Sunday 14 February

Valentine's Day;

Chinese New Year 

(Tiger-Yang-Metal);

New Moon at 2.52am

More information on Chinese astrology

Inception Chart

Wayne took some pics. I will post them when I get them from him

I moved purely on instinct, but feel a most auspicious day was chosen. By the gods, of course, not me.

Azada

Monday 15 Feb

Tomatoes and Squash

all Friday 19th and Sat 20th;

from 3.25pm Sat 27th to 2.50pm Mon 1st March

Potatoes and Onions

all Sun 21 and Mon 22 and Tues 22 until 1.10pm

Tuesday 16 Feb

News about apples

shopping trolley ripe for conversion

transformed with plastic tub - go here for slideshow of how it was made, and here for video of it in action on the canal

A bit more digging got done today. It was a bright morning, and after I got my stuff done here, I wanted to set off for the garden. First, though, I wanted to try out a new idea. I had been looking up bike trailers for a cycling friend who saw the one Wolf had on our cycle trip photos and I saw one that was different from the two standard types - those that fix to the back axle (we tried one of these and gave it away - it pulled back as you tried to pull forward) - and the kind I have, that fix to the saddle post and give no trouble. This new type fitted to the rear of the luggage carrier, and that gave me the idea to attach my shopping trolley. I had already done a conversion on this to make a tool carrier for the allotment - I took the detachable bag off, and fitted a large blue plastic drum (used for photographic colour) with the top cut off - we were able to get hold of a lot of these at the allotment, and used them for water butts. Now I attached the converted shopping trolley to the back of the luggage rack with strings, and gave it a test run down the road. It was fine so long as I did not speed too much, but it was empty, and I figured that with the tools in it would hold the road better.

This proved to be the case, and I set out on the 20-minute run along the canal to Wayne and Libby-land. The kids told me they had both gone somewhere, so I went along to start work on my own.

On Sunday we had dug out the first bed. I paced this out and it is 34 feet long x 5ft wide. We will get three of these in the space. This will do for a start. I began digging out the first trench with my azada. This end is very bad with well-established nettle roots, and these will be a problem if we leave them in the grass paths. When Libby turned up, I suggested to her that we should complete the three beds, double-dug, put the edging in, and then we should dig up the paths and get the nettle roots out. Then we can re-seed the paths with grass. It grows quickly. She asked could we not put flags down. I said they could do whatever they want, but I found that when I put pavings on my paths I had to take them all up one by one each year to dig the weeds out from under, and that probably the same would happen. But it is their garden, it is up to them what they do, however even if they do that, we must dig the nettle roots out.

I managed the first trench and then quit. It is early in the season, and I haven't done any serious gardening for two years now. I don't want to overdo it. It was lovely to sit on the pile of pallets, watching the sun go down, feeling the warmth of it, and listening to the stream, the birds, and the merry cries of walkers going past. The land feels like home already.

Saturday 20 Feb

Gartenperle tomato

Banana Pink Squash

It's a Fire day today - Moon in Aries, and I had planned to sow Gartenperle Tomatoes and Banana Pink Squash. I'd just got all the seed packs out and cleared the sink area ready, when Libby and Honey turned up. That delayed me a little, but I got there in the end. There were 100 tomato seeds and 15 squash. I have always in the past sown squash/courgette/cucumber - those type of things - under a Water Moon, but they are a seed/fruit so I decided this year I will experiment. I sowed six of them in a deep tray. I have noted the next Water day and will sow another six then, and the trays will be labelled, so we will see which does best. I have sown a sprinkling of the tomatoes, not all of them. They are now in the airing cupboard, where they always go until the shoots appear. 

          I have also noted the next Air day as I have sweet peas that need starting. These always go into water first, to swell, and then I keep them damp until they sprout. Only then do I put them into compost. I consider though that putting them in the water is the first act, so that will be on an Air day. If I can also transfer them to the compost on an Air day that will be ideal, but it may not be possible, as they tend to sprout on different days.

          The frosty weather and cold, biting wind has continued so no more work has been done on the garden. Libby reported that when I left the other day she dug one whole trench at the bottom end to the same depth as mine at the top, and even went so far as to put one of the sacks of manure in, and start to cover it over from the next trench. Wow brilliant!

Sunday 21 Feb

Tuesday 2 March

Libby has been quietly digging away while I have been getting over a cold (last week) and (today and yesterday) frankly enjoying the sun! With the result that she has finished the first bed on her own. I took some pictures today - click to see full size

My seed sowing

I got the pink squash and tomatoes sown on Saturday 20 Feb (Fire Day),but completely missed the Water Day so will have to wait for the next Waxing Moon now. This will render the comparison invalid, as there will be a month difference in the sowings. Anyway, I will still note the result. I also did not look at the tomatoes soon enough and they overdid it and are thin and leggy - they are in the light now and hope they improve - if not, I have seed left. Today the banana squash started to come up. I realise I am a bit of a rubbish gardener now, not conscientious like I used to be.

            As I was photographing Libby's bed, and picking up the roots that were scattered around, to save her a job tomorrow, a man came down the lane with two dogs and started chatting. I have christened him Mystic Bob. He was actually into dreams! It is so unusual to meet a man interested in the Other Side of life, and refreshing. He gave me a card with his website - he takes amazing photographs.

March 3 2010

BBC report on deaths from Legionnaires Disease after inhaling compost or read it here

News Item - Poisonous compost kills crops

Heard on R4 today that three people in UK have died from using compost. The ingested droplets infected with Legionnaire's Disease and died from multiple organ failure. Report said "two of the gardeners were using the same brand of proprietary compost. One died after planting bulbs outdoors"

End of report

     Find this very worrying. Went on a search to find more about it, also found poisonous compost report from 2008

March 7 2010

Libby and Wayne have been working on the land today, I hear, and have finished the second bed. Of the six banana pink squash I sowed on a Fire day, only two have come up, and they have been up a fair few days now. Maybe I was right all along classifying them under Water. I will plant another six on the next Water day. That's 25th and 26th.

We need to get the potatoes and onions in. That can be 20th (after 1.25pm), 21st, and 22nd up to 7.50pm, or if we miss that, another opportunity on 29th and 30th.

Any flowers or herbs should be sown 23rd-24th, or 31st 

And if the first lot of tomatoes don't look too good, another lot can be sown 19th, and 20th to 1.25pm, or 27-28.

March 28 2010

Not much has happening on the Land, at least from my point of view. Libby has dug, and almost completed, three trenches. At the last minute I called off plans to plant potatoes this month, it is really too cold, and when I consulted past records (from my six years writing 'Muck and Magic' for the Keighley News of Nelson) I found that I had always planted potatoes mid-April. It was a bit of a bummer having to 'fess up that I got it wrong - but if I kept quiet and let her plant them - what kind of a potato guru would I look when the crop failed? With her usual good sense, she had already decided it was too cold.

pic 2 - three beds done

Colorado Bob - an amazing site, here is what he has to say about Hopi Blue Corn (which we will be growing on Wayne and Libby's Land). There is much more stuff of interest in his blogspot, I urge you to go there and see for yourself

 I have not been idle at home. I've sown Black Krim tomatoes and Hopi Blue Indian Corn; Banana Pink Squash (9 seeds) and Little Gem squash (more than 12); put some marigolds outside under cover (in pots inside mini-greenhouse) and some of the monardia (lemon mint) in a large pot. The corn came up so fast, and its roots were spreading daily out of the peat pots and across the base of the tray, they simply had to go outside. I had 15 peat pots with 2-3 seeds in each. I plunged each of these into a much larger pot filled with compost, soaked them, wrapped each pot in bubble wrap secured with parcel tape, and stacked them on three shelves of another mini-greenhouse (I now have three of these in the space I gained by moving the back fence - the third one has sweet peas and some pots of herbs).

     I wondered about how soon the corn can be planted outside, so did a search and came up with this very interesting website - Colorado Bob's Hopi Blue Corn Experiment - he is offering packs of corn, so I have written him to ask for some.

April 10                 

Premier Seeds Direct

failures

&

successes

Later

WE WERE FIRST IN UK TO REQUEST BOB'S CORN

I'm on a bit of an economy drive, trying to save for my cycle trip, so I'm paying more attention to my shopping bills. I was shocked to see that I got 2 litres of milk from Lidls for the same price I pay for 1litre in Asda. Everything's cheaper in Lidl, and better quality. 

I've been disappointed with the germination rates of the Banana Pink and Little Gem Squashes. I sowed 6 BP in warmth in March and got 2 - this was part of my fire-or-water experiment. It might have looked like a fire-day was bad news, until I sowed the remaining 9 on a water day (my normal practice) and got only 5. Better but nothing to shout about. Of the Little Gem (12 seeds) only 3 have emerged. Monardia (lemon mint) has produced precisely Zilch. 

Successes though with the trailing tomato (sown March, same conditions as squashes) Gartenperle and the heritage tomato Black Krim - no problems there. The Indian Blue Corn Hopi did excellently, but I have lost a few due to having to move them out into mini-greenhouse earlier than I would like (too many seeds coming along indoors). So I have ordered more today, along with Cosse Violette climbing bean, courgette Cocozelle di Napoli, and some hollyhocks for my garden. I have bought a lot of seed from this seller, and tho the results have been uneven, still have confidence. I have written them today about the failures and will keep a careful eye on all other germinations.

No word from Colorado Bob so went to his website again tonight. Reading through his blog came across this:

"I had a request from Geraldine in Nelson, Lancashire, UK. The first time for the UK."

10 April at 22.14 

Email from Colorado Bob: "Sent some to you on Tues. Postage was just $1.00. Still need to catch-up on those invites. Love to see your plot. COLORADO BOB"

Email 1

Good evening,
We are sorry to hear you have have problems with these varieties. As a professional DEFRA registered and inspected seed merchant we take great care over our seed viability rates. All our seed is supplied direct from commercial growers, rather than wholesalers. Every batch has to be supplied with independent test results and we test again on receipt and at interval not exceeding 6 months if stock lasts that long. We are surprised at the 2 squashes as the last 2 batches of each have all had excellent viability rates. From experience the banana squash can be hard to germinate and susceptible to rot if not given sufficient temperature due to the size of the seed. We keep test samples of every batch of seed up to the sow by date on the packet for exactly this reason. Please could you forward the batch number or purchase date so we can run a test on exactly the same seed batch you had.
Rgds, Kerrie

My reply

Email 2

Good evening again,
The lemon Mint can take up to 30 days to germinate and we are slightly concerned you have planted these so early without heat as we do not recommend sowing these until after the last frost which is Mid apr in the south and maybe a few weeks later with you. We doubt the soil temperature is anywhere warm enough yet. Even our established mint has yet to show life.
Rgds, Kerrie

My reply

Sun 11 Apr               

Two Observations:

1. Karmic wheelchair

Two Observations

On a bus sitting on the tip-up seats facing a man in a wheelchair parked the other side. Noticed the logo on his wheel-shield said KARMA. Felt it was unfortunate choice of name, and in bad taste, since some people believe that the disabled are working out karma for a previous bad life - used to joke about that with Wolf, saying he must have been Hitler - and that if he wasn't blind he would be bloody dangerous.

2. Own-goal poster

On a bus going to Colne, see huge poster with pic of Gordon Brown saying, "Vote for me, I let 80,000 criminals out early". Obviously conservative poster, bit of own goal, since 90% of Colne population probably crinimals and will think it a Good Thing. Or any other rundown, battered, dilapidated, no-hope Northern town since Conservatives destroyed power of working man. And woman. Either way, Brown can count on 80,000 votes with this staunch reminder.

Colorado Bob helps Haiti

Monday 12 April 2010

Blog readers send 950 ShelterBoxes to help disaster survivors

Build a house out of dirt

. . . or sand . . . or straw - whatever your local material. Shirley Tassencourt build her first earth dome in 1992 in Arizona, and has passed on her skill and technique to many followers. Courses held in Uk

Dea writes from Austin, Texas:

Thu 15 Apr

Corn the Indian way was to plant a couple of seeds,a dead fish in the same hole and a few beans very close (or in the same hole.?)

3 Mastodons

Who is in any way interested in three mastodons bellowing in the swamp? (The Great Political Debate tonight on tv) Certainly not me. I liked the chap who wrote in to FiveLive that he could not watch because "he would be too busy sticking pins in his eyes"

Put this link in your browser and enter your postcode to read what the authorities think about your area. I was quite insulted. Here are a few quotes:

Low income, older people living in smaller semis.  

Whether due to their age or previous work, a number of people suffer from long-term illness. With so little spare money, spending is limited to a funeral plan, playing bingo and the lottery, betting and going to the pub. These people are unlikely to be frequent high street shoppers, preferring to buy from catalogues by mail order. Leisure activities are similarly limited. Some may do a little gardening or go fishing. Interest in current affairs: Low. Education: Very Low

Fishing? Well, we are near the canal. Sounds like a miserable life. 

Now, on the other hand, where my Bro lives, a better class of people altogether!

Wealthy mature professionals living in large houses . . .the most affluent people in the UK . . . highly qualified professionals, senior executives and business owners . . . large detached houses with four or more bedrooms . . .  more than two cars . . . financially sophisticated, investing in stocks and share, unit trusts, bonds and other investments. Technologically literate, confident home PC users. The internet is a popular channel for purchases and financial transactions, including on-line banking .  . . . high level of readership of the Financial Times and other quality broadsheets. Golf is a popular leisure pursuit. Two holidays a year are common, perhaps one long haul destination and a week on the ski slopes . . . . well developed interest in the arts, classical music and opera as well as enjoying fine wine and gourmet food . . .  likely to have charitable interests, often using tax-efficient covenants and direct debit payments to make their donations.

More from Colorado Bob

Correspondence Thursday 15 April

My email to Bob

Corn the Indian way was to plant a couple of seeds, a dead fish in the same hole and a few beans very close (or in the same hole.?)

Any comments? Sounds like it would be fun to do, so plan to get a few pounds of sprats down the fishmongers for when we plant out. Being Britain, going to plant and raise first indoors then outside under cover until strong enough to face the weather.  (plants that is not me!)

 Thanks so much for this gift across the divide.

Colorado Bob planting corn

Fire -
You're on to 2/3's of what is called " The 3 Sisters ".  I'm planting seedlings, but the technique is the way the Indians of the southwest farmed the dry river beds.  Corn was planted in a "hill" usually a circle 2 to 3 feet across.  Mixed in with the corn, they planted squash, and beans.  Digging out the hill, and adding manure, mulch, fish, and other fertilizers was done widely.  I'd let the fish sit in the ground a few days before I planted on top of it. Corn loves nitrogen, and the beans the Indians were using probably had legume properties. I.E. nitrogen fixing bacteria in their roots.

Try a circle  with 5 or 6 corn plants in it, space out the plantings. In different holes plant 3 or 4 beans, 3 or 4 squash. Corn and beans combine to make complete protein needs in humans. This is how the peoples of Mexico achieved such large populations.

Three Sisters - Corn, Beans and Squash and

A woman planting potatoes

The native americans planted these three plants together - corn needs nitrogen, beans provide it in their roots, and the squash shades the roots of both and keeps moisture in. This video recommends fertilising with rabbit manure before starting. This one shows the blessing of a Three Sisters Garden

Picture of a Howl - 

click for larger size

This picture of an owl was taken by Mrs Janet Crow of Barningham. Well done Janet!

Sat 17 Apr           

Wolf with two banana pinks from our 1995 crop

Received an invite from Colorado Bob to post on his blogspot, you can read my initial post on there. We are planting by the Moon on Libby's land, and today the Moon entered the Earth sign Taurus (sidereal zodiac) and so we could plant potatoes and onions. Monday and Tuesday we plan to sow some wild flower seed saved from last year. Libby wants to dig out small patches for this and have them dotted all over the place.

I can't tell you how happy it made me to be working with the soil again. I have really missed it since giving up the allotments in 2008. It was such a blessing to meet Wayne and Libby when I returned from Ireland that year (having failed in my emigration attempt). They had just bought the land and were cutting down nettles. A quick chat established my credentials (20 years in organic gardening) and I was immediately signed up as garden guru and general help. I am really enthusiastic about the Three Sisters project and after watching those videos, phoned a friend with rabbits and she dropped me off a couple of bags of manure today with a promise of more to follow. I pointed out to Libby that the bean bed we originally planned will not do for this, as it is close to the drive-through, and I know these banana pink squash will sprawl all over the place, so I am going to pick a site up the top end, where there is more room.

Mon 19 Apr   

Sunday was out as far as gardening was concerned, since I had the clearing of Mother's bungalow to do. Several people were coming to pick things up, and Zaza was a real strength helping clear drawers and sorting things out. I would have given up far sooner but for her persistence. Today though I was back on the land with Libby and the two youngest children. They are really good and helpful and like to learn about what is going on. After they have satisfied their curiosity they depart to their own world to do their own thing. I chose a spot and marked out a bed for the Three Sisters, while Libby was on with her flower project, digging out small circles around the land, and sowing seed or planting bulbs. I made a good start and the soil is wonderful to work with, like digging into a rich chocolate cake. We are going to grow some wonderful stuff! Tomorrow I have to tackle the rest of the bungalow work, but am itching to get on with my bed!

Fri 23 April             

Managed to get to Land yesterday (Thurs 22) and dig another bit of Three Sisters. A very nice elderly gentleman came on while I was there. His name is Donald Mitchell. He said he was really pleased to see someone gardening, he has never seen it cultivated in 65 years. He grew up around here, and remembers the barges pulled by horses, and the trains coming along the track at back of the land, no railway there now. He said our piece of land (cut off from the rest of the farm by the railway) is part of The Bullfield, which was also called The Great Meadow. Goodness he was interesting!  It occurs to me it would be interesting for the children to hear all this, and will mention it to Libby. Perhaps we could arrange for him to come and talk to them, so they can carry these memories in their minds into the future. And after all the littlest ones are being home educated, and this is Living History.

I am going to water the whole garden (at home) before I go out. The radio said it has not rained since April 4, and I can believe it. I have kept my new plantings going with water, but now the whole garden needs it. Then I am off to dig a bit more of the Three Sisters. I paced it out last night before leaving, and I have dug a quarter, in two short sessions, so that's encouraging. The azada tool is wonderful, it digs so deep and so fast.

The sorry tale of a squash

A few nights back, I felt too tired to go out and put the covers over the mini-greenhouses. (They have their own plastic covers, but I also put some white soft cotton covers on). It was a mild night, and I thought they would be okay. Unfortunately, some of the banana pink squash got frosted. Since they did not appear to be picking up, I brought them in yesterday, and here they are looking worse for wear - click to see damage

Three Sisters Bed Pics - I have sited the bed towards the back wall of the plot. The trees behind the old stone wall are on the disused railway line, beyond them is the green pasture of Great Meadow, to which the plot was once joined.

Pic 1, taken at end of day, shows whole bed. Faint outline to the left marks undug portion. 

Pic 2 Showing new dug portion (dark soil) and earlier dug portion (light grey). Pile of nettle roots at end of bed 

1

2

Pics 3 & 4 show Azada digging tool. This does everything - skims surface turf and roots, digs deep, then rakes soil back into place

click pics for larger view

Pic 5 Wayne and Libby's vehicles in background, Benji looking on.

Pic 6 A panorama with view of Benji. The Bed is 28 feet (my feet) long and about five wide (didnt pace width yet). I completed seven feet in two short sessions, and another seven today. Might even finish it tomorrow, then I have plans for another.

6

Sunday 25 April       

Went to Land yesterday (Sat) but it was mega hot, too hot to work. Decided to quit and go and sort some stuff at home - things from mother's bungalow, which I have been clearing, need to be found a place. Also I had not washed up nor cleaned kitchen for some days. Today (Sun) I spent enjoying my garden, pottering about, and then taking some photographs.

this month from 17th to 29th. Times given in British Summer Time

Next Earth Day

sow all crops where the part eaten grows beneath the earth

Next Air Day

sow all crops where the plant is used for its scent or colour - flowers/herbs

Next Water Day

sow all crops where the part eaten is the leaf or stem

Next Fire Day

sow all crops where the part eaten is the seed or fruit of the plant

all Mon 17; Tue 18 until noon

Tue 18 after noon; all Wed 19; Thu 20 until 2.50pm

Thu 20 after 2.50pm; all Fri 21; Sat 22 until 5.35pm

best: noon-midnight 18th

Sat 22 until 5.35pm; all Sun 23; Mon 24 until 8.50pm

Mon 24 after 8.50pm; all Tue 25; all Wed 26; Thu 27 until 1.35am

Thu 27 after 1.35am; all Fri 28; Sat 29 until 8.30am

Sat 29 after 8.30am

avoid: 6pm 22nd - 6am 23rd

best: 2am-2pm 27th 

avoid: 9am-9pm 29th

May 13              

Since the last entry (Apr 25, when it was too hot to work) there has been no activity on the land. It has been too cold, too windy, too horrible. Never mind. Libby got three good long beds dug over, and my Three Sisters got halfway. Nothing can be planted out until the May flowers, and that might be two weeks yet. Everything is growing well in the mini houses, and I passed on the surplus tomatoes to Libby to grow herself. I have been bringing all the plants in the last three nights, as we had frosts - I did not see any evidence of these, but when it is forecast you can't be too careful. I have lost a few plants - a snail got in and has snipped off corn and marigolds, and some of the first lot of corn didn't make it. The second lots did wonderfully well and look healthy.

May 30                   

Planting out the Three Sisters bed. Two packs of beans, both red-flowered, went straight into the ground on May 20. They are not up yet, but will not be long. We planted the corn and squash into the bed in front of the beans - see slideshow which includes some garden pictures.

I have subscribed to 'Science Daily News' and will be posting links to stories of special interest (to me anyway) here