Category Archives: Smallholding

More firewood production

Posted on March 21, 2024 by james

I spent most of today playing chainsaws in some quite awkward places. First to be felled was this tree, which I was hoping would fall a little more to the left, but as it would naturally have fallen entirely the … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 11th October 2022: Pears going bananas

Posted on March 20, 2024 by james

To prevent losses to the chickens (there have already been a few), today I picked all the remaining pears from the tree in their run (Concorde is the variety as far as I recall). Now I just have to work … Continue reading →

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Firewood for next winter

Posted on March 20, 2024 by james

Bit of a sluggish day today, in part thanks to drizzle on what was forecast to be a dry day. Tree work really needs to be getting done though as buds are breaking on some already. So, this morning I … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 10th October 2022: Old bed, new frame(s)

Posted on March 19, 2024 by james

My “double-decker xylophone” filled up rapidly and I needed more storage for beehive frames, but where? Pootling about the workshop my gazed fell upon the remains of the bed frames that I’d used to make the afore-mentioned xylophone — the … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 19th March 2024

Posted on March 19, 2024 by james

This morning there was proof that slugs and/or snails have been at my lettuce seedlings. In a try next to the lettuces were some coriander seedlings. This morning I found one with the leaves on the compost, detached from the … Continue reading →

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It’s getting very tempting to inspect

Posted on March 18, 2024 by james

A few warm days and the bees at home are flying far more. I’ve seen a few visiting celandines, but I’ve no idea where most of them are going at the moment. I’d not be surprised if they’ve found willow … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 8th October 2022: Getting a bit chile

Posted on March 18, 2024 by james

The weather is definitely starting to feel autumnal now and it’s time to harvest what I can from the polytunnel as and when it’s available. So these may be the last of the cayenne peppers, or if it’s mild I … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 18th March 2024

Posted on March 18, 2024 by james

I thinned out some of the lettuce and brassica seedlings that I sowed a few weeks back today. The lettuces haven’t done very well in terms of germination. I’m wondering if slugs/snails might be to blame. I found a snail … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 8th October 2022: Winter salads

Posted on March 17, 2024 by james

With the melons and aubergines removed from one of the greenhouses a couple of days ago it was time to get the Winter salads in — some radishes that may or may not do well, winter-hardy lettuces and mustard leaves. … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 17th March 2024

Posted on March 17, 2024 by james

No sowing to do today, mostly just tidying up of plants (quite a few brassicas) that are no longer productive and dumping them on the compost heap. I did however take the time to dig a hole about 300mm deep … Continue reading →

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