Again I missed a blog last week. We have been amazingly busy. Along with the animals and fruit and veg we had bought ourselves a trailer tent on ebay earlier this year. This weekend was the trial weekend so it needed to be got ready, while the conservatory was being painted and the garage roof recovered. The tent I am delighted to say is a success, it is waterproof big enough and really comfy. Yesterday I washed it ready for reproofing as it is several years since it was done.
Meantime we have been asked by the Energy Advice Centre to be part of their Exempler Homes project which would appear to be a parallel to what we are trying to do here, providing acurate real information to people wanting to try low carbon technology.
Talking of low carbon technology, I spoke last blog about looking at transport, well I have dug my cycling things out with great enthusiasm and had left them ready for a sunny day - I know in central Scotland I could be waiting. However, carrying shopping back from the local Scotmid last week I twisted my back which limited my activities all week. That was it the bike is out and I spent hours (again) looking at trailers. I eventually came back to the one I had decided on last year called a bike hod. It is a shopping bag on a trailer, the only draw back is cost but it is largely UK made so hopefully robust. I await delivery and will let you know how I get on.
Crops wise the garlic is looking great but with precious little in the way of bulb. The peas and beans are growing as are the courgettes and squashes. I have planted globe artichokes - they are perenials so once in hopefully will "do" for years to come. Nettles a re now largely passed it but cutting them down will bring on more young leaves.
The final bit of news is we have got a pup to add to our pack. A chocolate lab bitch. Beautiful and hopefully trainable we shall see.

Last week my husband had a public holiday, the children had had the previous week. We therefore used it to start putting in the base for the shed at the allotment. We got alot done by lunch time. I was then called away to a sick child, this slowed the afternoon's activities down. However, a decent start has been made.
I continue to harvest greenery for the rabbits, nettles for us, and salad. I have finally got in the onions I potted months ago and should have been in the ground months ago. I have also transplanted my dill, I believe it doesn't like being transplanted so we shall see, 5 plants outside, three in the greenhouse and two for my mum. I have also potted on two of my canteloupe melon plants, which are flowering. Some of the tomatoes are also flowering. The aubergines and hot peppers are ready to transplant/pot up into greenhouse beds and larger pots for the conservatory.
Finally this week I have got the PV production figures for March/April and May on the PV production page. We also got our feed in tarriff payment so that was nice.
I looked at our CO2 production figures this week, so far this year we have used 3.9 tonnes CO2 for the house and cars among us. Roughly 1 tonne is house, 2.5 tonnes cars. Of this 0.5 tonne is my husband's work mileage in a car that does 50+ miles to the gallon. This leaves 2 tonnes of "recreation" mileage. I therefore need to look at alternative ways of travel. Some is difficult to tackle - kids to after school activities - others like shopping are prime targets. Watch this space.

Last week it was windy, gusts of over 70mph in Central Scotland. Generally we are spared the worst of this type of weather as we have a shelter belt of trees running just west of the garden. However, despite the trees, a wall behind, a hedge to the east and the house in front (to the north) the new greenhouse lost 6 panes of polycarbonate. The front cobbled together greenhouse lost had two broken panels and the roof vent made of polycarbonate came out.
The result was that I spent 6 hours, 4 on my own, partially dismantling the back greenhouse to refit the panels only to see them blow out again before I had chance to secure them.
Finally we got them secure only to see some of them blow out again on Wednesday with much ligher winds, they are now screwed and taped in while I discuss the issue with the sellers.It was an inexpensive greenhouse need I say more.
On Wednesday we also received our second nuc of bees. They are Welsh and looked very busy and healthy when transferred into their new hive. I have put on a syrup feed to keep them going while they get their bearings but on checking them yesterday they seem to be doing very well.
I haven't pulled much other than salad out of the garden this week, the garlic looks like it is nearly ready. Things seem to be going slowly in the garden after the massive growth spurt we saw in April, hopefully the sun will come out and get things started again.