Experimentation time!

Autumn is definitely upon us. The Swallows that have given so much pleasure at our farmland home are flocking on the wires, getting ready for their migration to South Africa. The harvest is gathered in and the barns are filling up with winter feed. We have been lucky with the weather of late, thirteen days so far without rain. The down-side is that our second bed at Midleton has become about as diggable as the N9 motorway!

However, neccessity is the mother of invention and when the going gets tough the tough--lean on their shovels and have a brew. Louise to the rescue with a bundle of newspapers. No- we didn't sit down and scan them for gardening solutions, they formed the basis of an experiment in making life easier.

The principle is quite straightforward. First the newspapers are soaked in water and then laid to cover the ground, and the weeds. Next we covered them with a layer of soil and the some rotted pig manure, kindly supplied by Grace, who came along to help together with her daughter and puppy, Cinnamon (who was a big hit with everyone). Vikki, ever the resourceful recycler, foraged in the fruit shop for some inserts that are used to protect fruit in transit. These are made of egg-carton type material and break down quite easily. We actually recycle them at home into paper blocks for burning. ( very useful and eco-friendly- the machine is available from B&Q at Mahon for about 26 euro- I'm not on commission for advertising!!!). The idea of this process is that it should enable us to plant straight into the resulting soil without the toil of digging. I think the group have everything crossed for a successful outcome!

So the experiment is now running and the results will be posted here, as and when.

The area at the back of the plot is very compressed and undiggable, probably as a result of cars being driven on it and it is possible that this will become a slightly raised bed at some future date. Information gleaned locally (without mentioning names) has it that it has not been uncommon for cars to be parked on the area that we are digging!

Despite the lack of rain and the seasonable growth of the plants we used, our first bed is still looking good. Obviously this late in the season some of the plants are starting to set seed, die back or become just plain straggling. The Feverfew has been pruned down to just above ground level and should grow back with a vengeance come spring. The French Lavender and Borage are still doing well, as is the Flat-leafed Parsley but the Hidcote Lavender strain is now fading and has set seed. The Sage, Thyme and Chives are still very much in evidence and the Nasturtiums and Calendulas still have flowers and will produce seed for a while yet.

We will be looking for planting suggestions once our second bed is fully prepared and any input will be "HARTilY" welcomed and fully considered. Your feedback is always appreciated, as is any work on the project! (Couldn't resist the sad pun!!).

Finally, I have discovered that the message board set up temporarily does not work. As a result I have set up a new email and will check it regularly and post any tips or questions on this blog for all to see and comment on. The email address is blogmg@yahoo.ie and will appear at the end of each blog. If you wish to keep up to date a "Subscription" tag has now been added. by subscribing you will receive update notifications as and when the blog is updated.

Happy Gardening, blogmg@yahoo.ie

Late Summer.....or early Autumn?

After a lay-off caused by summer holidays, house moving and various other interuptions the group came back together "en-masse" yesterday morning. The weather was kind and the sun beamed down on the workers! More than can be said for most of the year which has led us to think that waterproofs are the height of fashion this year.

Work continues on the second bed, which is better described as a glorious weed patch. Louise had prepared an area earlier with newspaper and manure and this had the desired effect by making digging easier. About half the bed has been dug over...more help would be GREATLY appreciated!!! This is a great chance to get some fresh air, excercise, share information, learn and have a good laugh all in one.

The first bed is now looking positively wonderful; much to the delight of the local people, many of whom have commented very favourably on the improvement. The French Lavender and Borage are doing particularly well, and there is plenty of Rocket seed available right now for anyone wanting to try it. ( We have made the shop staff aware that we do not mind people helping themselves- actually, we encourage them!!!) The Calendulas are setting seed and the pods should be brown enough in about a week or so. The wonderfully rampant and highly colourful (and edible- try them in salads for a peppery bit of colour) Nasturtiums are also forming seed.

Please feel free to comment on the blogs as feed-back is always useful. There is also a facility to "Follow this Blog" which indicates that there are actually people looking at it!! Hopefully there will also be a "Message Board" added in the near future (subject to me taking time out from digging the veg.plot and trying to catch tonight's supper- or teach worms to drown!). Once this is done it will be user-freindly and enable the exchange of information by being able to post queries and get answers to those niggly little problems!!!

On Thursday evening Madeline McKeever, from Brown Envelope Seeds, gave a very interesting and informative talk on the subject of collecting seeds in order to provide for future planting and also to help preserve varieties.

It is amazing that many plants can provide seed in the second year, when most of us will have dug up and eaten the veg. without leaving a couple to provide seed for the future. Many seeds will last for years if treated correctly.

A link has been added to Brown Envelope Seeds website, which is very informative particularly the "Gardening Book" tab.

Oops! Apologies for the error!!!

The new sign was actually made by Grace, not Louise as previously stated!!! Apologies all round!!!!

New Heights in PR

Last Friday saw the erection of Louise's handiwork- a well placed sign announcing that Midleton Transition Town gardeners ( to long winded, " Harty's Party" is shorter!) were responsible for the transformation, and giving credit to the Veg.Shop for their welcome support. The Sun-God smiled upon us and work went ahead at a pace.

The first bed is now looking wonderful. The Nasturtiums are flowering, the Strawberries are ripening- all set off by the purple of the French and Hidcote Lavenders. this area must have been well dug because weeds are scarce! it is possible that we have now found an answer to the paving problem- watch this space!!

We were visited "on site" by Grace (wonderful cakes!) and it was good to get the appreciation. However, we could still use more volunteers for the two hour fun break! It's better than the Gym- and cheaper. The second bed is coming along and a third one is being planned. Gardening is not all hard work- we have a laugh as well and it's a great way to meet people and make new freinds.

Please feel free to leave your comments on this web-log and on anything to do with the work being carried out- we like a bit of feedback.

Back At Last

Due to the vaguaries of Internet Service Provision it has been impossible to update the blog recently. However, we are back on line and regular updates can now be made again.

Over recent weeks the plot outside the Fruit and Veg. Shop has been widely planted with the addition of French Lavender, Sage and various other herbs kindly donated by the shop's owners. the previous planting is doing well, with Marigolds, Nasturtiums, Sage and Chives all thriving and coming into bloom. The walkway has still to be completed once we can get some slabs. We are also looking at the possibly of information boards about the plants to further engender public interest.

Our regular Friday session gave way to a Wednesday evening and we had an extra volunteer, Mary O'Connor, to help dig the larger plot near the road. This is now about one-third dug.

We could really use some extra help with the project. Just two hours a week will really help to improve this one small area that has been neglected for ages. There is great pleasure to be gained from achieving change, new friends to be made and, possibly more important, part of Midleton is given "a make-over".

Hard Work Continues

Friday, 8th. May 2009

Regrettably Vikki and Tony were both unwell and had to "cry off"! We did, however, have to go into Midleton this morning to shop for luxuries (food etc.) and visited the project.

Natasha and Louise have obviously been hard at work and more planting has taken place. The second bed is also under the spade.

Hopefully there will be more to report next week!!!