The weather has been much improved over the last few weeks, and it has continued to be very mild. I had hoped to be able to post a video update, but I’ve been having some rather odd camera trouble and none of the segments that I’ve recorded have been useable. I’m not sure what the problem is, but in the meantime I’ll try and describe what I’ve been up to .
I’ve planted my early potatoes (see above), they went in today (Easter Saturday), and all being well, they’ll be ready to harvest in 100 days, or at least that’s what folklore says, and it’s been right most times. I’m still a little concerned that we might get a frost. I’ve earthed them up well, and will continue to do so as the first aulms come through.
I also transplanted out the onion sets that were in modules in the potting shed. There were 96 originally, but some got waterlogged following a leaky roof, so only 50 actually went in the ground. They didn’t look as strong as the ones that have been in the ground all winter, probably a combination of the waterlogging and the mild winter for those outside.
The final round of planting for this weekend was to get some brassica plants in too; cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli. They should be ready to harvest in the summer, all being well.
Finally, I’ll need some new boots before the winter – mine have split!
Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read or just sparked my interest in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.
No quick links last week, so here’s an almost double dose for the last two weeks:
Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read or just sparked my interest in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.
UPDATE: The Otter Farm Crowdfunder reached it’s target, and will be funded. Thank you if you pledged.
As an allotment gardener, I’m sometimes asked why I grow my own veg and what I grow.
The answer to the second question is easy. I grow what I like to eat (with a little experimentation each year for new things). The answer to the first question is a little more complex. Let me try an explain.
I grow my own veg for a number of reasons. Firstly I like to try and be as self sufficient as possible, growing my own, means I cook with what I grow and am less reliant on supermarket produce, which is often days old and grown under standards (from the supermarket) which often lead to the waste of perfectly good food (see my post on wonky veg). I also preserve a lot for use over the winter.
Secondly I like to cook from scratch, take raw ingredients and turn them into something that (hopefully) is delicious, I use a lot of my allotment produce in this way and it means we don’t have huge amounts of processed foods and meals in our house.
Next up, it keeps me fit. I’m not a great one for gyms or sports, and I rarely run unless something big and scary that wants to eat me is chasing me! So the allotment; digging, planting, maintaining, harvesting is a big part of my exercise regime.
The allotment is also my tranquil place, where I can think, have some time for me, lead a simpler life and find an affinity with the values above.
Now that’s quite a bit of waffle but a bit of background for the video at the head of this post, if you haven’t watched it already go and do so now and the come back here. I’ll wait.
Mark Diacano owns and runs Otter Farm, and I find a lot of affinity with the values above with what he is trying to do there. He currently has a project, which aims to help people grow, cook, preserve, distill and understand their own food.
Okay so here’s the rub, this current venture is a crowdfunded project. Without the likes of me and you it won’t happen now, and maybe not ever. It looks tight. There are 5 days left and about 30% still to raise. I’ve backed it and I’m asking you to see if you will too? Watch the video above, look at the Otter Farm Website and if you feel inclined, go to the Crowdfunder page and pledge. If you don’t agree with me or can’t afford it, no problem and no pressure, but I want to make you aware of this project as the values are close to mine, and if you are able to support it, there are some great rewards.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. I realise this isn’t quite the usual post for this blog.
“What Mark’s been doing at Otter farm is inspirational. What he’s planning to is one of the most exciting things in British horticulture. I’m delighted to add my support to such a far-sighted and well-thought out project.”
I was sitting at my desk this afternoon, looking out across the garden. We’d had a funny morning weather wise, going from bright and sunny to sleet, hailstones and squally rain. By now the sun was back and the birds active, in particular a female blackbird, picking up sticks and leaves and other things and taking them into our honeysuckle bush. I think she’s nest building as there was quite a bit of tooing and froing collecting supplies, then back into the honeysuckle, which was rustling with her presence.
The blackcaps were back again too, again two male birds, so they’re obviously sticking around.
My afternoon dog walk was also full of birds. There was lots of bird song, and another buzzard sighting. This time the buzzard was soaring overhead, riding the air currents. I manage to snap a few photos on my phone.
Had first one and then a second male blackcap in the garden this morning. This is unusual for the time of the year (and the weather, it was raining quite hard), I wonder if they are returning early due to the mild weather?
Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read or just sparked my interest in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.
I started the leap day off right with a buzzard sighting at the Fort. One (large) buzzard flew overhead as I was walking the dogs this morning, pursued by 2 crows. Strangely all 3 birds were silent, and if I hadn’t been looking at the time, I probably would have missed them.
Normally the crows call out and harass a buzzard they are trying to drive away, so that it draws attention to what they perceive as the interloper.
The buzzard gracefully slipped through the upper branches of the trees to shake off it’s pursuers.
A few steps later, I also saw some fresh deer prints in the mud, another good sign.
Electronic Scrapbook 