tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71471560828765690272024-03-18T11:40:05.184-07:00The organic growerRichard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.comBlogger444125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-22403415741635406862024-03-18T11:39:00.000-07:002024-03-18T11:39:27.028-07:00Feed your compost<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">feed small bits of cardboard every week to your compost bin and </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> hundreds of worms will make a bee-line for your compost enriching your soil no end.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The reason: worms are mad about the glue in the carboard</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-20712950139745090902024-02-26T10:15:00.000-08:002024-02-26T10:15:56.089-08:00Floods<p> My allotment has now been under water for six weeks..........I can do nothing other then wait for Old Father Thames to go back to his bed and when that happens I will have to loosen up my compressed soil.</p><p>What I want to know is: Where do moles go when it floods></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-50418113323158683332024-01-29T10:02:00.000-08:002024-01-29T10:02:52.153-08:00Dig a potato trench:<p><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">What I do this time of year is, dig a potato trench for your March plantings.</span></p><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important; text-align: justify;">Dig a trench 20–30 cm (8–12 ins deep) and a spade’s blade in width.</p><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important; text-align: justify;">Line the trench with cardboard and newspaper, fill with vegetable peelings, covering with soil (to stop rats) as the layers are added.</p><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important; text-align: justify;">By planting time,(Good Friday) this will have reduced well and will help the soil to retain water over the growing season.</p><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important; text-align: justify;">Well worth the effect, come a dry summer! </p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-67706284110315975682024-01-26T13:29:00.000-08:002024-01-26T13:29:19.482-08:00What to do after a garden flood<p>If you have had floods on your plot ( as I have ) b<span style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">efore you do anything on your plot, make sure you have a tetanus shot.</span></p><p><span style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> It’s not even a painful jab but tetanus can kill you and goodness knows what is in the soil after a flood</span><span style="background-color: #fcfbe7; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: #fcfbe7; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">So check it out!</span></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-33180198349582001932023-12-21T04:27:00.000-08:002023-12-21T04:27:59.864-08:00Winter Solstice<p> The 21st is<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> the shortest day of the year. Called the Winter Solstice. It is an important day in the growing calendar, the days will be getting longer from now on, more light and soon enough spring will be here. For now we’ve winter to get through but that’s a chance to rest and recover.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Happy Christ</span></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-69137428170271599842023-12-04T10:55:00.000-08:002023-12-04T10:55:59.332-08:00Asian Hornets<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: green; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asian hornets, Vespa velutina</span><span style="color: green; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: 700;">, have spread across Europe and are now in the UK. Their main threat is too honey bees. Our help forum administrator ‘Aunt Sally’ has produced this Asian Hornet advice guide to raise awareness and give advice about They are know to </span></span><span style="color: green;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>be a</b></span></span><span style="color: green; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> dangerous, invasive pest that have killed people all over </span></span><span style="color: green;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Europe. Do not poke their nest.</b></span></span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Asian hornets are thought to have arrived in Bordeaux, France from China in a container of pottery in 2005. They quickly spread across France and into continental Europe. Reported in Spain in 2010, Belgium in 2011, Germany in 2014the Channel Isles in 2016 and were first spotted in the UK in late 2016.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Lancashire, Cornwall, Hull, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, Suffolk and Staffordshire have all had sightings of Asian hornets.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Once established their growth rate is exponential. If allowed to establish they will be near impossible to eradicate in the UK</span></p><h2 style="border: 0px; color: #336600; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20.90999984741211px; margin: 0.75em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Report sightings to: <a href="https://www.bbka.org.uk/news/beekeepers-call-on-the-public-to-help-fight-record-asian-hornet-invasion" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbka.org.uk/news/beekeepers-call-on-the-public-to-help-fight-record-asian-hornet-invasion</a></h2><div>The place where you might find them is in corners of your shed or in boxes or any where you might find wasp. </div>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-55488986659889276022023-12-01T04:55:00.000-08:002023-12-01T04:55:50.789-08:00Pigeons<p> Winter has come, at last.</p><p>It is good to have some months doing what they should be doing.</p><p>-7 here in Oxfordshire.</p><p>From last year , when we had -10 , I have learnt that Pigeons can wipe out Kale overnight.</p><p>So, for this year I have covered everything with netting and the Pigeons have gone else where.</p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-8328978522180892532023-11-27T10:27:00.000-08:002023-11-27T10:27:51.664-08:00Mare's Tail<p> </p><div class="panel__heading" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(59, 54, 48); color: #3b3630; font-family: freight-sans-pro, "RHS Regular", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; margin-top: 0px;"><h4 style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.98rem; line-height: 1.2626262626; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Quick facts</h4></div><div class="panel__body" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(59, 54, 48); color: #3b3630; font-family: freight-sans-pro, "RHS Regular", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 662.953125px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;">Common name:</span> Horsetail, mare’s tail <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;">Areas affected:</span> Will grow anywhere, even up through concrete<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;">Main causes:</span> May establish from spores, but usually arrives via rhizomes from neighbouring gardens, <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;">Timing:</span> Seen in spring and summer; treat when every and where ever you see it.</div><div class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 662.953125px;"><br /></div><div class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 662.953125px;">I had lots of this on my allotment when I started 13 years ago, however there is very little on my plot now.</div><div class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 662.953125px;"><br /></div><div class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 662.953125px;">I just cut it off at ground level when ever and where every I saw it. </div></div>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-77098055541949175112023-11-21T11:22:00.000-08:002023-11-21T11:24:57.365-08:00Weeds<p> <span face=""Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">My Grandad used to say "</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-weight: bold;">‘</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">one years seeding is seven years weeding’, and how true that is.</span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">Weeds are part of growing and as such must be dealt with a plan.</span></p><p class="green" style="border: 0px; color: #336600; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">All annual weeds will spread thousands of seeds into the ground to await the right conditions . Digging the the soil brings seeds from deep down and up to the surface to grow.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Luckily, most of these annual weeds are pretty easy to deal with. Just hoe through them, leave them to dry or collect them for the compost heap. Catching them young is most effective – better to hoe little and often .</p><p class="green" style="border: 0px; color: #336600; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">There are r weeds that are a bigger challenge. The Perennial and it can live for years and years.I just keep hoping them and digging them up where I can </p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-62768860425217648052023-11-17T02:41:00.000-08:002023-11-17T02:41:44.354-08:00Brussels sprouts<p> </p><h3 style="border: 0px; color: #336600; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Nimbus Sans L", "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1em; margin: 0.857em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">A tip on how to grow good Brussels Sprouts.</h3><div>Make sure your plants are firm in the ground.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stake them to avoid them blowing over</div><div> </div><div>Feed the plant every month ( even in winter ) because they are big feeders.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-45188971906884433322023-11-15T08:20:00.000-08:002023-11-15T08:20:51.503-08:00Real bad pest<p> My neighbour, is leaning to play the bag pipes on his allotment and it is driving me mad.</p><p><br /></p><p>Any body know how to get rid of such a pest?</p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-60362452249400341422023-11-12T03:12:00.000-08:002023-11-12T03:12:40.529-08:00Bonfire Ash<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;">If you have had a bonfire last weekend,</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> do collect the ashes and keep them dry for use in the spring. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ash is a valuable source of potash fertiliser which many plants find useful especially tomatoes and fruit trees.</span></span></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-86687647861250777172023-11-07T12:32:00.000-08:002023-11-07T12:32:05.421-08:00Plant Flowers<p> I was born in London during the battle of El Alamein in North Africa, 81 years ago..........We are still bombing each other 81 years on!</p><p>We need to plant more flowers.</p><p><br /></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-2155543636856590892023-04-15T02:22:00.004-07:002023-04-15T02:22:32.433-07:00Flooding<p> Nothing happening on my plot, at the moment, because of flooding from the river Thames.</p><p>It has been like this for four weeks now, only good thing about it is that the rats have drown. </p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-79287417473195994722023-03-24T09:57:00.001-07:002023-03-24T09:57:06.816-07:00Chitting<p> </p><h2 style="color: #336600; font-family: Arial; font-size: 20px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;">Potato Chitting & Planting </h2><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;"> I have just got my potatoes chitting out of direct sunlight and in a cool place and frost free.</p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;">In the UK the time to plant potatoes is Good Friday. I know that is a moveable feast. </p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;">This year Good Friday is the 7th April, however, what ever date it is I also stick to the day and I have never had a bad crop. </p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;"> A lot of people wait till they have to cut their grass, that also works That way you know the temperatures are high enough. It is a good idea to throw the grass clippings over the rows and use it as a sort of mulch. </p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: none !important;">If there is frost and you have leafs showing, throw a fleece over the rows. </p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-15494432354333159382023-03-22T14:19:00.001-07:002023-03-22T14:19:33.693-07:00Avoid Buying Kale<p> Try not to buy you kale from the shops because it is one of the most sprayed crops that is grown here in the UK.</p><p>Much safer to grow your own, because you will know what it contains.</p><p>Now is one of the times that I sow my kale, the other time of the year is end of July, doing so will ensure that you have your own crop the whole year through.</p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-13798029820991660872023-03-13T03:25:00.002-07:002023-03-13T03:25:16.408-07:00Not Yet<p> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px;">It</span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px;"> </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px;">is</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px;"> cold, it is wet, it is dry and warm........such is the weather here in Oxford this past month.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">So the result of that is to sit back and wait for the ground to warm up a bit.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I do have a few seedlings on the go, things like: kale, spinach, cabbage, however, I am not one to run out and plant at the first raise of the sun. I wait till the hedgerows green up.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(39, 14, 98); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #270e62; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I am enjoying my Rhubarb, which is romping away!</span></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-72529406898963787182023-02-21T10:45:00.000-08:002023-02-21T10:45:16.950-08:00What is good manure?<p> </p><h2 style="color: #336600; font-family: Arial; font-size: 20px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">What is ‘Well rotted manure’? </h2><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The question is: What is good manure?</p><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The answer Is: </p><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"> Initially manure will smell like manure and obviously have straw or other bedding material in it.</p><p style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">When it is well rotted, composted in other words, it should not smell of manure. The straw should have gone and generally it just looks like dark, rich soil.</p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-88070148619558061392023-02-04T10:33:00.004-08:002023-02-04T10:33:55.548-08:00Cover your soil:<p> <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px;"> I use </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px;">raised beds are ideal for the ‘no dig’ system. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Make the beds wide enough for you to reach across so that you do not have to walk on them. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Also make them high enough that you do not have to bend down to far.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Raised beds are a win-win situation for the’ no dig ‘method </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(28, 100, 119); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #000099; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://botanicgarden.wales/garden-areas/growing-the-future-garden/"></a></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(14, 14, 14); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I cover my empty beds ( I have 19 of them ) with thick grey sheets of plastic.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(14, 14, 14); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(14, 14, 14); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Doing so, helps keep the weeds down, by not letting weed seeds that are blown about by the winter winds settle on the beds. Hopefully making them be weed-free when it is time to plant in spring. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(14, 14, 14); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(14, 14, 14); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The<b> </b>inorganic winter covers work best for raised beds because the soil beneath the covers does not get rained on and are keep warmer because they are not open to deep frost of winter.</span></p><div><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-14587283930768841122023-02-02T11:27:00.000-08:002023-02-02T11:27:22.008-08:00Organic Matter<p> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px;">Organic Matter ( Farm yard Manure )</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> dig organic matter into my beds every three years.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I do this because:</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Organic matter provides nutrients for plants and other organisms in soil. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Organic matter also acts like a sponge, with the ability to hold water. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Soil with good structure needs input of additional organic matter.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Digging increases oxygen into the soil, which will </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Speed up the breakdown of organic matter making it more available to the crop.</span></p><div><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-27295012087007463622023-01-31T12:39:00.000-08:002023-01-31T12:39:00.038-08:00No Dig<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I know that older gardeners are fans of digging but is it really the best way to go for our soils or our backs, for that matter? </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are many reasons for digging, new plot, farmyard manure to name just a few! However in the main there is another way and that is the “ No Dig “ way </span></p><div><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26.4px;">Why We Dig</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26.4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 31px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">It is a sort of attitude and an old tradition on allotments keeping a grower active and busy in the cold winter months. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Digging helps against compaction, which is something we do not want because heavily compacted soils will not have space between soil particles, which will give you poor drainage in the compacted layer. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Where as what you want is good drainage which is so important to prevent soil saturation and water run-off which could end up with flooding.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Digging can help to:</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Aerate Soil. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Soil needs aeration to allow oxygen into the soil. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> Vital nutrients to efficiently reach plants’ roots.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Beneficial micro-organisms found in soil. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Needs air for respiration and metabolism.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">However, and this is the point: over digging can put too much air into the soil which gives an unstable footing for plant roots. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Over digging may also damage soil structure and may disrupt the balance of particles and space already in the soil.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The ‘no dig’ way of relieving compaction or aerating soil could be by using plants like annuals and biennials with deep tap roots are perfect for this. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Teasel produces a large tap root that will grow deep into the most compacted soil and as the the root dies, it shrinks creating air pockets.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Vegetables also are great to go to delve deep into the soil. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">All I do with my beds is to spread compost on the top and hoe in, as well as hoeing every week to control weeds</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-21479556547001749592023-01-24T12:58:00.000-08:002023-01-24T12:58:25.294-08:00My Kale<p> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">My Kale have been under water for the last ten days. Old Father Thames has bust the banks again.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">My Taunton Dean Kale looks a bit worse for wear, as does my thousand-headed Kale.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Both of them are suppose to be frost hardy, but it looks like the few frost we have had of -10, has lain them low.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Th only Kale that seems to stand it is Pentland Curly Kale </span></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-9195096368355684752022-12-10T11:42:00.002-08:002022-12-10T11:42:28.367-08:00War Time Mincemeat for these hard times<p> <span style="color: #ff0805; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700;">Mincemeat</span></p><p><span style="color: #ff0805; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></p><div class="page" title="Page 22"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">1⁄2 – 3⁄4 lb. mixed dried fruit<br />4 oz. apples or 2 oz. dried apple rings 3-4 oz. sugar<br />2-4 oz. suet or melted margarine<br />2 level tablespoons marmalade</span></p></div></div></div><div class="page" title="Page 22"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">1⁄2 level teaspoon cinnamon</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">1 level teaspoon grated nutmeg</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">1⁄4 level teaspoon salt</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">4-6 tablespoons, rum, sherry, stout or ale</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">A few drops of rum essence - if stout or ale is used</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">1⁄2 level teaspoon mixed spice<br />Mince the fruit and apples or chop finely. Add the other ingredients and mix very</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">thoroughly. Put into small jars and tie down securely. Store in a cool dry place. If the larger quantities of fruit, sugar and fat are used, this should keep 12 months, but will not keep more than 10 days with the smaller amounts</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">Ministry of Food</span></p><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">Making the mincemeat in advance reduces the Christmas workload and enables smaller batches of mince pies to be easily made so they are always fresh. Apples can be stored for quite some time but it is quite tricky unless you have the right place to store and know how to look after them. Those lucky enough to have an apple tree in the garden, or access to one, would dry apple rings in a very low oven for winter use or as a treat for the children.</span></p></div></div><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;">1⁄2 – 3⁄4 lb. mixed dried fruit<br />4 oz. apples or 2 oz. dried apple rings 3-4 oz. sugar<br />2-4 oz. suet or melted margarine<br />2 level tablespoons marmalade</span></p><p><span style="color: #00bd06; font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></p><div class="page" title="Page 22"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="font-family: ACaslonPro; font-size: 8pt;">John Harrison - Rationed Christmas</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-9422949058112925982022-12-09T09:56:00.003-08:002022-12-09T09:56:52.358-08:00What to do in December!<p> </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
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<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I do like December for gardening, which is a bit strange considering there's not a much you can do outdoors in the short days.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> December is the month for reflecting on what went on last year and what you think is to come, preferably indoors and warm by a fire. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I do find that gardening brings me closer to the seasons, the rhythms of the year.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Although this is the darkest month with the shortest day of the winter solstice and the cold winter months of January and February are still to come, it's very much the time of renewal and starting rather than ending.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">After the shortest-day solstice on the 21st the days will be getting lighter again, which means spring isn't that far away.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">After two years of pandemic, you would of thought 2022 was going to be a much better year. However it didn’t turn out that way, Putin’s criminal invasion of Ukraine to expand his empire and the economic disruption that’s caused has made it a tough year for most of us.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-kerning: none;">It is thought that</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> the average family could save over £1,000 a year from a full allotment or a large garden. Even a small plot can make a significant contribution to the budget. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">If you add hens, you would get a few eggs as well, which are not easy to come by because of Bird Flu</span></p>
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</table><br />Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147156082876569027.post-53232572910994907352022-12-02T12:39:00.002-08:002022-12-02T12:39:29.458-08:00My best Crop every time.<p> <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">My best Crop every time.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Without fail, my best crop is Blackberries ........by that I mean: easy to grow/.big harvest /no pest/eat every day of the year.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the winter I prune them and feed them with a bit of farm yard manure</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the spring I mulch them with a few wheel-borrows of wood chips</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the summer I feed them with chicken pellets and start to harvest</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I freeze them and when I have no space left,I bottle them</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I have enough to eat every morning with my smoothy.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">I never water them.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">A real dream crop.</span></p>Richard Haighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05297183133437240631noreply@blogger.com0