Filthy weather here for the last few days and all weekend too. Hoping to get out to play on Tuesday. Both cats are firmly staying indoors so no hunting going on but lots of cuddles and even the dogs don't stay out long.
The chooks have spent so much time in the polytunnel enjoying dust baths - the only dry place - that I had to go and hose down all the citrus, nectarines, a peach, fuchsias and lemon grass as well as the smaller pots of divisions and cuttings that were too small to stay outside all winter. The whole thing is going to need emptying and hosing down before I can sow seeds in there.
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)."
Welcome Valleysgirl😊 Obelixx this is what I call 'true love' putting your chooks in the polytunnel to create havoc!! I only have my silver tabby Pushkin to contend with when he tries to help sow/prick out in the tunnel.Sunbathing is top of his list and warm seed trays to roll over are a joy!! At the moment GWRS the cats are on standby to beat up new pussycat Tomas. The latter is a perfect gentleman and causes no problems. He has chosen to sleep on the boiler in the garage but comes into the lounge for a warm up..chest pressed hard against radiator! Took dog for walk in the sleet this morning as Market cancelled due to weather. He was not amused!! Wild birds seem to be glued to feeders. Don't seem to do anything but eat!! Storks back on nest on top of telegraph pole.. don't think they migrated this winter.Bought some sturdy boots in the Sales this morning plus some Jermor Shallots and Hyder Red Onion sets (not seen this variety before) Fancied a change from Red Baron. Sun shining..Off to check on Broad Beans that were beginning to sprout on Wednesday. Happy Gardening!
I don't put them in there @biofreak but when the weather is filthy it's lovely and light and dry for them to fossick about in so we leave the door open for them just in case. We do put their feeder and some water in there when it's really wet all day because their shed is dark with the door just ajar. They also have a dryish area behind the polytunnel and under the overhanging trees where they like to rearrange OH's loose pile of compost.
Our huntress cat has never spent so much time indoors and snuggled as she has this winter and we've had more fires in the log burner than in all the previous 4 winters put together.
On the upside, the broad beans are nearly all thru now and so are the shallotts at last.
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)."
Brilliant idea Obelixx. Did you see the Moon last night -Stunning. Cats out all night, came in for 'ham & eggs' 6am!! Obviously had not caught anything. They like to sneak under the Polytunnel Cover during the day and sunbathe on the table. Temp 12c in there compared to 4c outside. Have to pick up Seville Oranges at Market tomorrow. Would prefer to stay in bed!! Although light 8.10am this morning so at long last mornings beginning to draw out. I'm almost tempted to say we had the first Dawn Chorus, butI think it might have just been the sparrows and tits demanding top up feeders! OR could I have been right. Do birds start singing in January??
Hello , have been watching Winterwatch on BBC , a nature programme , not sure if you have heard of it but some birds 🦅 do sing in the winter but can’t remember which ones
Yes , moon stunning last night
Just rebuilding wood store , come in for coffee and a warm
Can't bear the WW presenters I'm afraid tho I do try, every year. Birds sing in winter to mark territories apparently but it's not the same song as the dawn chorus when they're getting into stride for mating and nesting.
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)."
I'm afraid I agree with Obelixx. Can't stand the presenters either!!! Putting finishing touches to Biodynamic article. Will put it up on here over w/e. Sorry for delay. Went for check up at Lille hospital (Good news all OK) on Thursday. Left home 9am back 11pm!! Went through freezing fog and snow between Dieppe and Amiens. All for a 1hr appt!!!
Tomas new cat now moved from garage to kitchen (in the middle of the night if you please!!) He was wailing at bedroom window to come in as gales and rain lashed the house. Other cats furious. Boots the Bengal has found his inner wild cat and I had to stop a 'murder'!! Still all calm now. I think the lodger has come to an 'arrangement'!!
Can't get into garden, just too wet to try to do anything. Still much warmer which is nice.
Congrats @biofreak. Worth the journey then but a pity you have to go so far.
Cats sound like fun! Annualjabs day for us and a new vet has taken over the practice. Minstrel is purrfect in every way but fat Cosmos is too fat and hasn't been washing his ears properly. Too busy sleeping! He's 300g heavier than last winter but, to be fair, this year has been colder, wetter and windier for much longer and he has been luxuriating indoors. Rations for him then and he's had his ears washed too.
Warmer here too but everything is sodden and it's so cloudy and grey here it gets dark early so absolutely no inclination to go and try to weed or plant anything.
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)."
Whilst writing this I am staring warily at a brown package that has just arrived full of Biodynamic Preperations that I cannot make myself. I have sachets of Cow Dung/Horn Silica/Compost Booster and a variety of dried plants and bark to make decoctions and purins to protect plants from bugs and mildew. All these items have been exposed to influences of the Cosmos (Both astronomical and astrological) and this is where I used to think the whole idea was 'off the wall', particularly having a very hippified eccentric mother who mixed with the strangest long haired and sandalled people, but produced the most amazing vegetables/flowers and fruit all year round.
As you know I returned to this idea primarily with Gardening with the Moon following our move to France 26yrs ago. There are now Biodynamic Farmers and Vineyards here and the movement is building.
Basicly Biodynamics is Gardening with the Moon plus the Constellations (Which we have been practising on this Forum for awhile) BUT with the addition of the Planet and Zodiac Influences.
Now I want to stress straight away, that there is no scientific proof that practising Biodynamics in co-ordination with the signs of the Zodiac has any direct effect on one's gardening results. However, many Biodynamic Gardeners have found that when you garden during the month of your Birth Sign and the Moon passes in front of say the constellation of Capricorn (and you are a Capricorn) that month, whatever you do in the garden during that period shows vast improvement.
The Planets also do not have a direct effect on our gardening activities, but they do have an effect on our Weather which in turn effects the phases of our plants (Time of fast/slow growth. First and last flowerings. Times best for Harvesting seeds for propogation and crops)
Whilst we do not question the effects of the Sun, some do question the effects of the Moon and Cosmos, but one has to ask oneself why? Why indeed when we ourselves are just a small speck in the Cosmos, yet we are part of the Cosmos and us gardeners somehow know when it is going to rain/when there may well be a frost/when to hold off sowing or planting without seeking any guidelines from TV/Radio/Books. This is called the 'Green Finger Effect' and we are guided by our Senses. We can smell a change in the Soil and the Air when Thunder is afoot. We can 'feel' the garden beginning to 'grow' in Spring and 'wane' in Autumn.
Biodiversification/Permaculture & Organic Gardening all have their roots firmly placed in the natural co-ordination of Plants & Insects without the use of pesticides and chemical aids, so Biodynamic Gardening just adds another dimension, --one that most of us probably use already even if we don't realise it using our sixth sense -Our 'green fingers'.
So bear with me, and during the next few weeks prior to us attacking the veg plot etc with a vengeance and being far too busy to put pen to paper, I shall do my best to explain the processes of Biodynamics.
In the meantime, I had better put this mysterious brown package of goodies in a safe place. We shall examine the contents together as they are required during the year.
Posts
The chooks have spent so much time in the polytunnel enjoying dust baths - the only dry place - that I had to go and hose down all the citrus, nectarines, a peach, fuchsias and lemon grass as well as the smaller pots of divisions and cuttings that were too small to stay outside all winter. The whole thing is going to need emptying and hosing down before I can sow seeds in there.
Our huntress cat has never spent so much time indoors and snuggled as she has this winter and we've had more fires in the log burner than in all the previous 4 winters put together.
On the upside, the broad beans are nearly all thru now and so are the shallotts at last.
Yes , moon stunning last night
Just rebuilding wood store , come in for coffee and a warm
Cats sound like fun! Annualjabs day for us and a new vet has taken over the practice. Minstrel is purrfect in every way but fat Cosmos is too fat and hasn't been washing his ears properly. Too busy sleeping! He's 300g heavier than last winter but, to be fair, this year has been colder, wetter and windier for much longer and he has been luxuriating indoors. Rations for him then and he's had his ears washed too.
Warmer here too but everything is sodden and it's so cloudy and grey here it gets dark early so absolutely no inclination to go and try to weed or plant anything.
Always strange how sometimes they get on or not , just like people !!!!