Monthly Archives: June 2017

Another mystery leaves the stage

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Helen

After the recent rain, at last I felt I could get on with jobs that softer soil make easier. Namely, continue potential improvements to the forest garden. About 18 months ago, I mulched round the apple tree with the result … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

At 10 degrees….

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Helen

I hope the butternut squash I planted out the other day will survive the complete change in the weather. Today has been 20 degrees C cooler than last week, so even though I hardened off the little plant shown above, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Sorting the forest garden out

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Helen

In a recent post I mentioned the lemon balm, which was going crazy in my back garden. It all started when a small volunteer arrived a couple years or so ago. I put it in a pot once I realised it … Continue reading →

Posted in In the kitchen, Permaculture | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Is it a courgette plant

Posted on June 25, 2017 by Helen

Whilst picking peas, I noticed a seeming volunteer plant in the same bed. Last year, none of the courgette seeds sown germinated. Neither in the soil nor pots. I therefore thought the seeds must have been too old. However, one … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Winter move over

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Helen

You could be forgiven for thinking the title of this post was a lament at the sudden change in the weather from hot and sunny to cold and drizzly. Well, cold it is but the rain is more of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

The garlic’s surprise

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Helen

The strawberries haven’t quite stopped all other play in the garden but they have certainly kept me very busy. Not only have I been spending over half an hour every day picking kilos of them (one of my colleagues, another … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, In the kitchen, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

PDC Revisited

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Helen

In January 2016, I started a PDC. My original thought was that I might use it as a stepping stone to a new career. But something extraordinary happened which has nothing to do with permaculture. I remembered how much I … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

The headless tomato plant

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Helen

The wind has come and gone, come and gone and one thing is for sure: it’s not just the butternut squash which are suffering. While the first tomato plant I put in the ground is starting to grow tomatoes, another … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Mulching 

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Helen

It seems that the seeds that were in my compost last year have worked their way through, as the garden isn’t inundated with chard wherever the bin has stood recently. So when I turned and moved it yesterday, I decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Determined to have squash this year

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Helen

After the warmth and near drought in the spring, we now have something akin to a second winter. Of course, approximately 20 degrees C is warmer than you’d find on a normal winter’s day but the wind, coupled with April … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 2 Comments