Downsizing It has been drawn to my attention that I don’t need to grow as much food as I was now that our hollow legs have flown the nest. We are getting used to life as empty nesters and the teen lads are flourishing out in the world. So, I am no longer a Mum providing for my family. It would seem I’ve become something … Continue reading Downsizing
It is amazing how much you can get done when everything is pointing in the right direction.  Yesterday I was very intentional with my objectives. All my urgent affairs had been taken care of, the weather was suitable for a spell of pleasant autumnal gardening and there was nothing standing in my way.  The garden had my undivided attention for the first time in a … Continue reading Finally, some garden time!
Sometimes nature forces your hand and encourages you to get things done. The garlic I grow is a variety called Early Pearl. A generous friend sent me some to try many years ago and I had the best success with them. So, I saved them for the following year and have done so ever since.    The great thing about this garlic is it gets going … Continue reading Slowly reclaiming control.
To be honest you really can’t tell you are going to run into problems until you run into problems.  But having said that, I should have foreseen this one as I grow brassicas all year round so, they are going to get maximum use of their space until the very last minute. Now that would be ok, if I had a slow starter following them. … Continue reading Yet another crop rotation conundrum
But that is the beauty of the garden – it is completely forgiving. Plans can be made, but nothing is set in concrete – except the things actually set in concrete like fence posts! Over the last year I have spent ages pouring over my plans, making adjustments, then working on the crop rotation and then hoping to never have to plan again. It can … Continue reading Change of plans… again
Finally, we are at the end of my plans for the future of the garden. It will be such a relief not to have to think about it ever again. I have my notes and can refer to them each autumn and know exactly where I stand. Of course, there will be tweaking and changes going forward, especially when I find out how these summer … Continue reading Cycle Three
Following on from my deep and slightly obsessive thoughts about my winter crop rotation, today we are looking at cycle two. This is the biggest one as there are no permanent unmoveable crops in this group. So, it will be seven years before anyone is back where they started. No chance for disease to build up or certain nutrients to become exhausted to the point … Continue reading Cycle Two
I spent the weekend with a nagging feeling in the back of my mind…. ‘I need to sort out this crop rotation cover crop thing. Once it is done, I’ll never have to think of it again.’ But there were other exciting things to occupy my time, so I pushed the reoccurring thought away. But with the start of a new week and a decidedly … Continue reading Cycle one
Ok so I’ve done some thinking…. About how I will tackle the next season. But I’d like to say that this is as convoluted as getting my head around crop rotation in the first place! Once I realised this, I decided I’d do it once and do it right, and then each autumn I can come back here as all the thinking necessary will have … Continue reading Wrapping my head around the cool season
Today is hot. There is a gentle breeze coming off the sea, but in the microclimate of my garden, the wind speed monitor is turning lazily without a care in the world. The hot sun beats down on the black sand paths, bouncing the heat from the dark surface, making it impossible to walk across barefoot. The golden brown of the spent grasses on the … Continue reading Summer can’t last forever
