make do and mend for tougher times

Possession

Yes you can make rowan jelly and also wine I think.
http://britishfood.about.com/od/recipeindex/r/rowanjelly.htm
I have some in my garden, but I'm not sure I have the energy to deal with them atm. : (

Byatt

LavenderBees wrote: »

mardatha wrote: »

Please stop talking about the good weather - I am sobbing my wee cold grey heart oot up here :(:( Forecast is rain spreading from the west (again!)
/QUOTE]

Sorry! It's going to be lovely here today but a big warning to make the most of it as it's going to become very autumnal this week - cold, windy, rainy. Oh, just your normal weather, Mardatha :rotfl:.

I've just realised that my dad rang me late last night, but for once I was in a lovely deep sleep. I now feel anxious as it can only be not so good or downright bad news about something but it's too early to ring them, and I have to go out and help the hedgehog rescue in a few minutes, so won't be back til lunchtime to find out what's wrong.

Enjoy your Sundays folks.

Hope it's not bad news, and maybe a mistaken dial...it's always a worry when you can answer it, twice as bad when you missed a late call.

LavenderBees

Thanks, Byatt. Can't get hold of dad at the moment, so I'm thinking (hoping) it can't be anything desperate.....fingers crossed. It's hopefully just he had a sudden thought about something and picked up the phone immediately...

BUT GOOD NEWS!!! I got home to find I've been offered an allotment...whoo hoo!!! No 3...not sure which one it is, do they number from the bottom or the top....neither of the two that could be no 3 look like they've had much attention this year, so it could be either. I'm so excited. I'm shaking with excitement! :j

I don't know when I'll be allowed onto it, what will be left with it, don't know nuffink, but have zapped back the application/agreement form, and now am twiddling my thumbs.. eager to get going. Can I start digging NOW!? :rotfl:

In my previous life, I had a big garden but that was surrounded by high trees so difficult to grow anything really. I've not tried veges apart from in containers...and they weren't very successful, especially last years...not one red tomato.

oooh...now I'm frightened I'll make a right mess of it...no doubt I'll be picking a few brains on here. At least I know how to kill slugs, thanks, GQ:rotfl:

Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :T

Byatt

LavenderBees wrote: »

Thanks, Byatt. Can't get hold of dad at the moment, so I'm thinking (hoping) it can't be anything desperate.....fingers crossed. It's hopefully just he had a sudden thought about something and picked up the phone immediately...

BUT GOOD NEWS!!! I got home to find I've been offered an allotment...whoo hoo!!! No 3...not sure which one it is, do they number from the bottom or the top....neither of the two that could be no 3 look like they've had much attention this year, so it could be either. I'm so excited. I'm shaking with excitement! :j

I don't know when I'll be allowed onto it, what will be left with it, don't know nuffink, but have zapped back the application/agreement form, and now am twiddling my thumbs.. eager to get going. Can I start digging NOW!? :rotfl:

In my previous life, I had a big garden but that was surrounded by high trees so difficult to grow anything really. I've not tried veges apart from in containers...and they weren't very successful, especially last years...not one red tomato.

oooh...now I'm frightened I'll make a right mess of it...no doubt I'll be picking a few brains on here. At least I know how to kill slugs, thanks, GQ:rotfl:

Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :T

Who hoo, indeed, what wonderful news! Are they near you? Will you be able to have chickens??

Fab news...how big is the plot?

GQ will have lots of great tips I'm sure...

GreyQueen

:j An allotment, LB, congratulations.:j

Yup, you can start digging now. Depending on the state of it, you may have to get rid of a lot of bad stuff first. Some stuff survives composting such as couch grass (aka spear grass, twitch, cooch grass, foul grass) and also nasties like horsetails and bindweed. Please save yourself grief and don't attempt to compost these, they'll survive and you'll re-spread them.

I'd get on there asap and make a cunning plan. Think about ordering up a load of manure if you can afford it, or gathering it for free if you have a source, and then digging it in. Hold back part of the ground un-manured for root veggies or they'll grow coarse and forked. You can plant spuds on freshly-manured ground with no probs, just not your carrots and parsnips etc.

Need to think about building compost bins, getting an old shed if you don't have one with the plot and lots of fun things. Steady work in the next few months will see you ready to sow in March-April and it will be great.

PS, look for the slugs' hiding places and kill them when they sleep. Cold steel is best; they don't like it up 'em.

LavenderBees

GreyQueen wrote: »

:j An allotment, LB, congratulations.:j

Yup, you can start digging now. Depending on the state of it, you may have to get rid of a lot of bad stuff first. Some stuff survives composting such as couch grass (aka spear grass, twitch, cooch grass, foul grass) and also nasties like horsetails and bindweed. Please save yourself grief and don't attempt to compost these, they'll survive and you'll re-spread them.

I'd get on there asap and make a cunning plan. Think about ordering up a load of manure if you can afford it, or gathering it for free if you have a source, and then digging it in. Hold back part of the ground un-manured for root veggies or they'll grow coarse and forked. You can plant spuds on freshly-manured ground with no probs, just not your carrots and parsnips etc.

Need to think about building compost bins, getting an old shed if you don't have one with the plot and lots of fun things. Steady work in the next few months will see you ready to sow in March-April and it will be great.

PS, look for the slugs' hiding places and kill them when they sleep. Cold steel is best; they don't like it up 'em.

Ooh ...I'm exhausted already :rotfl:

Our allotments are quite small/short in length, and I'm not sure whether this one is a double width or single width one..might be too small for a shed, but my neighbour and I walked round and are already planning where the garden seats are going to get the best sunlight ...apparently for her to sit and watch me work :cool:

Sorry, what I meant was that I don't know when I'm allowed to take possession of it. I hear that the year runs from Feb to Jan (why?), but I'm really hoping that once the Parish Council agree my application (I think the meeting is soon), then I'll be allowed to start working it...the more I can get done in the Autumn the better, but if it has to sit with no work being done for 5 months, I may have to go in under cover of darkness...:rotfl:

The lotties are only 2 minutes walk from my wee house, and are so pretty. I really can't wait...I may have to take another walk round there now...why is there never anyone there when I go? I want to talk allotments! :rotfl:

The weeds don't look too bad really...I'm pretty sure that this lottie was quite productive last year so hopefully has just been left for a few months. Last year, I had "discussions" with our Parish council as they were allowing people to keep allotments for years even though they weren't being used/worked on and there was a long waiting list. They've policed them much better this year...I had no idea I had finally crawled to the top of the list :T. Such a lovely surprise! :T

And yes, Byatt...I'm seriously thinking a small chicken coup with a couple of wee chicklets...but they are so tying, and it's not great cleaning them out in the dark winter mornings/evenings before and after work. I need to think carefully about it, even though I want to launch in now, and have it all done by tea-time! :T:rotfl:

GQ - do you find you use a wheel barrow? It's the one bit of kit i don't have at the moment as nowhere to store it. I have a spade/fork/hoe etc, but no cloches/netting that kind of thing (not that I need it just now). If it's the lottie I think it is, the one next to it is very productive, so I'll be picking that gentleman's brains, too.

ooh...off to view "my" lottie again :j Sorry for taking up the thread with my excitement. I'll let someone else get a word in now :rotfl:

prepareathome

Fuddle a Home made washing machine idea

We were supposed to be having the hottest day of the year, instead although dry so far,but clouds are thickening, its was a bit sunny before, and chilly, everyone who is walking past is wearing sleeves of some sorts. As my back garden is lower than surrounding gardens and sheltered by trees so much I cannot always judge what true temp is outside as its often warmer or colder than everywhere else. At moment its warmer but in winter can often be up to 15c - 10c colder than in front garden and street and same in summer.

So far all I have done today is put some washing in dryer, I know not os when its dry out but in to much pain to care at moment, so much for going out on scooter to see if anything was able to be picked as we have old railway line that has been turned into a nature walk and wood that has all sorts growing wild there and I have not been near it this year.

Have to be at sons family home for 8am tomorrow as both of them have induction days for their college courses - son is doing joinery and partner beauty and make-up. I feel like saying to her don't do that learn something really useful but she is no OS in any shape or form, neither is my daughter and so didn't waste my breath. So will be taking DGS7 to school then looking after DGD3 till they get home, picking up DGS if they are not back by home time. Luckily his school is only by their home so not far to go as DGD I have been warned is going through the phase of wanting to walk as far from adults as possible to show her independence. So can for see screams and tears as Grandma insists on her holding my hand. Son told me she through a complete tantrum including laying down and kicking the other day when he went to pick up son as he insisted she held his hand. She was fine going through the terrible twos but looks like she is making up for lost time.

She loves making things so plan to take craft bits over with me and a crochet hook and some yarn to start to teach her. She has good concentration and been told the playdoh we bought her keeps her quiet for hours at a time where as she flitters between all her toys -dolls etc. So teach her while she is young and might give her a life long interest, Knitting I will leave till a bit later. Taught other DGD13 that when she was 4. So hopefully we should have an enjoyable time making pictures, cards and other things.

So plenty of rest today to ensure all goes well as don't like to take to many pain meds when looking after them as I know they affect my reflexes if nothing else. Will try and do some more knitting as only down about 4ins of hat for DGD3 so far. Its nothing fancy just a roll brim pull on in multicolour wool yarn, not quite sock thickness but not quite double knit either so started it on 3mm,so it doesn't slip off easily but is not tight and then changed to 4mm for main body to give it some shape then will change back and plan to thread threw stitches to do a pulled finsh rather than decrease so it keeps is rounded shape. Simple but effective and stitches not to loose with the 4mm as was going to use 3.5m but cannot find my circular needle that size and found hands were to clumsy for using 5 needles which I usually prefer to circular.

Trying to think what to make for dinner nothing springs to mind that I fancy.

Hugs and Love to allxxx

prepareathome

Oh Lavender that is great and being right on the doorstep as well. I put my name down years ago and never heard anything again but couldn't manage one now, but nearest is about 5 miles away, I guess they think we all have gardens so don't need one but in reality my back garden is the size of a postage stamp( corner house so house round corner has to share the space, daft planning they only left enough space for one back garden yet gave me the massive big side one) and until the hedges grow in side garden I cannot really grow much there as to easy for anyone to step over the miserable 3ft fence we are allowed. We know this can happen as when those lovely people stepped over it and blew up our camper van, they were seen, hopped over it, shoved the industrial fireworks up exhaust of camper and were gone ,all done in a few mins, so person who saw them as it was dusk so they couldn't see what they were doing, but were so quick never thought anything harm had been done till van blew spectacularly apart about 5 mins later. Bomb squad said they were using long fuses to ensure they were far away when they blew.

It wasn't my van was specially targeted they were driving round looking for easy targets and my van was with such a small fence between them. Wasn't even parked near fence but at other side of garden but at side of house and only window there is hall one 3/4 of the way up the stairs so not easy to keep checking on.

So for now just a few vegetable plants hidden among flowers - Nasturtiums are still blooming, been out for about 6 weeks now. Had so many people ask what I was doing when out there this year and they will remember as things get harder over coming years and will most likely think nothing of popping over fence to help themselves, thinking well she has plenty as the amount of people that thought one cabbage plant gave you 100 cabbages is unbelievable, they really do think you need to plant one of everything and that will feed many for months to come. Many were saying can see you will have lots to give away in autumn and have had a few people knock for spares in past week and are totally disbelieving when I say but only had a few things thanks to weather and slugs and assume I am being greedy, even though I grew them. To them as they are there on view they are for everyone, if I want them just for me I should have them in the back garden. To non gardeners it seems a feeble excuse it doesn't dawn on them that growing wasn't an exact science to them you put the seeds in and in so many months pull up perfect vegetable, no watering, feeding, weeding needed. Those people who asked all have far bigger back gardens than me and when I suggest growing their own I get told oh couldn't as need garden for kids to play, to sit out etc., but ok for me to grow and give to them. Not one person even offered to buy anything off me, no all wanted free and many went away angry so I know they will be wanting to take their revenge by pinching later.

So not sure if I will anything in next year or the next until hedges are a decent height and thick enough to stop people seeing them. Had some things taken like cabbages, cauliflower and celery -went to get last of it yesterday and it was gone, not eaten stump was there and it had been cut .

Its just so frustrating having to wait a few years when I know things are going to get more expensive.

So I have all this space to grow but cannot use it as cannot police it, so annoying.

Right sun has come out again and all this has reminded me seed potatoes have got to go in, in pots so better go and do them.

Hugs and Love to allxxxx

ginnyknit

Lavender bee's if you have any really rough bits on the lottie, you can always cover them with an old bit of carpet or weighted down chunks of cardboard to kill off the weeds, then in the spring dig it over and remove any roots left. - just and idea x

GreyQueen

Yes, I use a wheelbarrow, would regard it as an essential tool for some jobs like shifting manure or even shifting soil. I've done some progressive earth moving over the past 4 years as my lottie was very lop-sided.

Bad culvivators often hurl tussocks of grass with a lot of earth attached to the edges of the lottie so it eventually ends up sunken in the middle and higher at the sides. Once you've got the soil bared, you can drag the high points across.

I've still got the top section of mine to level; when The Rough has been cleared, I shall re-clear the Alpine Carrot Bed, an earth berm about 2 feet high and 6 feet across created by cutting the level back to the tru level of the rest of the plot. The berm used to run the whole length of the lottie but has been moved across in sections but this part of it is parallel to uncleared ground and so can't go over yet.

It was nicknamed the Alpine Carrot Bed because it's higher than the surrounding soil and I grew carrots on it one year. Nickname courtesy of my Dad.