This week we had guests round for dinner. To my delight we managed to produce a three course dinner from our own produce adding the milk for yoghurt, a little oil for cooking and a handful of dried pasta - which if I had been more organise I could have made. So what did we have? Starters was courgette and dill pasta, followed by roast chicken, with beans, peas and roast potatoes, and frozen raspberry yoghurt for pudding. We often have the kids friend's round for tea, but this was the first time we had done a proper meal for someone during our "project".
On Friday I went up to look at some local allotments. They are just being developed, in a nice open place. The produce in the initial phase of plots was impressive, much better than mine down at the house. Mind a first year, pests won't have had chance to build up, and it really is an open place. Our hope is to use a plot to grow more fruit. We can be self-sufficient in vegetables for a large part of the year but we still need a weekly fruit box, and to buy fruit juice. When we audited our shopping Easter 2009 we found that by far the thing we bought most of was fruit juice, this is just for a glass at breakfast time. Central Scotland weather is never going to allow the successful growing of citrus fruit without protection and heat, however apples, pears, blackcurrants, rhubarb, blueberries and beetroot all grow well. The blackcurrants, rhubarb, blueberry and beetroot juice all mix well with apple juice, and pear juice is nice for a change. So we are looking at £125 per year for a 10 x 12m plot, then a large amount for the fruit bushes and the supports as we intend to grow the apples and pears as cordons. However, with the amounts we are paying for locally produced fruit juice it is worth our while.
This week we have cropped peas, beans, courgettes, potatoes, salad and tomatoes. I have sown broad beans and bean sprouts. The basil is now all in the conservatory for the winter. It is also time to put sticky traps round the apple trees.
Our bees are not happy. As you know from the blog we put the apistan in the hive in August and the bees were very lively, chasing us up to the house. However, when we checked the hive the following week they were very subdued couldn't work out why, all looked well. However, it has since transpired that the queen has stopped laying. I have been worried sick they had contracted some horrible disease and looking for the worst. After taking advice the consensus is that they are probably hungry!!!! So last night I created a feeder out of a plastic tray with insulation around it and put bakers fondant in to feed them. I also narrowed the entrance to help keep the hive warm and cut down on the food needed. So we will see what this week brings.
On Friday I went up to look at some local allotments. They are just being developed, in a nice open place. The produce in the initial phase of plots was impressive, much better than mine down at the house. Mind a first year, pests won't have had chance to build up, and it really is an open place. Our hope is to use a plot to grow more fruit. We can be self-sufficient in vegetables for a large part of the year but we still need a weekly fruit box, and to buy fruit juice. When we audited our shopping Easter 2009 we found that by far the thing we bought most of was fruit juice, this is just for a glass at breakfast time. Central Scotland weather is never going to allow the successful growing of citrus fruit without protection and heat, however apples, pears, blackcurrants, rhubarb, blueberries and beetroot all grow well. The blackcurrants, rhubarb, blueberry and beetroot juice all mix well with apple juice, and pear juice is nice for a change. So we are looking at £125 per year for a 10 x 12m plot, then a large amount for the fruit bushes and the supports as we intend to grow the apples and pears as cordons. However, with the amounts we are paying for locally produced fruit juice it is worth our while.
This week we have cropped peas, beans, courgettes, potatoes, salad and tomatoes. I have sown broad beans and bean sprouts. The basil is now all in the conservatory for the winter. It is also time to put sticky traps round the apple trees.
Our bees are not happy. As you know from the blog we put the apistan in the hive in August and the bees were very lively, chasing us up to the house. However, when we checked the hive the following week they were very subdued couldn't work out why, all looked well. However, it has since transpired that the queen has stopped laying. I have been worried sick they had contracted some horrible disease and looking for the worst. After taking advice the consensus is that they are probably hungry!!!! So last night I created a feeder out of a plastic tray with insulation around it and put bakers fondant in to feed them. I also narrowed the entrance to help keep the hive warm and cut down on the food needed. So we will see what this week brings.
RSS Feed
