After a lengthy absence it’s time to get back into the garden. Some things are growing well (garlic)….others are a total fail (leeks)…..but some exciting new seeds to try next year make up for the disappointment.
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TIY: Beeswax food wraps & origami bin liner.
I am passionate about reducing the use of plastic in my life (and all of ours!) – I make no excuses! Here’s how I do a bit of it……..replacing ‘cling film’ with beeswax wraps and replacing plastic bin liners with paper………it’s so easy it’s a no-brainer. Have a go……I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
My fence, deck & path. From cutting the turf to the very last screw – the whole story.
About a year ago I decided to get on with making my fence/deck/path… I was rushing to get the work done before knee surgery and my wrists were floppy and weak after breaking them both….but with a stubborn streak and a deadline looming plus help in the Spring from my gorgeous friends Jackie and Ky I was able to get it done. Sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy the work and the peace of the garden over Winter and early Spring….
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: November Garden Tour (2018).
It’s hard to believe it’s already November. I love this time of year in the garden…..the pace slows so much….all the hard work through the earlier part of the year paid off with the crazy harvests through September and October…..now it is time to relax some and simply enjoy being in the place with no particular thing to do other than breathe it all in and day dream.
Thoughts on……Month 18: beginning to crack this time thing….
I always feel like I don’t have enough time…..always feel like I’m chasing my tail and hopping from one task to another without ever thoroughly completing the first thing. After a good hard think about it at the end of last month I made a few simple changes (there’s still a way to go) and am finally starting to feel like I can manage my time better and enjoy each moment more deeply.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 132: Perennial Kale (Taunton Deane) & other brassicas.
I was very kindly gifted a perennial kale recently – ‘Taunton Deane’. It should keep me in lovely kale leaves for years to come. Finally I made time to plant it in my garden and whilst there tend to my other brassicas. The sight of all their beautiful green growth at this time of year is marvelous and I can’t wait to start chomping on all those lovely leaves.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 131: The Flint Corn harvest (2018).
It is time to harvest the Flint Corn….and while the plants may not be as tall and lush as they were last year (making it less den-like and adventurous this year) I am still happy and excited to harvest these little wrapped gifts and find out which jewel colours I have been given…
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 130: Winter bed preparation.
My winter green manure (Hungarian Rye) seed order failed to turn up so I am having to improvise when it comes to preparing some of my beds for a fallow period over winter.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 129: Planting garlic and sowing broad beans.
The last seeds of 2018 are finally in the ground. On a soggy autumn day I sowed broad beans and planted garlic……….and delighted at squelching in the mud. Despite the drizzle it was a wonderful day enjoying the bird song, the insect activity, the company of cats….and the satisfaction of getting another couple of crops underway. And then a long hot soak in the tub.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 128: Grapes, hops, compost and plot friends.
On what may have been our last beautiful day of this autumn I decided to go at a much slower pace than normal and take time out to visit with plot friends to see how their harvests are going and to hear about their plans for the winter. I did a little work in my garden and then decided to leave it for a couple of days to let the predicted rain do it’s magic by way of softening the beds a little for me to do the autumn dig…
