Lots going on at Churchill Way

As well as lots going on there is lots gone. The strong winds finished off the cover of the small greenhouse that served us so well last year.






At least I can keep an eye on Nick weeding. The peas have survived very well and seem to have benefitted from exposure to the elements.





We decided to take advantage of Homebase having a 20% off weekend and splash out on a new cover for the grand price of £10.40. It is lovely and cosy and having strengthing threads throughout means than it should survive better and will also act as a sun filter when summer comes. The great fear is that the guy rope tabs done seem as strong but we shall see.

After the warning last year of the smell of Comfrey Tea, I have discovered, the hard way, that Nettle Tea is almost as bad in a highly concentrated form.

I will quote from organicgarden.org.uk who say:
Nettle spray
Bio-dynamic gardeners and growers have a very high regard for the common stinging nettle, using the leaves in sprays of several kinds. As well as using nettles as an activator on the compost heap (page 27) the organic gardener can use them as a liquid manure and as an aphicide.

Gather 224g (l/21b) young nettles and soak in a bucket of water for a week. Strain and use undiluted as a control of aphids on roses and celery leaf miner. Add the mushy nettles to the compost heap.

Although they do head the page with:
Please Note: Under UK and EC law it is illegal to use any preparation as a garden spray, or treatment, that is not approved for such use. This information is for historical reference only and its inclusion here does not imply a recommendation for use.

I think the big problem was that they have been steeping for two months which will have added to the strength and also the smell although once bottled is does look like good stuff.

We had a lucky find last week, when Ted told us about a load of rhubard crowns that had been left on a deralict plot. I don't know the variety but they are now on the bank in front of 53. We planted 8 in total so should have a good crop in 2008.






The visiting allotmenteers were with us again this weekend and thankfully the sun shone, although it was very cold so after moving 15 barrow loads of manure and a lot of digging Rebecca decided that valuable work needed doing in the greenhouse. The second batch of broad beans have been sown ready for successional planting at the end of February.




The boys toys were out again, I couldn't even lift the sledge hammer never mind swing it, and it is amazing how quickly the posts went up for the duck compound, with Nick holding and Matt swinging the sledge hammer. It was very scientific and a great relief that they were wearing the same size boots to be able to measure accurately between the posts. The back and side posts are up so the wire can start to go on which hopefully with help keep the rabbits out. The compound looks a bit like the OK corral and with sturdy 8 foot posts (with 2 foot of that buried in the ground) I don't think they should blow over.









The latest produce from Pyotts Products is vegetable crisps. A combination of potatoe, parsnip and beetroot. It is a shame I didn't think of them earlier as I am sure there is someway of making courgette crisps. This is the prototype and it received mixed reviews such as 'more chewy that crips' and 'different' but I like them.