Last week, or probably the week before, our CPH number was sent to us. This is very exciting as it means we should now be able to put some pigs on the field. We hope to get a couple and keep them for ourselves for the freezer. Have to work out the logistics of despatching them and getting them slaughtered but Jon fancies doing the butchering himself.
There does not seem much that I can do in the Poly House at the moment, although I'm sure somebody will usefully let me know what jobs they are doing just now...
I thought I would take a couple of photos for you to see progress of some things I don't think I've shown before plus others.
These are the oca that Dawn kindly gave me..
then Dawn also gave me some sweet potato slips are they are doing very well, too. LOVE sweet potatoes.
Forgot to show you the firepit in use on Saturday evening; it was great. Alfie doesn't always like Pork Belly but he said it was lovely cooked over the fire.
After thinking I had lost the squash plant it is starting to show real signs of life!
I have sown turnips, at the back, a little while ago and the tray at the front were done yeaterday. I love using them in soups.
The dwarf beans are not showing any sign of actual beans just yet but looking healthy so hopefully some time this month they will come out.
These on are the cordon tomatoes. I'm alwasy tempted to call this plant James!...
then this is the bush variety, I think it is Gardeners Delight.
The prospect of making chutney with my own onions, courgettes and tomatoes is almost too much to cope with!!
I've been dragging yet more leaves etc out of the pond this morning and have some dry enough to put in the compost bin.
I need to properly sit down and see if there is anything I can start off now that can be plated in a couple of weeks ready for late Autumn/Winter - any tips anybody?
Funny day weather wise today; overcast them blasts of sun but a bit breezy, too. I have the courgettes and squash out again and I guess if we get a little rain it won't do them any harm.
Bye for now.
Lou.xx
Yesterday I was so happy to welcome a visitor, Dawn from Doing It For Ourselves In Wales.
I really enjoyed having her to visit and we really chatted and chatted so I could to ask her lots of questions which will help with our grow your own plan, different things to try with the food when we have grown it and ways to become more self-sufficient where we can.
I showed her around our little 'homestead', got ideas and hints about the chickens, especially how I can clean the algae off the top of the pond and feed it to them plus tips on making the best of the greenhouse by growing at the best times for the best results.
Also she was kind enough to bring me some lovely goodies! There were two different kinds of mint, fennel, sweet potatoes - I know! - oca, and a very, very special thing - a seed from her lemon tree with a teeny, tiny root on it so I can grow my own lemon tree which I so want.
She also brought some wild garlic and I plan to get that in tomorrow, somewhere that it will be safe when we bring in the digger, along with other things.
Amongst other things Dawn was kind enough to bring me two willow making kits so me and the boys will hopefully have time to start these at the weekend.
Thank you, again, Dawn for your kindness, help and inspiration - after my crazy woman scribbling I have a list as long as my arm of 'stuff. Time to get on with it all.
(Apologies for the lack of photos but having techy issues. Hope to post later.)
Lou.x
