Don't know where the time has gone, it's been really busy these last two months, with lots of visitors and things going on.
Apologies to anyone who is actually following this blog, I just don't get the time to work on the computer as there is too much to do on the land or in the garden.( Anyway, I do prefer to be amongst the plants and trees if I can)
I am trying oca ths year for the first time.It's a root vegetable, a tuber that has a lemony taste and can be used rather like a new potato. It is supposed to produce well.
I decided to plant it under the tomatoes for the shade and to get the benefit of two crops from one area.I am glad I did as the oca that isn't quite so shaded by the tomatoes is struggling with the high temperatures we have had recently. Interestingly, the ones that were right next to some self-seeded chicory, in the bed, are doing much better than the others.Good companions?
We had a great valley work day here with all our neighbours and spent the time generally tidying up in the new project.A large mulch mound was created which followed the contour of the land, it will rot down and provide a good place to plant shrubs in as we add the other layers.
Trees were pruned and firewood carried to the track for moving up to the woodshed, with a chain of people it didn't take long
The shitakes are doing great,slowly colonising the oak logs, they will be ready to move to their fruiting positions in the autumn.
Apologies to anyone who is actually following this blog, I just don't get the time to work on the computer as there is too much to do on the land or in the garden.( Anyway, I do prefer to be amongst the plants and trees if I can)
I am trying oca ths year for the first time.It's a root vegetable, a tuber that has a lemony taste and can be used rather like a new potato. It is supposed to produce well.
I decided to plant it under the tomatoes for the shade and to get the benefit of two crops from one area.I am glad I did as the oca that isn't quite so shaded by the tomatoes is struggling with the high temperatures we have had recently. Interestingly, the ones that were right next to some self-seeded chicory, in the bed, are doing much better than the others.Good companions?
We had a great valley work day here with all our neighbours and spent the time generally tidying up in the new project.A large mulch mound was created which followed the contour of the land, it will rot down and provide a good place to plant shrubs in as we add the other layers.
Trees were pruned and firewood carried to the track for moving up to the woodshed, with a chain of people it didn't take long
The shitakes are doing great,slowly colonising the oak logs, they will be ready to move to their fruiting positions in the autumn.
With various members of the family coming and going during the summer we decided to start work on the mosaic we had planned for the front wall of the large spring water holding tank.It's slow work as we have to fit it in around all the other jobs but it's progressing nicely.