, loving watching, you're doing so well. Love the chooks too, but what I wanted to comment was I just giggled when hubby was eating that wonderful lunch...he did the happy foody dance!! All my menfolk in the family do it!! 😂 no wonder, it looked so delicious! Keep up the great work ❤
I’ve been watching y’all do have a full plate. So all the renovations are on the weekend. So you don’t have anytime you’re not working. Bless you three. I know two dies most of work but it affects all three.
One thing why not get a four wheeler with wagon to travel those hills up and down or use the tractor? Have a blessed week.
Hello! From Wisconsin, USA. So glad to have found your videos! Very enjoyable!
You asked why do some CABBAGES not form heads, it's for a number of reasons: Watering, Temperature, Sunlight, other factors included Bolting & Time. A common reason why cabbage isn't forming a head is that it's not being properly watered. Water is so important for all leafy greens, really, but especially for cabbage, which is 92 percent water in its makeup. As you can imagine, any cellular growth for a plant that's mostly water will require... a lot of water. So you really want to make sure that you're watering on the regular. Avoid over-watering, but you do want the ground to stay moist underneath these plants. WATER SOLUTION: If you can.. use drip line irrigation on a timer to deliver consistent water to these large leafy greens just where they like it, on the soil, not the leaves. Until you've got your garden set up properly, a drip irrigation may be hard to do, especially in your situation.
Bolting early is also an issue.
Cabbages need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day to thrive, & more is even better. Removing large outer leaves can help more sunlight reach the developing head and promote even growth, then feed them to your chickens as a snack, as chickens love greens.
Hope this helps answer some of your question & hopefully those cabbage heads that you are seeing will continue to develop & just need more time.
Btw, your garden really is producing lovely vegetables, your doing such a nice job!! And, chickens eat carrot top greens too! You can dry the chicken egg shells in a LOW or lowest oven setting for about 15 minutes, then crush them into a powder & feed it back to your chickens as a good source of calcium. I add a little bit of Diatomaceous Earth to the chicken feed to add minerals & for parasite control. 😊
Hello and thanks for all the useful feedback. Hoping with the cabbages - it is just a matter of time. Will capture an update when we come to harvest. Hoping to get a drip irrigation install at some point.
We are really pleased with the garden progress so far - not too bad for 2 complete newbies.
Thanks for following along
Borage is good for tea, edible flowers, pretty on the plate, and great for attracting pollinators to the garden.
If u can give the potatoes and cabbage and turnips more time great video
Bumble on I enjoy ever bumble.👍👍👍👏👏👏😉😉😉
Love the reactions of your daughter. Well done with the chicken's 🐓veg 🥕and the juggling 🤹🏼!
Thank you for sharing your new experiences with us, and for doing so in such an entertaining manner.
You asked about Borage. In my experience it makes excellent green manure, scattered around your vegetables, or can be added to compost. I believe it's high in nitrogen and potassium, so great around fruiting plants and vegetables.
I would like to warn you though, they can become a huge problem if you allow their flowers to turn to seed and allow these to fall in the veggie bed. I learned the hard way. They will take over your bed for years to come.
Cutting off the flower heads when they start to wilt will avoid this issue.
Thanks for the comment. Appreciate you following along
Hi I have watching your channel from the beginning what a beautiful family with a lovely personality. I am from the North of Ireland living in Oklahoma .Watching you lets me know how much i miss the island. Enjoy your time there and i will continue to follow along . Good luck
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borage is also a plant for the leaves to be put on bruises after you cleaned the leaves of course
My husband started watchng your videos and showed me so now we watch your videos together when they come out. This is the sort of thing we want to do one day once our kids have left home. Hoping to find a nice piece of land somewhere in the South Island of NZ and try going of grid.
NZ is a gem of a place to have a homestead. Wishing you all the luck - don't lose sight of it
What you need is a 6 × Indian Runner Ducks they will clear out all your slugs and snails these Ducks are excellent Gardeners, and they're easy to manage & feed. Plus their eggs are very Nutritious, & are larger than chicken eggs!
Great suggestion, will be looking at ducks in the future.
Float borage flowers in G&T, freeze them in ice cubes, decorate salads, decorate puddings & ice cream, bees love the flowers and they're easy to grow!
Yes! Love a G&T
I'm loving your daily challenges, and yes it isn't easy, doing what have chosen to do!
I'm from South Africa - Cape Town.
Hello and welcome. Thanks for following along.
Leave the borage uncovered - excellent bee forage
When we planted it, didn't intend to keep it covered, with the pest pressure on all our produce, it has meant it is there now. Next year, will plant it outside (next to) the covered beds so the pollinators can get maximum benefit for sure.
I just love watching and having a chuckle at your banter with each other. Your daughter's comments are so classic.😂 Your garden is definitely coming along and I think your wellys look cool.😊
Cheers from Aussie 👍
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I’m glad to see you are getting good weather.
It has been pretty decent last few weeks. Hope it'll pick up again for a final flourish before autumn!
You guys are doing amazing love the salad.
Carrot greens are edible and can be used in place of parsley either fresh or dried.
We just had a carrot green pesto last night - was absolutely beautiful!
Borage is one of my favs- the bees love them and they self seed like crazy as you probably notice. I really like it as a cut flower. But I don’t consume it otherwise;) if it’s in the way I just pull it and compost as it grows so readily☺️☺️
So beautiful! We just had a white bloom next to the blue variety, both look so good!
I love chickens too! ❤ XXX
Really great animals, so much character
Ah, borage - yes, standard advice for homesteading is always "grow comfrey and borage, the bees love it"... Sure they do, but they love the flowers of runner beans even more, and beans are actually *edible!* My favourite recipe involving borage uses similar ingredients to your salad: chop the borage finely and reserve it - make mayo/pesto dressing using carrot tops and dress whatever salad components you have available (fine matchsticks of baby turnip are my discovery of this year) - cook some small chunks of boned-out chicken thigh with butter and & garlic - tip the chicken into the salad with its juices and mix through - serve with croutons for added texture & enjoy with a crisp white wine. The borage? Well cutting it fine helps it rapidly become useful - on the compost heap! 😉😂😘
Love your presentation tongue in cheek style.
Beetroot, baked in foil like a baked potato, salted, cut a slash and add a spoonfull of sour cream. Heaven
Love it! Thanks
Doing great at the homesteading gig guys 🤗🥰 such a joy seeing you all happy and smiling ❤️
Hey Michelle, Thank you!
Borage makes really great compost.. so does comfrey… and nettles.. remember to take off all the flower/seed heads first! Love what you guys are doing!
Thank you!
Thank you for this lovely video. Your garden and chicken are amazing. The sunshine makes everything easier. Cheers.
Yes! A very realistic renovation--a day when you didn't go in (or film it) the house at all. LOL I know this from experience. Life IS what happens when you are busy making other plans! And "Side-Quest" is the perfect description!
Lots of days when this is the case! Starting to get concerned, going to need to address the balance, or we will never be living in it.
@@offgridirishhomestead You will--before you know it! Thank you for letting us watch!
Borage tea, very good for the digestion and has quite a few other medicinal benefits.... and you can eat the leaves, flowers and stalks in salads. It tastes a bit cucumber-like.
Very beautiful property
Happy you are enjoying your garden it's beautiful
Enjoying very much your journey. We bought a derelict flint barn in West Sussex in 2002 when I was 56. Loved doing the conversion, but hard hard work. We lived in a caravan, luckily with a bedroom! But I commuted 110 miles each day on my motorbike. Leave at 6am home at 7pm ish. Then into the barn for a couple of hours then bed. Never had a day off for the 3 years it took to finish. As you both work, it looks funny to see you 'Dressing Smart'. Now at 78, we live in a self build eco house on part of the land we retained. BUT I am really jealous of you and wish I could do it again. LOVE YOUR VIDS.
Wow - what a project you took on! That sounds seriously intense. Makes our daily juggle look like childs play. Appreciate you kind words, thanks for following along.
You might want to make a feed trough for the hens instead of pouring their food on the ground. You can always those the beets leaves and such on the ground for the hens. To supplement their greens for them can even put melons shell for the hens to also enjoy.
Been wanting to sort out a trough for a while now.. Thanks for following along
I always enjoy your videos I especially love the bloopers you're all too cute 😊
😊 Another great video! Love the chickens!
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Great video, your wee lass looked so hacked off pulling that barrow 😂😂
Stay safe folks, see you next week
Was making her earn her keep that day! lol
Excellent video as always your T Shirt you are wearing is where my son in law works Chris Carter regards Howard from Cyprus 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hey Howard, they are a decent employer as corporate desk jockey employers go. Both of us made many friends from colleagues which we are still in contact with in Bournemouth, and I have many free t-shirts obtained working there - which are now in my "working around the farm" wardrobe, bonus!
It’s great getting your own fresh eggs from your own chicken & Look at the size of those carrots 🥕👀🖐🏻5 Potatoes are a bit small, maybe leave them in the ground a bit longer. It’s about 90days from planting to harvesting. Your lovely salad made me hungry. 😋🥗Happy 🥕🥔🥬🐔Homesteading. Love you guys 😁❤
Something very satisfying about a meal from produce nurtured by your own hands, one of the first we have ever done - glad you appreciated it. The potatoes were grown in bags and neglected, so the size was kind of expected. Thanks for following along 💚
@@offgridirishhomesteadlove your channel 😊
Your vlogs are always beautifully filmed - and that lush green is phenomenal.
I’ve been living in Germany for many years, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear “Kayvan” mentioned on “Off Grid Irish Homestead” when I watched your very first video, introducing the channel.
You see, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest of the USA - and a local radio station was called KVAN (aka K-V-A-N) - but commonly pronounced “Kayvan” (since then, the call letters have moved elsewhere).
I of course quickly realized you were saying your names. But I have to admit that, being a bit quirky, I rather enjoyed the thought of “Wow, KVAN broadcasting again”…seeds, of course. 😉
Strange name for a radio station! Random anecdote, but enjoyed it very much. Thanks for following along.
You both have a beautiful relationship. ❤❤
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Borage is beautiful but self seeds a lot....the bees love the flowers and you can put the flowers in your GnT
We love a GnT, in fact I make a Sloe GnT from foraged sloes every year. Looking forward to a borage garnish in the next one, great suggestion!