Author Archives: james

Esther Dean’s Gardening Book: Growing Without Digging

Posted on November 15, 2021 by james

I mentioned this a couple of days ago. No-one appears to have it for sale, but I managed to find a PDF copy online. I’m now pleased I wasn’t able to buy it. The first couple of chapters are interesting, … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 15th November 2021

Posted on November 15, 2021 by james

These are my eight leaf radish plants in the polytunnel Or they would be, if one hadn’t gone missing last night. I found its remains about twelve feet away over the other side of the tunnel with the root mostly … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 15th November 2021

Posted on November 15, 2021 by james

I’d decided that as I had increased my interval time to allow myself to focus on changing my technique, if I can make all my 50m reps faster than 43s then I’ll reduce the interval time by 5s. As yesterday’s … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 14th November 2021

Posted on November 15, 2021 by james

This morning I weeded the greenhouse and polytunnel. There weren’t very many in the greenhouse and what there were in the polytunnel were mostly self-inflicted — germinated seeds from the marigolds I had planted between the tomatoes. Something has been … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 14th November 2021

Posted on November 14, 2021 by james

This morning I weeded the greenhouse and polytunnel. There weren’t very many in the greenhouse and what there were in the polytunnel were mostly self-inflicted — germinated seeds from the marigolds I had planted between the tomatoes. Something has been … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 14th November 2021

Posted on November 14, 2021 by james

Happy bunny 🙂 Today I swam the fastest set of 50m reps I’ve ever done. Three were below 41s. I think I’ve only ever swum below 41s for one of my 50m reps three times before and never more than … Continue reading →

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A Year Without Digging

Posted on November 12, 2021 by james

How I learned to dig the soil and not dig my vegetable plot To a greater or lesser extent I’ve been growing my own fruit and vegetables for twenty years or more. The size of the plot has ebbed and … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 11th November 2021

Posted on November 11, 2021 by james

The pool heating system is apparently repaired now and the water does feel a little warmer, at least near the surface. I think it might be cooler near the bottom though. A complete change from yesterday in terms of lane … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 10th November 2021

Posted on November 11, 2021 by james

Today was quite chaotic. There were six swimmers in the fast lane including myself, but they were generally circulating at around fifty to fifty-five seconds per 50m, whereas I’m down below 45s. With that kind of difference it’s quite awkward … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 8th November 2021

Posted on November 11, 2021 by james

Ok, so the new plan is that rather than swimming on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, I will now swim on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I’m still working on technique and it seems to be going quite well now. … Continue reading →

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