XXXXXXX Foxes

Spent loads of time on the plot yesterday planting my Garlic and Onions. I left the lines of string as I was going to put name tags in today. It seems that during the night the local foxes had a get together and danced the night away on my plot. Grrrrrrrrr.

On River Cottage yesterday Hugh F.W. went to his local barbers and collected the cut hair and hung it in bags, old tights etc. around his sheep and hen pens to deter the foxes. Anyone know if this works? I would not mind so much ( he says through gritted teeth ) if they ate the garlic and onion bulbs but the just throw them around. They seem to like chewing string for some reason, the next time I shall impregnate the string with mustard, that should make there eyes water.

Harvested some swede and chard and raspberries yesterday so was not a complete waste of time, will try to replant tomorrow if it is dry enough.

A Little Rain Works Wonders

Went to the plot today and was amazed how a few hours rain can freshen everything up.

Pure Bliss

It was my turn to man the trading shed today, 10.30 till 12.00 but because it was such a perfect day to be on the plot, sunshine, cool, no wind, I was chomping at the bit to get started.

Barb reorganized her herb plot and dug up the mint and replanted it in a pot into the ground to limit the root growth but the fennel roots had grown much more and so she did the same with that.

When I finally shut the shed { two customers all morning } I was able to prepare the bit where my garlic and broad beans will be planted next weekend. It was really wonderful on the plot today and made us realize how lucky we are to be able to do something we both enjoy and have a shared interest, we are also having for lunch homegrown pumpkin, parsnips, potatoes, and I am making a tomato and basil sauce, and later in the week, sage and leek stuffing all from our plot.

Pure Bliss

Roll on Autumn

I managed to get to the plot yesterday for the first time in a week. The weather really had a feel of autumn about it and made me realize just how much I love our seasons. Cleared all the runner bean canes but felt like I was being attacked by Triffids trying to compost all the foliage wrapped around them. Nothing much growing at present, Swede,Parsnips, Cabbage and Chard ,which we tried for the first time last night and found it to be really tasty, prefer it to Spinach.

Will spend this weekend preparing the beds to plant my Garlic and Broad Beans the following weekend, also planting some Sweet Peas.

Tried and failed to find anyone who sells muslin bags as we are going to make chutney from all our surplus tomatoes, perhaps a piece of cotton will do the same job?

It is quite encouraging that this is only our second season growing but we have done so much better than last year, still plenty of errors but we are learning fast.