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I had to do the job in several goes even though it was only seven wheelbarrows of compost, but I eventually managed to get the potatoes earthed (composted) up today. I also scraped back what the blackbirds had managed to throw across the paths from the potato bed, presumably in their hunt for food.

When I turned around after filling the barrow with compost for the second time, at the end of the bed where I’d just spread the first load I saw a female blackbird, busy throwing it all back over the path again 😀 Fortunately she soon lost interest in favour of hunting in the compost bay itself, I think looking for woodlice to eat.

As well as the blackbird I had a couple of robins and a chaffinch for company, so it was a pleasant time communing with nature.

I also pulled up the last half-dozen carrots and leeks that were past being edible and composted the area where the carrots had been. The bed containing the leeks is suffering from an invasion of creeping thistle, so I need to deal with that before spreading compost there.

We’re due a fair bit of rain overnight tonight, so hopefully that should settle the loose compost down nicely.