May and June have been a bit cooler than the the previous two years which has been great for us. We’ve had days where we are down to shorts and tee-shits but also days when trousers and a fleece are needed, but it has rarely been too hot that we have had to retreat inside because it’s been too hot…
Category: In the garden
Tis the season to be muddy
May has arrived and we’ve had the first thunder storms of the season. We have been really thankful for the rain, the downside is that along with the rain comes the weeds. If only our vegetables grew as fast as the weeds! With the rain comes the mud, but fortunately our paths are holding out under the deluge and we’re…
Spring is in the air
The snow has finally gone and even though this is our 3rd spring here it is still a surprise how quickly the weather the changes, one minute there’s snow on the ground and a couple of weeks later your gardening in tee-shirts. It’s still a bit chilly early in the morning before the sun comes up and in the evening…
The run up to Xmas and not a very Happy New Year
The weather stayed quite mild for us at the end of November through to mid December, so we did some more work on the walk way making it more weather proof for winter. Joe got the framework, wall and the window installed at the end of the walkway and the rest of the panels installed above the windows and even…
What to make with a whole pig – year 2
This post is a follow up from our first butchery attempts. We learned loads in that first year, and we’ve tried to learn from our mistakes, got better with our recipes and tried a few new things. The first thing we’ve done differently this year has been the timing. Last year it was still really warm in November when we…
I think (hope) we’re ready
The weather continues to be kind to us, warmer than the last couple of years and definitely not as wet as last year. This has allowed us to get well ahead with getting ready for winter, it has also helped that we have had some great volunteers giving us a hand. They have helped us get the windows put in…
Improving the soil with manures
The transformation of waste is perhaps the oldest pre-occupation of man. man being the chosen alloy, he must be reconnected—via shit, at all cost Patti Smith, “25th Floor” from the album “Easter”, 1978 And so it is here on our smallholding. A huge amount of our time seems to be being spent collecting, storing, turning and finally distributing manure and…
Ducklings – here’s peeping at you!
We got our first ducklings today. Fifteen of them, just ten days old, and very excited about all the new things they’ve encountered today!
We’ve got them living in a large cage until the chickens get used to them, then they will have a cosy house to live in. We also want them to get a bit bigger, so the cat isn’t as tempted to try a tasty duckling snack!
Julie and our helper Michael have been busy digging a pond for them to live in, which we hope to have finished by next week. In the meantime, they are getting to play in water under our supervision. Here’s one getting dried off after his swim!
They are eating and drinking well, getting through 2 1/2 litres or water this afternoon, but I guess they have been pretty stressed.