Adventures in growing our own food, raising livestock and beekeeping on less than one acre
Hot summer days followed by fresh salad from the garden, what a perfect combination. Although the tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse have a way to go yet before we start harvesting we are already getting plenty of lettuce and radishes maturing outside.
The old pre motorway freight roads over the pennines are a lovely drive, passing through many old mill towns and offering fantastic views on the higher reaches. Although visibility was poor due to the heavy rain and thick fog on the tops it was still an enjoyable drive back – although a little worrying at times as the winds got stronger on the higher sections.
Prozac may not be the only way to get rid of your serious blues. Soil microbes have been found to have similar effects on the brain and are without side effects and chemical dependency potential.
ust a quick photo update to show the progress of the onion sets I planed back on the 6th April. I planted two rows of red onion and two rows of white onion sets. Other than keeping them watered they’ve had no other attention until today. I’ve just hoed between the rows to remove weeds this afternoon.
My last couple of inspections I have found that a colony that has always been quite placid and easy to handle has become very aggressive. Last week took me by surprise as the bees poured out of the hive despite my smoking them and surrounded me in a cloud. Constantly banging against my face shield and repeatedly trying to sting through my protective clothing.
Everything is spiritual, everything has a spirit, everything was brought here by the creator, the one creator. Some people call him God, some people call him Buddha, some people call him Allah, some people call him other names. We call him Tunkaschila… Grandfather.
My poor greenhouse has taken a bit of a battering over the winter months. My grounds maintenance company uses a large 15 foot long beavertail plant trailer that we tow behind a transit tipper. Turning this around is quite a skill at the best of times. Reversing it in the dark on our small holding, away from the streetlights is a nightmare.
I love this time of year in the garden. Everything is starting to come together. The seeds we set a few weeks ago are putting on growth and as the risk of frost subsides we can start getting them out into the garden.
I’m still managing to get a few jobs done each day on the small holding around my busy work schedule. Today I’ve planted out my courgettes.
Well it’s that time of year again. Just as we enter swarming season we also have oil seed rape coming into flower. The bees will need a few weeks of good care to ensure we don’t loose a swarm or struggle with set honey.