2004
In February, we increased our flock of laying hens to twelve, with the addition of eight Rhode Island Red POL pullets. Over the course of the year, we lost three hens and by the end of 2004, we had nine left - eight RIR and our Brown Leghorn.
Our herd of cats also grew in February with the arrival of Copper, a fourteen year old tortoiseshell.
In March, we bought three Tamworth weaners, all boars this time. Two new pig pens were constructed to be used on a three year rotation with the original pen. However, plans were revised during the year and, after using the original pig pen for vegetables, we decided to amalgamate this area permanently into the existing vegetable garden, doubling the size of the raised vegetable beds, and to use the two remaining pig pens in alternate years. In fact, we use both pens during a season for the pigs - they can clear a lot of ground, if it's soft!
The three boars did well and went off to slaughter in July. We kept a whole pig, with the other two going to friends. While we kept most as pork, Dan cured bacon and made sausages and salami. The bacon and the sausages were great. No-one would eat the salami.
In the soft fruit garden, the raspberries were exceptional, the blackcurrants, rhubarb and gooseberries good and the strawberries and blackberry disappointing. We decided that we had too many plants in the space so the strawberries and one blackcurrant bush were removed. A new strawberry patch was planted in 2005, in the extended vegetable garden.
We planted asparagus crowns in the fifth bed of the vegetable garden although we wouldn't be able to crop them until 2006, but the ferns were very pretty.
The vegetable garden had its highs and lows. Work to construct new raised beds in the extended vegetable garden began in May 2004 in the old pig pen and was completed over the winter, for sowing in spring 2005. We kept the brassicas fleeced for ages, but as soon as we took the fleece off, the plants were ruined by insect pests. Potatoes did well - Pink Fir Apple looked odd but tasted fabulous. Red Duke of York was another success. Sweetcorn didn't do as well as in 2004, probably because of the poorer weather. Peas and beans cropped well as did swede, leeks, onions, garlic, parsnips and carrots. The onions (Sturon) didn't store well, though.
In the greenhouse, "Supersweet 100" cherry tomatoes were the stars.
In October, Homer was diagnosed FIV positive, although he remained well.