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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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…
The last seeds of the year need to go into the ground which means harvesting the main-crop potatoes to make some space. It is also time to start rejigging the beds into their new, permanent positions……..which means a bit of hard work digging out the old paths.
Between jobs in the garden and jobs in the kitchen I’m making sure I save as many of my own seeds as possible. It’s so easy to do, very satisfying and means a much smaller seed bill at the start of next year.
With the threat of night-time frosts just around the corner it was time for me to harvest my squash and other tender veggies……..I could not have imagined, earlier in the season, just what a great harvest this would be. I haven’t stopped giggling and grinning.
Autumn is suddenly upon us and the garden is going through it’s biggest change after the changes in Spring. Harvests are coming thick and fast and it’s time to start planning for winter as beds become empty. It will be a busy month……but oh, so rewarding.
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