Planting out

We spent the afternoon planting out a few of our little seedlings.  We planted some naturtiums, beans and gooseberries and some tomatoes - all seedlings.  This year we tried something we saw at our local polytunnel project:


toilet rolls cut in half and placed in a long germination box (instead of the plastic trays).  We felt the plastic trays are not strong enough to last more than a season and then they just become a waste product as they cant be reused so we felt that using the toilet rolls was a recycling project.  

The one problem we did have though was that they seemed to cause? a bit of mould but the seedlings recovered and we seemed to get it under control.  This did not happen when we planted in other seedling trays.

Not sure what we will acheive this year as the past two years there were way to many slugs, snails and the wind was too harsh even in the short summer season for anything to grow.  As we dont use any form of pesticides we are at a loss of what to do.  We also had trouble with neighbour hood cats burying their business in our seed boxes.  Because the soil is so poor, mostly beach sand below the grass we use compost and bagged soil in recycled fisherman trays.  We use odd pieces of fishermans nets that wash up on the beach in storms to cover these trays and protect them from the neighbourhood cats. 

It works quite well and we have quite a few herbs and onions and chives that are now about 3 years old growing very well in them.  We also have a recycled tyre tower which we fill with manure and compost during the winter and then plant potatoes in them in the summer. Last year we grew quite a few.....

We also have a couple of herbs and veges growing on the more protected front porch.  We have managed to grow celery from bottom offcuts, onions the same way and have time, mint, sage, an apple tree, a blackthorn berry tree, strawberry planter and a few others crammed in there with some willow cuttings in a big pot besides. 

It really is proving to be difficult growing things in this climate of very short, windy summers.  Luckily we have a suplus of horse manure that we have access to from our ponies and also ample cattle dropping from the common grazings (which are writhing with earthworms) so thing should inprove.  Its just a process and time passes by.

Our healing kit

There are some items we always keep in our first aid kit and they are not the usual items you find in a first aid kit, but they work for us:

Fresh herbs (or dried):
Sage - gargle for sore throats and tissaine (tea)
Mint - cold and flu
Nasturtium - natural antibiotic
Garlic - natural anti biotic

Essential oils
Lavender - burns or stings/bites
Eucalyptus - colds
Tea tree - makes a gargle for mouth ulcers

Cream
Swedish Bitter herbs - So many things

Hot Toddy
Whisky (natures medicine)
lemon - vit c
ginger
Cinnamon
honey

Other essentials
Rescue Remedy - for shock and anxiety

Arnica Ice - Fantastic Equine (and human) rub for aching muscles etc

Growing our own food - naturally

The importance of growing our own food is vital for so many various reasons:

• No unnecessary packaging therefore no additional, unnecessary landfill (Plastic trays, plastic film wrap, price labels etc).

• No irradiation to make the food last longer, look fresher even though its old - straight from the garden to the table
• Fresh food from the garden - no expiry dates and no wastage - pick only what you need and leave the rest for another day. More vitamins and nutrients because its fresh. More tasty therefore less seasonings to spice it up.

• No preservatives

• Variety not whats in the shop

• No genetically modified fruit and veg in your garden. Buy only naturally produced seed.

• Natural seed that produces natural seed.

• No pesticides - use natural / biodegradable methods and companion planting

• Peelings straight to your own compost heap / chickens. Enhance your soil with your own natural organic compost.

• Utilise the seeds from the plants you pick. Eat some, send some back to the garden

• If you produce more than you can eat, share with friends and family and neighbours.

• Too much even once you share, then make your own jams, preserves, pickles, frozen etc and you still have more to share.

• Re-use every possible container you get from the shops to grow seedings. Keep every glass jar bottle for the jam and pickles you are going to make.

• Grow as large a variety of plants as you can, even things you dont like yourself.

• Grow lots of herbs - they are natures medicine and can be used for human and animals. Onions, garlic and nasturtium contain natural antibiotics. Chilli's and peppers contain lots of Vit C. Herb tea's straight from the garden are low in tannins.

No matter how small an area you have access to you can produce some much fresh food you will be astounded. Even using container growing or hydophonics. A little daily care, good soil, water and light and you are growing healthy food.

We are what we eat.