Watty's Awakening

Watty1 · 7 February at 2:15PM

@ladybird1106 I just looked up the place I used and they do a soil test for growing garden vegetables that is £47.94 Same test as I had for equine grazing probably but with just a different interpretation?

Possibly expensive for an allotment but I knew I had a problem as my grass growth is very poor and the dandelions have taken over and I am spending a lot now putting hay out as there is not enough for them to eat and the dry summer meant my winter grazing was non existent.

(If only humans could have such a cheap test!)

greenbee · 7 February at 7:24PM

I self-tested my soil (kit from garden center that did about 10 tests of 4 kinds) and it told me what I suspected (from lack of worms) which was that it was deficient in everything. After a couple of years of mulching heavily with a mixture of commercial compost, home-made compost, home made leaf mould and woodchip, there is life in the beds. The veg plot was all done as no-dig and the beds there are also healthy. The hotbin composter is currently not hot (but warmer than the 'cold' compost bins) and heaving with worms. When we dig in new places we see the same compacted soil and lack of worms. Beds have only been dug where we've been digging things out/making holes to put things in. I have also used some manure and pelleted chicken manure in selected parts of the veg plot, and bonemeal in parts of the borders.

Watty1 · 8 February at 9:53AM

This chat reminded me there was a lack of worms in the garden here - but - the one thing I have ample quantities of is horse manure - and - having dug that in regularly the worm population has thrived and I suspect the soil is better. It must have been as poor as the fields it is next too.

Watty1 · 9 February at 9:51AM

Think the meds might be kicking in as feeling a little better. Yesterday it did not rain. That also helped a lot. (Rain is back today). So as a dry day, I rode both horses and then sat outside with a cup of tea. Small things that help so much.

Then met up with 4 girlfriends to celebrate one woman's birthday at local country house. 70 - seems a great age to be fit healthy and arrive dressed entirely in leopard print with dyed pink hair. Glasses of fizz and slices of cake and laughter.. VNM picked me up and then once home WattyDog and I played ball for a while. I think he would have played for longer but I am mindful of wearing him out as if he plays for too long I notice he is sore the next day then finished the day off by watching some TV. (Well since I got rid of the TV in a declutter session, we use a projector now instead which works well enough even if it is a pain to set up each time)

A good weekend. Very little spending other than the birthday and that was planned.

Cherryfudge · 9 February at 11:49AM

That all sounds really positive - love that 70 is being celebrated with leopard print and pink hair!

Watty1 · 9 February at 3:03PM

WattyDog has been to the vets for check up after gastric bleed. Given a clean bill of health, much admired, treats liberally accepted along with praise for his happy nature and good looks.

WattyDog came home and ate an empty aluminium cat food carton to celebrate. i have fished as much as possible out of his mouth. It is no wonder I struggle!