Busy weekend - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Sunday 5 December, 2004

by Rosemary at 6:01pm in Gardening 1 comment Comments closed

The weather has been quite kind this weekend, so we've ben able to get some jobs done outside.

We (actually Dan) planted some daffodil and narcissus bulbs in the lawn, which should naturalise over the years. B&Q had bags of bulbs on special one day when I was in, so I bought a number of bags! Actually, they didn't go as far as I expected.

Dan also started to take down the fence between the vegetable garden and the original pig pen. All the spars and the wire have been removed, with the posts remaining. Given the approaching festive season, they aren't likely to be taken out until January. It won't be that easy as they are WELL concreted in. This will clear the way for the extended raised vegetable beds. Four of the existing beds will be extended and a new strawberry bed established.

We've pretty much got our seed order ready to go. We just have to decide what we're going to do with the two pig pens, in terms of reseeding. It really depends on whether we are going to have pigs next year. They aren't much work and the pork, bacon and sauages are lovely. In fact, it's roast pork for dinner today. On the other hand, we do have quite a lot in the freezer.

We ordered our Christmas turkey today from Kelly Turkeys, mail order. No chance of us raising our own. I do fancy trying table chickens though. I love chicken but organic and even free range is so expensive to buy. I'm doing some research at the moment but haven't quite got my head round it yet. I don't want to raise 100 birds - I was thinking of a dozen. Eat some, freeze some and sell a few to friends.

Anyway, the pork is ready, so must go.