No surprise the last two weeks have been busy. The tomato plants are coming on brilliantly, and a neighbour had given me some of his - thanks Tam. The potatoes are in, properly spaced, though nearly killed my back with all the weeds that needed cleared. I am developing a real hate of couch grass. I learn't this weekend that if you cover couch grass with black plastic for 6 growing months even if it doesn't kill the grass it brings the roots to the surface so you have a fighting chance of getting it clear. Fingers crossed.
I have also planted my French beans in the Greenhouse and some Sea Kale. Hoepfully the weather will be kind to us.
The bees have been busy, the bees I bought last year - yellow - are doing really well. They have moved out of their winter brood box into a clean one and the queen is laying well. They have a super of honey and are bringing in pollen. No queen cells yet sadly, but I'll try and encourage them to produce another queen in the near future. The older, black bees haven't fared as well, despite being the more aggressive. They are still in last years brood box and aren't keen to budge. They too have a super of honey. I'll maybe try and move them up into a clean brood box next week.
This weekend I was away overnight at Wiston Lodge in Lanarkshire www.wistonlodge.co.uk for the first of five weekends for the Permaculture Diploma run by the Northern School of Permaculture www.northernschool.info . Permaculture sounds all dark magic and hippy. In fact it is remarkably logical, looking at mimicking nature in the way we grow things, ensuring soil quality and plant diversity, while keeping things we need regularly closer to the house than things we need less often. It is all based on science and observation.
And finally, a huge project I am involved in. With all my other activities I became involved in building a bottle shelter and then seed sowing with a local nursery. From this, a need was found for growing and outdoor space locally. This has taken several years to develop, and still we are waiting for the OK from West Lothian Council. However, on Saturday 12th May we are having an Open Day to let people kinow what we have been up to and find out what they want for the area. This is a huge task but very rewarding. Visit their facebook page at Polbeth and West Calder Community Garden or their webpage at www.polbethandwestcaldergarden.weebly.com .
I have also planted my French beans in the Greenhouse and some Sea Kale. Hoepfully the weather will be kind to us.
The bees have been busy, the bees I bought last year - yellow - are doing really well. They have moved out of their winter brood box into a clean one and the queen is laying well. They have a super of honey and are bringing in pollen. No queen cells yet sadly, but I'll try and encourage them to produce another queen in the near future. The older, black bees haven't fared as well, despite being the more aggressive. They are still in last years brood box and aren't keen to budge. They too have a super of honey. I'll maybe try and move them up into a clean brood box next week.
This weekend I was away overnight at Wiston Lodge in Lanarkshire www.wistonlodge.co.uk for the first of five weekends for the Permaculture Diploma run by the Northern School of Permaculture www.northernschool.info . Permaculture sounds all dark magic and hippy. In fact it is remarkably logical, looking at mimicking nature in the way we grow things, ensuring soil quality and plant diversity, while keeping things we need regularly closer to the house than things we need less often. It is all based on science and observation.
And finally, a huge project I am involved in. With all my other activities I became involved in building a bottle shelter and then seed sowing with a local nursery. From this, a need was found for growing and outdoor space locally. This has taken several years to develop, and still we are waiting for the OK from West Lothian Council. However, on Saturday 12th May we are having an Open Day to let people kinow what we have been up to and find out what they want for the area. This is a huge task but very rewarding. Visit their facebook page at Polbeth and West Calder Community Garden or their webpage at www.polbethandwestcaldergarden.weebly.com .
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