The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: puffin on May 03, 2009, 07:40:04 am

Title: just an intro
Post by: puffin on May 03, 2009, 07:40:04 am: hullo there

just found this place so i thought i'd register quick-sharp! i'm not a small holder (just yet) more of a balcony-grower but will be avidly reading and learning from you guys n girls for when my time comes.

at the moment i'm living in germany (working for the naafi, for the forces/ex-forces people out there) and have a small flat with a nice south facing balcony that tends to look like a jungle at cretain times of the year ;D. looks like i'm going to start late this year due to some uncertainty over what i'll be doing ver the next 6-8 months but with some luck and good planning (well, by my standards anyway...) all should work out well.

reet, thats about it really

thanks for reading

Rob A.K.A puffin

ps, i'm puffin on other forums and have a memory akin to a stoned goldfish so i keep my name the same :D if your on anyother forums and see puffin there's a fair chance its me :)
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 03, 2009, 08:39:36 am: welcome to tas forum, you'll have to show us some photos of your 'garden'

:)
linz central scotland
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 03, 2009, 08:56:06 am: As one who could probably manage to grow weeds even on a balcony, I admire any one who is able to produce anything else. Welcome.
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: Rosemary on May 03, 2009, 12:08:34 pm: Hi and welcome from a sunny, windy Alloa.
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: pigsatlesrues on May 03, 2009, 05:24:09 pm: Welcome from Normandy also. It is amazing just what you can produce in a restricted space. Herbs, salads, chillies, peppers , cucumbers, runner beans and the like and of course potatoes in pots and buckets. I used to do really well in a small space in pots. My problems is no time for weeding in a big space. The weeds do my head in actually. Perhaps I should go back to gardening on a postage stamp - I am sure to have a lot more to show for my efforts doing it that way than my efforts here to date!!

Let us know how you go!!

Kate :pig: :farmer:
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: puffin on May 03, 2009, 11:16:08 pm: thanks for the welcome everyone!

my "garden" last year produced some tom's, a sporadic supply of peppers & a few bowls of strawberries which were great for brekkie! the tom's/strawberries didnt produce to much to be honest, i was a bit lax in the old pinching out :-\ but its a lesson learnt ;D!

i managed to make a good few jars of chutney with the tom's that didnt ripen in time and shared my, all be it meagre, harvest with m' folks when i went to visit, so it was a minor success. more importantly it has whetted my appetite for more, so here's hoping for bigger n better this year. as for some pic's, with a bit of luck, a pinch of witchcraft and the grace of any Deity you Fancy i might just get some on here! hahaha

the plan this year, although i'm running late (was a possibility to get out to Afghan for 6 months), is something long the lines of:

Tom's (cherry and beef)
Capsicums (giant and std)
Peas
Beans
Strawberries
Jalapenos (maybe...)

still, wait n see i guess! no doubt i'll bore you all with sporadic updates and, possibly, some pic's...
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 04, 2009, 06:39:04 am: And all I grow is weeds and pigs. Puts me to shame.
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: puffin on May 04, 2009, 08:11:11 am: your balcony must be hugue for pigs!!!! lmao

i know where to come when/if i ever get some space for some pigs now, thanks! as or weeds, yeh, i had a few nettles in with my strawberries last year. not bad considering i'm on the 2nd floor! i kinda figured "well done" and left them to it, lol, got a bit akward sometimes when picking.... hahaha
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: Hilarysmum on May 04, 2009, 06:18:23 pm: We dont keep the pigs on the balcony - just look at my avatar ..... lol
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: MiriMaran on May 04, 2009, 08:45:34 pm: Nettle soup maybe? Welcome by the way!
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: puffin on May 05, 2009, 12:03:35 pm: there were only a couple of nettles, not enough for soup, or beer... :-[

did cross my mind though, i am a fan! of both :)
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: puffin on May 06, 2009, 12:12:20 am: here, by the grace of any diety you fancy, are somepic's of my balcony...

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/chonad/balcony1.jpg)
the balcony 1. this year, if all goes to plan, will be much better :)

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/chonad/balcony3.jpg)
the balcony 2

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e74/chonad/IMG_0791.jpg)
what i had at the time of visiting my folks. made a small but nice side salad with tea ;D. the rest was swiftly munched as it ripened, hahaha
Title: Re: just an intro
Post by: doganjo on May 06, 2009, 05:48:02 pm: They look lovely bright fruits - an inspiration to me since mine don't seem to be growing very fast yet.