Daydream fund challenge part 4

lucielle

Hugs for your mum Alfie.
L

Davesnave

in_my_wellies wrote: »

I live in Devon and have a smallish house with a dis-proportionally 3/4 acre garden. I like mowing grass, hens and growing fruit and veg. ......

Quite a few similarities between you and me. I live on a smallholding in Devon, where we currently only have a couple of hens. We had over 20 at one time, but they cost more than we were earning from them.

I'm not fond of mowing grass. I like growing stuff, though I'm usually spread too thinly to do it really well. My wife and I have run a small, not-very-profitable plant nursery for years, but we intend to run it down to zero in 2019 and spend more time on our own garden in the future.

We're in the middle of the county, where it's quiet and not a lot happens, which suits us fine.

Fay

Hi everyone, sounds like I’ve missed a fair bit. Hope mum and bumble are ok Alfie.
I’ve been busy with work and home. Had some issues with the builders over drainage in the garden but should be sorted Monday as they have agreed to do the work I want. Also been looking at patio quotes and had one from th ground workers who will do my drains...he showed me pics of his work and it’s exactly what I want. His quote is £2500 cheaper than the one I was going to go with, plus he will be overseeing the drainage work. So I think I will go with that.
So now I’m looking at greenhouses and have potted up some plants to grow on for the borders. I’m looking at a rhino greenhouse...does anyone have any opinions or suggestions?
I am also going to need a new lawn mower as the ex had the petrol one and I got the hover mower, which isn’t up to the back garden on a regular basis.
But all in all it’s starting to feel like home now. I’ve joined the local WI and they’re very friendly...joined their knitting group too. Plus found a local gardening group and went last month, nice bunch. I’m seeing bob flowerdue at a talk there on th 8th April so that’s exciting.
Work is really a burn out job and I’m just starting to feel it. So thinking about future plans.

choille

That's good Fay that you are settling in. Hope that something transpires for the better re work. Not good to be on full speed continually. I couldn't get up to any speed these days I doubt. More to life than work.

Sorry to hear about that with your Mum Alfie. She's in the best place to be assessed. Poor thing.

It's been nice today but a scatter of snow on the tops last night & chilly out but DRY so picked up loads of twigs for kindling & just was glad to be able to stand up outside & not get blown over or soaked for once.

Met a nice couple walking their collie & mine & it had a great play on the beach today. They are up for a bit in a camper van & will be back in a few weeks. Looks like they are want to move from where they live and just having a look see about.

Davesnave

Hope Mum's responding alfie; we know she doesn't like taking it easy!

So glad the garden's coming on and you are seeing a way forward in the new area, Fay. Rhino greenhouses are supposed to be strong. Me, I loved my cedar greenhouse , but I appreciate they aren't cheap.

Burn out is to be avoided at all costs. I had it once, nearly twice, and now I'm thinking it's creeping up again, hence my comments last time about ditching the nursery aspect of our work here. Trouble is, I like growing stuff for others, but financially I don't need to and it hinders getting other stuff done/other interests. So, the nursery (and maybe the big polytunnel too) goes at the end of this season. Polytunnel will be in the way if we ever develop the barn.


Have both 'girls' down here visiting for Mothering Sunday. It felt weird yesterday with just the 4 of us together; just like old times. It will probably never happen again!

in_my_wellies

Good morning.

I hope your mum is on the mend. Make the most of your girls visit. My sons are abroad and neither has acknowledged today. One never did but I am a little surprised not to hear from my youngest even if he's working all weekend.

I had to take mum to the walk-in centre yesterday lunchtime, fortunately all sorted and reassurance given. On the way back I picked up a freshly knocked over pheasant on the edge of a village. A man was tending his verge and said it was dead only 30 minutes and he was about to throw it over the hedge. I told him that would be a waste.

I treated myself to my cedar greenhouse 35 years ago with money I earned doing a small contract whilst on maternity leave. I doubt I would justify the increased cost over metal now - perhaps the difference wasn't so great then? 95% of it is as good as new still.

I used to grow plants for charity. I think I like the satisfaction of growing them more than owning them. Mostly I would go to school fates or similar fund raising events and could donate about £150. I'd sell a lot from the verge too, however, I have noticed the market has changed in the last few years. Bedding is out of fashion and trays of 25 plants can be picked up so cheap from the likes of B&Q. People just don't stop by the verge, I can't even give apples away. Tomato plants are £2.50 in the garden centre but I still didn't sell all mine for £1

Today I shall give the flower border some TLC

Fay

Sorry it auto corrected Bimble to bumble Alfie! How’s your mum today?

Dave, I would like a wooden greenhouse but just can’t run to it. Although the rhino isn’t cheap it will come in about £1300 cheaper than equivalent wooden one. It feels awfully indulgent buying myself one even though th bulk is Xmas and birthday money I’ve saved up lol

I also need a new mower. Saw what looked like a decent petroleume in b and q. It was a mountfield sp185 but not sure if it’s good or if I’ll needthat size once the borders etc are in.

Found a nice nursery up the road and bought some lupins, echinacea, peony and bleeding hearts to grow on. Now I really want a greenhouse and get seed sowing lol

I get why you would want to give up the nursery aspect though Dave, maybe you could just grow a few for your village fetes and for charity etc? So it goes back to being more of a hobby. Sadly, I’ll be in a similar job to what I am now for a very long time. I need to find a way to work smarter because it’s all the politics that are the problem.

alfie_1

hi all..
been chilling out by giving a riding lesson this morning ..
after 19 degrees yesterday its a cooler 11 today and sharp wind round some corners..
ive yet to get the glass in my greenhouse [from next door] and im not 100% that i need/will use one ??
mum seems to be holding her own but not out of the woods yet .. my sister and son visited yesterday so I could have a break .. brother got off his royal butt and visited this morning [from kent] and im going after ive done an airport run today ...


if anybody on FB ? try looking up ... mavis davis and chums .. [down your way dave ] its lovely AND funny ... life on a small holding ...

in_my_wellies

Good morning, coffee time!

Fay - I don't know about other mowers, or modern mowers but I have a Petrol Honda EASY START and it really is easy to start every time, just a light pull on the cord. My neighbour has a slightly newer model and hers starts with a push button which is even easier but costs a little more I think. I've had mine 8 years and it's only ever had a good wipe under and over when it's put away for winter - never a service, and I do have a lot of lawn, takes me 1 hour 15 minutes

All the best alfie

greenbee

My mum has a cordless mower, which she loves. Lucielle mentioned a while back that they're very good now so might be worth a look. A lot quieter and less smelly, and no hassle filling up petrol cans!