Paying homage to the slug gods, and other things to do in June.

We're all getting busy, now the weather, and earth, has warmed up considerably, its an endless round of weeding, watering, hoeing, mulching, planting out, bring on, netting and about a million other jobs too.    

Salad leaves and pak choi in Tesco boxes. 

Just planted out cabbage seedling and naturally I had to pay homage to the Pagan god of slugs....

..... Pennies around seedlings to give slugs and snails little, coppery, electric shocks... @20p per plant, and you get it back at the end of the season.   

The main vegetable garden is slowly taking shape. Another two beds have been added this week alone. 

Love little glimmers of Permaculture....

.....mixed salad leaves from plants that seeded themselves at the end of last season.

Strawberry flowers.

After losing two hens to the fox a few weeks back, I relented and allowed blossom to sit on another two eggs.

Apple blossom is late this year, but this means no blossom drop after late spring frosts.   

The horses are still generously donating poo...

Jerusalem artichokes. 

Potatoes.

Potatoes in an old compost bin, experimenting with yields this year. 

Courgette.

Some of the apple trees.

This space, behind the steading, is earmarked to become a walled orchard!

Onions growing in an old muck heap....

....as are these potatoes.

Fencing nearly finished for the "Paddock paradise" track, for Badger and Mousse. 

Little caravan, tool shed, needs a new lick of paint. 

More potatoes, in an old chest.

Carrots.

Cabbage seedlings put to bed.

Temporary tomato house.

Sage and Marjoram.

Chives 

Broccoli 

Salad leaves

Basil and Parsley

More salad leaves.

Extra peas and (hopefully) squash.  

Another experiment, carrots in 2lt bottles. 

New book!!

First book I've come across that doesn't assume that frosts end in March. 

Wild garlic.....

.....is yummy......

.....and starting to push its way up......

...... through the woodland leaf litter.

There's some early Dandelion leaves too, but they where too close tot he path for me to bother picking.... erm... dog pee?

This shelter was made by some village kids YEARS ago! he boys used to call it the Bears house. At one time it had a chair, a heater (obviously not working :P) and even a TOILET!!  

The pups enjoy the wood walks, even if they do have to wait for me sometimes when I'm foraging. 

The castle at the far end of the woods.... up for sale if anyone has a spare 4 million?

Merle!

A fungi I found growing at the base of a tree.....

No idea what it is....

Will update when I find out :)

What did you guys do this morning? 

Garden pics and windy mornings!

March is a sneaky month, especially in the North East of Scotland.
Some days can be beautiful, spring like. The ground feels warm to the touch, I start itching to plant something, ANYTHING.

But then within hours it can change.
A couple of foot of snow over Easter isn't unknown.

So March is a month were one has to sit on ones hands, metaphorically speaking.

Its all the harder cause I have started a job.
Only a few hours a week but its fantastic! Gardening so yeah, I'm happy.
Hoping this will lead to a little more but for now its all fitting in well.

But today is WIIIIIINNNNDDDYYYYY!!!!!
So windy in fact that today's work was cancelled. As most if it is raking up leaves and twigs at the moment, it would be foolish to waste two hours chasing the same few leaves!

Can  you hear the wind!!!!!????

So anyway, today the dogs are on super high alert and barking at every bang and knock and naturally the ships bell outside keeps ringing, not happy doggies!

I'd better finish this before the wind cuts the power! So heres some recent pics :)

The North west facing windowsill full of early planting. 

So far so good, Herbs, salad leaves, tomato. In the back we have pumpkin and sunflower, all now come through since this pic was taken.

The new herb garden!

Bird boxes made by the boys at the Bennachie centre.

Ollie's.

Owens

Alfie's.