the daydream fund challenge thread

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Buy the humanure handbook, really full of useful info. I think it's on the web as well, but I like a book in front of me.

Are you going to run the chooks on the veg patch to be? And the horses. Will work a treat getting it ready for next year,

Horses first, then perhaps some freezer sheep then chooks...horse will make short work o the length, if we get some freezer sheep they'll tidy it up a little. The chooks would cry if I suggested they went there now...

Its in a good spot near a pond and near a muck heap and where compost will be, but it has a track running through that needs to stay (to get tractor to the muck heap). There is a long west facing wall in a very narrow strip and a shorter...maybe 15metre south facing wall, also a narrow strip (five feet ish?) (tunnel/glasshouse sites?). then on the other side of the strip a ''patch'', say 40metres by maybe 6 metres then HUGE bramble patch, then pond (close, the 40 metres length has the muck heap and walls and the pond separated width ways.

I'm not sure that makes any sense at all!

Lotus-eater

You've got a manure heap already there? Check with the previous owners for contamination of aminopyralid, I'm sure you know enough about it already.

I would move the muck heap and have the veg patch there where it is


I'm not sure that makes any sense at all!
Difficult to envisage, I'll admit

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

You've got a manure heap already there? Check with the previous owners for contamination of aminopyralid, I'm sure you know enough about it already.

I would move the muck heap and have the veg patch there where it is


I'm not sure that makes any sense at all!
Difficult to envisage, I'll admit

Its ion concrete, so a no go! And...everything is organic, food was contaminate free:j:j:j

i know, its a garbled mess...much like my head ATM!:o:o

Davesnave

Lir, your 'to do' list so reminds me of last year! 200 mile trips to do the watering......:eek:

Now, 11 months on, I'm thinking 'Where did all that time go?' but I guess we are making reasonable progress. This time next year it will be your turn...

We have completed Phase 1 of our parking/selling area and, now it's done, I wonder if we are pushing the boundaries of 'Farm Gate Sales.' What we'll be doing is certainly within the definition, but the site looks quite er... large.....

Something like 50 tonnes of rock have been used, but if the whole thing's a flop, it's all reclaimable & can be placed elsewhere. There again, the whole area was a mini lake last winter, so the drainage capability is welcome. I still can't get the idea of standing water on top of a ridge, but that's what we had.

The next step is to put in the fancy bits, like windbreak trellis, and then, finally, some planting!

I will put up some photos in a day or so. It has been a bit manic lately, especially after the dumper blew up on us, just when we were in sight of the end. Two days ago we just deserted the place for a morning 'inspiration trip' to RHS Rosemoor, though I'm not sure if that made us feel better or worse! :rotfl:

rhiwfield

LiR, sounds like its all happening, just swim with the flow

Davesnave, I'm beginning to imagine that you've teamed up with Mr T for a new rural outlet concept Will be very interested to see the photos.



Had fun the last few days :j

The wine we bottled (got to be 18% at least) is lovely and disappearing all too fast.

Visits from all the grandkids and daughters snacking on the peas and strawberries. DW making lots of jam and pie fillings. Cordials from blackcurrants and rhubarb, the first ripe toms and raspberries, making frozen lollies, mmmmm.

All 3 hens are in lay, the last (prob) was laying soft shelled eggs in the poop tray which were then getting pecked. So filled an eggshell with cayenne pepper and mustard as well as providing extra calcium. Prob coincidence but no more soft shells, pecked eggs and all 3 now laying in the nest boxes.

Second solar array is now on the roof, just before the rain hit in earnest. Should be commissioned tomorrow.

This rain is very welcome, especially as it should be clear tomorrow morning! Ground was parched and despite watering the veg were suffering. Even had garlic producing flower heads, a first for me.

stitching_witch

Rhiwfield, it sounds as if it's all happening for you. You're lucky that all the hens are laying. Mine have gone on strike because of the hot weather and are only laying on alternate days. I wouldn't normally mind, but I have a good customer base now and they are having to take it in turns. I might need to look at getting some more land so I can get another dozen birds! :j

We went to the allotment this evening and picked another kilo of strawberries. The problem in this house is that I want them for jam and DH wants them for wine. The same happens with all fruit, whether grown or foraged!:D

I really need a lot more land to do every thing I want to do, but I've had to go back to work full time until DH can find some work that he is fit enough to do. All my small-holder dreams have been put on hold yet again

Davesnave

rhiwfield wrote: »

Davesnave, I'm beginning to imagine that you've teamed up with Mr T for a new rural outlet concept Will be very interested to see the photos.

The photos are now available:


Because I know hard landscaping isn't everyone's cup of tea, I've also included a few photos of the vegetables we've grown fom the Real Seeds range. It's a bit early to evaluate some of them, like the peppers & toms, but we shall trial what we can this year. I am amazed at how easy it is to grow cucumbers, as these were extremely fast and started producing before I'd put them into decent sized pots.

We've had the Outlaws down here, so there have been more hands on the other jobs, like finishing off the chicken run and adding water points to it. The chickens are on their way too, as we'll be collecting a few on Sunday (2 Vorwerk, 1 Wellsummer, 1 Wyandotte.... I think - spellings not checked!) They will go in an adapted dog cage to begin with, until their house arrives.:)

Stitching witch, it must be hard going back to work after 'retiring,' but finding a job is no mean feat in this economic climate. Well done!

Rhiwfield, it sounds as if you have been in top gear too! I liked your solution to the pecked eggs.

The rain was much needed, but what we've had here so far won't be anywhere near enough, though I bet it will set the weeds growing! I have been steadily attacking those, in the garden and on the field edges, but it's the sort of job that is never done.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

wow .....
Davesnave... i am in ore of you.....:smileyhea ( and your OH)

both of you have really worked your butts off.... and in such a short time...

I am sooooooooo glad you you on on the thread... its people like you... keep us going with our dreams...


I honestly am speachless, and the amount you have done... i really do hope the plant sales take off for you... you soooooooooooo deserve it..:beer:

meanmarie

Dave...what lovely healthy plants and what an amount of work you and your wife have done...congratulations...know that you are only a youngster in comparison to me and my OH but we are never going to be as organised as you obviously are, mind you did have some nice potatoes yesterday from ones DD4 decided to sow when they became unfit to eat, had our first Hispi cabbage to-day and it was absolutely delicious so maybe we are going somewhere after all!

Marie

Davesnave

Thanks for your kind comments CTC and marie, but the landscaping, although it looks good, is really the easiest bit. Machinery does the heaviest work, the results are quick & it's exciting, so there's no problem with motivation, unlike important, but boring things, like weeding or fixing broken things. We could be quicker if we used a contractor, but doing our own labouring and using a part-time landscaper makes the job less than half the price it would be otherwise.

I think my job is to show what happens when people make that jump to living in the country. OK I’m not exactly a townie, but I’ve lived in a city for 40 years. Wherever people go, it’s vital they find locals to help & advise them. There, I give credit to my DW, because she went out and made the contacts. I pitch-in and ask the questions though, because it saves so much time & hassle. For example, another couple near here bought a land holding and decided to ignore local advice about getting a borehole. Now, with the spring dried-up, they are shipping-in water for the animals daily, but there’s precious little for the veg. Bad for them, and embarrassing too... in the country everyone knows! :rotfl:

The other ‘big thing’ is planning. I think rhiwfield shows brilliantly how having an overall plan, which evolves, enables the best to be made of a plot, whatever its size. People who dive into things too quickly, a bit like we did when we tried to level that rubbish heap to make a polytunnel base, often end up doing jobs twice ; or they take on too much at once and end up doing everything badly. All the soil we’ve taken away from the front will be used in the winter to level a gully in the field, so we might gain another ¼ acre or so. And that parking area, though it has a use now, is also exactly what the builders will need for their stuff when they pull the roof off this place. Later, if I live long enough, it will be an incredible pond....:)

Anyway, for the sake of balance, I’m going to include a few of the horrors at this place in my next photo postings!:eek: