the daydream fund challenge thread

rhiwfield

Rummer wrote: »

Well I worked my wee socks off today

I went to the garden center and bought some herbs to fill my herb garden and I have decided that the plot next to it I will make into a healing garden. This is something I want to research properly so I am going to take my time.

Then I began the miserable task of weeding and tidying up the front garden. Mercifully things had not developed deep roots but it was tiring none the less and my wrists and knees are sore (I am so unfit!). A few plants didn't make it through the winter so I have bare patches to fill.

Been looking at the back garden today and I have decided to move the raspberry canes to the side garden and then next year I will develop a sunny border and the following year the shaded border so that my back garden has interest all year round. I will need to hit the books to get things the right size etc as I have only ever grown fruit/veg.

Rummer, if you're ever down this way (and apart from popping in to see us!) visit the cowbridge physic garden. Lovely town and very interesting garden. So many wild plants are beneficial if you know what you're doing, even the names give clues such as selfheal and hedge woundwort. Our field has Devils bit scabious, so called because the plant was so beneficial that the devil tried to bite off the root. And betony, an old italian saying goes "sell your coat and buy betony". Mind, Fairy flax (aka purging flax) is so powerful that its dangerous to use, especially for pregnant women.

And bare patches....my rosemary had died off and waiting on the bay

Ah well, after the light duties yesterday had an unwanted effect on the back, very light duties today, more pricking out, planted the guttered peas, sowed land cress and louse powdered the blacktail.

Been mild here, covering the GH tender plants at night just in case but not needed. Lotus Eater, getting your replacement hens soon?

Lotus-eater

rhiwfield wrote: »

R Lotus Eater, getting your replacement hens soon?

Because I haven't had the energy to get up to date with anything, we're toing and froing between getting some this year, or waiting till another time.
Yesterday I decided to ring someone I know about them, then didn't, today I'm not sure if I can cope.

I keep having some energy and then it going all at once.
The garden is slowly getting there though and I think I'm only a bit behind on the sowing now.

I'm not sure just how economical it is to keep hens atm. The price of feed is really high and our local farm sells really good eggs, from chickens that do what they want for £1.20 for 6.

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I'm not sure just how economical it is to keep hens atm. The price of feed is really high and our local farm sells really good eggs, from chickens that do what they want for £1.20 for 6.

The farm supplies own basic layers pellets has shot up to about £8;50 here.

Found a dead female chick this evening. no injury but squashed. They have bags of room so guess its just one of those things. I suppose the owl will be happy at least.

rhiwfield

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I keep having some energy and then it going all at once.
The garden is slowly getting there though and I think I'm only a bit behind on the sowing now.

I'm not sure just how economical it is to keep hens atm. The price of feed is really high and our local farm sells really good eggs, from chickens that do what they want for £1.20 for 6.

B****r, hoping you were on the mend.

Guess the economics of keeping hens on a small scale is pretty iffy, and we even have a local smallholder who's willing to supply. But the hens are great fun, the eggs taste good and are so fresh they stand up in the pan Not to mention all that lovely chickens**t

lostinrates

rhiwfield wrote: »

B****r, hoping you were on the mend.

Guess the economics of keeping hens on a small scale is pretty iffy, and we even have a local smallholder who's willing to supply. But the hens are great fun, the eggs taste good and are so fresh they stand up in the pan Not to mention all that lovely chickens**t

Yep, I don't know what eggs in the shops cost, but if LJ can buy them at a fair price that are as we can have at home and save a stress ATM not a bad option IMO. There is always next year or later in the season:D.

Unless you think they'd boost your spirits LE?

alfie_1

hi all, LIR glad to hear your chooks back even if she is now a fully paid up member of the "chicken run" !! [love that film!:o]

CHOILLE IM GLAD YOU HAVE AN APP WITH DOCTOR...bf HAD TO HAVE ANTIBIOTICS FOR HIS CHESTY COUGH AND HIS VOICE IS STILL CROAKY! [sorry left capitals on and cant be as**d to rewrite!:)]

well this week i have literally been dragged from pillar to post !
i had farrier and vet coming this morning so thought that yesterday i would get headcollars on 3 minis and ruby....:rotfl::rotfl:i was dreaming.... comfry is a swine to catch but managed it, dora is a swine to catch but managed, ruby and lori.....:(
i have a large field shelter with a long length of stock fencing that pulls/fixes across enterance to contain said swines when needed. lori is knee high to a grass hopper [yearling] yet he managed to take me and himself OVER the barrier and dragged me across the field on by butt until i finally gave up !!
ruby was having none of it and just demolished said barrier when it was her turn....
so today farrier did 2 minis and vet xrayed doras feet. whilst this is going on ruby and lori are having a hissy fit cos they are seperated by a field from the TB and the other minis and now seperated from dora. ruby set off at a fast canter and just sailed over the 4ft post and railed fence !! didnt even break her pace..... and joined the others !!! [so much for my cobby hacks in the forest!:rotfl:] i then had lori trying to climb a 5 bar gate as hes on his own......bedlam does not come close....
iv had every muscle in my body tested to the limit ! im walking like an egg bound duck and cant feel my butt !:o

oh the joys of owning hosses !!

Rummer

Alfie I am roaring with laughter at the image of you bouncing across the field like a Thelwell character being dragged by a determined Shetland! They really can be awkward wee beasts!

Rhiwfield Thank you for that link! I have been unwell for the last few years on and off and I am determined to try a natural approach to getting well as medicine has not been as effective as I would have hoped so that link was really interesting. Oh and I will definately drop in if I am ever passing.

Lotus-Eater Sorry to hear you are still not fighting fit, take care of yourself.

Lostinrates I think we will both be tree onion shopping!

Choille Good luck tmrw at the doctors.

To everyone else, I hope that your gardening is going to plan. I have been planning and scheming and now need to convince my OH that my ideas are going to work!

Davesnave

Hello again. I've been rather absent lately, but first of all we were rushing about, trying to get things done before the rain, and then when it arrived, there were more things to do, like sow seed in the bare areas of the bottom field.

Sorry that so many seem to be strugging with health issues ATM, though understandable for those who've had a much nastier winter than we did in the south, or those who have longer term difficulties. If it's any consolation, DW used to be unable to do the sort of jobs she does now, so there is always hope that a long term problem will improve.
The other side of the coin is that it's not always possible to know what brought on a difficulty with things like bending or digging; it just happens. Sometimes, it can be something as tiny as coughing or sneezing at the wrong moment.

DW has been at the quack this morning with a foot issue and the diagnosis is that it's down to her changing her outdoor footwear.

Me, I'm just stupid. Got wet yesterday sowing the grass seed and didn't bother to change till I came in at 7.30pm. Paying for it today...:o

I'm attempting to catch our moles. So far, they are not playing to the rules! :mad:

Rummer

Davesnave wrote: »

I'm attempting to catch our moles. So far, they are not playing to the rules! :mad:

I bet they are having lots of fun though :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

choille

Thanks all - Funny how when the weather improved slightly we all get unwell - all that running about, doing the digging & mixing with bugs!

Feel aa bit better today but cowering in beside the stove still. Last night was a meeting about new guidelines on IACs forms. We went down the Gairloch & I coughed on the Scottish Government officials. It gets so complex that they just want folks to give up & they are making it increasingly difficult for - what they call less favoured areas to be sustainable. They don't pay on slopes - you are paid on flat map area - my croft is very sloped but only calculated on 9 acreas as opposed to actual of 12 acres - that doesn't sound too bad but if you take that throughout the area - that's a lot. They are also warning about what you can & can't claim & on the spot surprise inspections by EU auditors - they kept repeating that & a lot of elderly crofters were obviously a bit shook by it - really putting the fear of God into people. I think it was outrageous but they sort of say - well it's the EU for you - absolve theirselves of any blame.
They also want to encourage tree planting on the one hand yet want tree areas taken off claim areas - so really quite skitzo - I was a bit vocal - horse, but vocal.