Strawberry Beds

Although I've moved the main soft fruit garden into a new place, the area left behind is a great place for growing with full sun. 

So down there I've divided it up into 11 new beds plus a bed for the rhubarb and some herbs (sweet cicely). One thing I was keen to get into the new beds was some strawberries.

Infrastructure Work - Security Gate

Last year I did some work for someone and as part of the deal I got to take away some security gates before the place was demolished. I had no idea what I'd do with the gates at the time but I knew they'd be handy somewhere!

Removing the gates and cutting off the posts. Major downside was I killed my generator in the process! Doh!

It was only when I installed the field gates the other day that I realised it made the place feel much more cut off and safer for the children. I decided that one more gate by the workshop would mean that to get into our area of play/work you'd need to either open or climb a gate.

Cob Oven

We were lucky enough to be invited to a friend's for tea the other night.

They cooked some amazing pizza in this cob oven they had built themselves as a family.

Homestead Shop

A bit of shameless self promotion on this post for my products I'm starting to sell online.

I started making some homestead and garden related products to sell after my mother got me to make a wooden potting tray because she could only find plastic ones online or in the shops to buy.

Wooden Potting Tray

When these started to sell well I decided to make a range of products that should hopefully make jobs easier, be nice to use and look good.

Least Number Of Animals Since 2012

I realised the other day that we currently have the least number of animals we've ever had in the last seven years. 

We're down to four laying hens and a little chick I hatched at the local school who they named "Gary".

Home Butchery

Like many skills I think butchery is one you can only really learn through doing. 

Last week I butchered four more lambs and as I get into double figures now (total) I'm getting a little faster and more confidant in what I'm doing.

A Year Of Using A Composting Loo

So it's been a year now since I started using my composting loo.

I don't use it every time but it does get used frequently.

Dress For The Job You Want...

Whilst putting manure onto some veg beds the other day my daughter's came to help and I couldn't help but laugh at what they consider farming attire.

Dress for the job you want and all that...

Permaculture Soft Fruit?

I've been toying with an idea in my head for a few years now and wanted to experiment.

I garden with many different methods and never really stick to one, but if you're into organic gardening then sooner or later you're going to come across permaculture.

The wikipidia definition of permaculture is:-
"Permaculture is a set of design principles centered around whole systems thinking simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems. It uses these principles in a growing number of fields from regenerative agriculture, rewilding, community, and organizational design and development."

New Growing Areas Created

Well not completely new it must be said.

I'm going to show you all a picture of what was my soft fruit garden and you have to promise not to laugh!

ARGH! You promised!

This is my not so little corner of shame in my veg garden. It's a real shame because the veg garden, with it's 32 even beds and cordon apple trees down the side is looking pretty good these days, then as you get to the bottom you see this overgrown mess.