University of the 3rd Age. Designed to keep older brains in tune and working and also help make new friends. In Belgum it's serious with classes for OAPs being organised in universities and given by their staff. In the UK it's more of an umbrella event with local organisations organising crafts, quizzes, gardening, assorted sports, outings to places of interest according to what locals sign up for.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
As Oberlix says but they are dropping the University of the 3rd Age as it was put people off and just using U3A strap line , it’s also registered as a Charity , basically anybody can join but most people are retired . Each group is also a registered Charity and can organise different activities that there members would like to do , we are members of the 5mile walking group , local heritage / history group and visiting group . In fact this morning until it was called off we where to Visit RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire , it’s where all RAF officers graduate from . There lots of other groups want bore you with list We joined last year and found it great
What a great idea. Not sure if it exists in France although there is plenty to do and Associations to join if you wish to. Today is colder but sunny. Weeded more flower borders yesterday and unfortunately received more cancellations of Garden Fairs this am. Still Autumn ones still on schedule and I have so many plants to split and move, I shall be busy enough. Seem to have a surplus of Centaurea and Canterbury Bells, so lots more planning for border infills. 29/30/31st March Root Days sow Radishes/Parsnips and Carrots up until 12.45pm 31st as Noeud ascending so no gardening recommended in the afternoon.
Wish I hadn't looked at Lunar Weather Predictions for April -Cold Winds and Snow on high ground! - 1st-6th April expect wet and windy weather BUT 8-14th Springlike sunny periods. Don't get too hasty with sowing and potting on though as 15th-22nd Temperatures set to fall again with cold winds. 22-26th Rain or Snow and cold. At the end of the month we can look forward to more cold winds.
If you really want to get ahead and plant potatoes (outside) Choose 6th April in the afternoon. 7th in the morning 8th in the afternoon and 9th in the morning. 15/16/17 are also marked as good dates, but a true guide is when the Lilac flowers, then there is little risk of shoots frosting. -I am going back to growing my potatoes in pots. I definately get a better harvest and as I only want sald potatoes, this method suits me.
Broccolli crop brilliant this year, hope baby plants come on as well -My cunning plan to beat the Cabbage White caterpillars is on target.
1/2 April - Flower Days with Moon descending in Gemini. Prick out flowers sown 27/28th January and plant out where they are to crop Cauliflowers.
3rd April - Leaf Day Edge Flower borders to new shapes or a general tidy up. Scarify lawns and spread Nitrogen granules if required. Plant Herbs in Potager and Cabbages sown 1st February.
4/5th April - Fruit Days -If you have been brave enough already pot on Aubergines/Peppers and Chilies sown 18-20th February and Tomatoes sown 29th Feb.
Plant out soft fruit, making sure that they have a good base of compost. Water in well.
Hoping that you are all keeping safe and well -at least us gardeners don't get bored! Such a shame about Chelsea cancelling. Think of all those exhibitors and designers, planning I believe starts up to a year before. Nurserymen here are placing plants on tombs in cemeteries as people not allowed out (Only one at a time per household) and also delivering direct locally. Obelixx -Just a thought -can you trace tomato man and ask if they will do that??
I asked the tourist office concerned if they could give e aist of usual exhibitors but just got a formulaic reply about the cancellation and no info.
Not to worry. I shall just have to hope the seeds I sowed last week will pop in sufficient numbers to grow into a good healthy crop. Then, if the last lot of seeds I sowed a couple of years ago are anything to go by it will be a question of finding homes for the spares but that was a fresh packet of San Marzano and these seeds were 2 to 3 yrs old.
Planning to move some raspberries this afternoon. They've been planted in a bed with weed suppressant fabric, smack in the middle of where I want to make a long, sweeping, curving bed for trees and shrubs. Probably not the best time to shift them but it's that or the compost heap and I do have a spare, empty bed for them in the potager.
Sunny here but cold in the wind tho that is calmer than it was yesterday so good gardening weather for us.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Bio , thanks for update Currently the weathers been dry , sunny but cold winds , having to water pots etc , infact I have reconnected the houses down pipe to the water butts
Pleased we are allowed to go to allotments , although some Local Authorities have closed there’s except for feeding chickens 🐓 Still finding plenty to do in these Strange Times Stay safe
19 clumps of raspberry transplanted to their new home then under-gardener (on digging up duties) went on strike so I had no more to plant. All watered in now so fingers crossed they don't have a tantrum and fail.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Was Under Gardener wearing his Yellow Vest?? Greves not allowed in this house!! O/H not fed then behaves beautifully!!! Actually 19 raspberries is alot when you add soil weight etc, so gold stars for effort!. I have given up on raspberries that we moved house with. New wild bush far more productive and threw up some super new canes this Spring, so that part of Shrubbery now Raspberry Bed. How on earth I cover it to protect fruit from birds and mice I don't know, but will cross that bridge nearer the time. GWRS never crossed my mind you might not be able to visit allotment, that would have been awful for you. My garden keeps my sanity. Did you see the Moon last night with Venus above -Very pretty.
Strong cold wind today so glad I got out yesterday and did a little more weeding.
Munching our way through Sprouting Brocolli -Tried grilling it sprinkled with salt and Olive Oil last night as per Ready Steady Cook -Very tasty. Frizzles quickly though so need to keep an eye on it (Takes about 4 minutes).
One Farmers Market left to do each week now -Mayor has re-named it Producers Market 'Marché des Producteurs'to get round Rules and Regs. Police will be monitoring people to ensure that they are shopping and not just using it as a Meeting Place. Min of Ag Normandy has put round email to us all to see if we would like to produce weekly Veg/Bread and Cake baskets with added Dairy products -Each Group will be given a delivery point within 2Kms of farm/kitchen/bakery thus conforming with geographic restrictions. Seems like a great idea, have put my name down.-All to help Producers and Farmers keep going as we have no Sales Points open now.
Anyway, must stop to harvest some Rosemary to make Rosemary Jelly. Nettles coming along well, so should be able to pick tops soon.
It is perishing cold out there today thanks to a biting north easterly wind. No gardening today! Wimping out of that but may sort seeds ready for when I have the potting area set up in my barn. OH has been clearing his barn of all the branches that needed munching so we can store "stuff" in there and clear a space in mine for goodies.
Stuff includes obelisks, sheets of corrugated perspex I bought to make tunnel cloches, rolls of fencing mesh and posts etc and that will leave a couple of tables and a bench I can set up for sowing trays and leave mes space for sanding down wood and metal bits ready for treatments.
Need to work out a better storage system for our garlic and onion crops too. Hanging up in strings or nets? The barns are stone built, tin roofed and open on the north side so are cool and dry and well ventilated. How do you do it?
What do you do with rosemary jelly @biofreak2 and do you use apple juice or apples? Ever tried it with lemon in the mix? I have some lemony limquats that need using up.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Icy wind today did some gardening at the back of house which is sheltered and just been for a walk as the wind has died down and it is eerily quite !
Bio , Raspberries , I have a bed of summer & autumn ones , I mass plant them , so I don’t nett them and lose very few to Birds , next time I’m at allotment I’ll take a picture
The Farmers Markets have all closed down , Infact I was wondering what they will do ?
Oberlix , I store my garlic and onions 🧅 in garage once dry in trays and don’t have any problems , the garage ( really a large utility room ) is part of the house 🏠
Posts
We joined last year and found it great
Not to worry. I shall just have to hope the seeds I sowed last week will pop in sufficient numbers to grow into a good healthy crop. Then, if the last lot of seeds I sowed a couple of years ago are anything to go by it will be a question of finding homes for the spares but that was a fresh packet of San Marzano and these seeds were 2 to 3 yrs old.
Planning to move some raspberries this afternoon. They've been planted in a bed with weed suppressant fabric, smack in the middle of where I want to make a long, sweeping, curving bed for trees and shrubs. Probably not the best time to shift them but it's that or the compost heap and I do have a spare, empty bed for them in the potager.
Sunny here but cold in the wind tho that is calmer than it was yesterday so good gardening weather for us.
Currently the weathers been dry , sunny but cold winds , having to water pots etc , infact I have reconnected the houses down pipe to the water butts
Pleased we are allowed to go to allotments , although some Local Authorities have closed there’s except for feeding chickens 🐓
Still finding plenty to do in these Strange Times
Stay safe
Stuff includes obelisks, sheets of corrugated perspex I bought to make tunnel cloches, rolls of fencing mesh and posts etc and that will leave a couple of tables and a bench I can set up for sowing trays and leave mes space for sanding down wood and metal bits ready for treatments.
Need to work out a better storage system for our garlic and onion crops too. Hanging up in strings or nets? The barns are stone built, tin roofed and open on the north side so are cool and dry and well ventilated. How do you do it?
What do you do with rosemary jelly @biofreak2 and do you use apple juice or apples? Ever tried it with lemon in the mix? I have some lemony limquats that need using up.
Bio , Raspberries , I have a bed of summer & autumn ones , I mass plant them , so I don’t nett them and lose very few to Birds , next time I’m at allotment I’ll take a picture
The Farmers Markets have all closed down , Infact I was wondering what they will do ?
Oberlix , I store my garlic and onions 🧅 in garage once dry in trays and don’t have any problems , the garage ( really a large utility room ) is part of the house 🏠
Stay safe