RAIN, CHRISTMAS, RAIN...

    Since my last post all it has seemed to have done is rain. So, not a lot done. In between down pours and showers I have managed to do some forking and weeding. Despite it being December the weeds still grow and more so as the weather here in La Creuse has generally been mild.

    Turkey's, ducks and the goose were all dealt with by my son-in-law on the 22nd December. Our bronze turkey that we had for Christmas lunch was just lovely. The sprouts (much to my surprise!), carrots and potatoes were provided from the garden. Parsnips, as mentioned before, were a complete disaster this year. Three lots sown (old, new, self gathered) and not one parsnip germinated. Back to my known and trusted method of growing parsnips this season! The poly tunnel provided some lettuce and herbs. 

   The first Chou Milan has been cut. To me it looks like a savoy type cabbage and was very nice. There are still leeks, cabbage, beetroot, celeriac and a few carrots left and believe or not celery! Peas (two lots!), broad beans, garlic and spring onions are growing away. January is coming and it will soon be time to start sowing onions and tomato seed!

  So just a short post . Happy New Year to all and I wish you a successful 2013 in and outside the garden!

Rain, mud and voles...

   Just a short posting as really not a lot has been  going on. I am now feeding the wild birds and the chickens just love the seed that gets dropped by them.
   The last couple of weeks has seen mild temperatures, a lot of rain and of course shortening days. Not a lot doing in the garden although I have managed to do some weeding and drive clearing work between down pours and showers.. The voles/moles have made a lot of burrows under the lawns and with the large amount of rain the soil has now become saturated which means if you stand on the roof of a vole/mole tunnel it collapses! I fear my tolerance of these critters is going to come to an end and I will have to start trapping them.
  Growing wise my second sowing of over winter peas are now showing. Chou Milan cabbage still looks good and there are some sprouts for Christmas! Yeah! Celeriac, celery, leeks and carrots are still being pulled/picked and the spinach is taking a rest! Garlic is growing well as are the broad beans and first sowing of over winter peas and there is still some beetroot to pull. In the poly tunnel broad beans have popped up and most other bits and bobs are just hanging in there.
  I am now looking forward to the new year and the start of  the sowing of tomato seeds. I have a number of different crops to try this season and I am really looking forward to seeing how they turn out. More on that as we move on into the year.  The picture below is our crop of fowl.

Left to right - x2 duck, white turkey, black turkey, black turkey, x2 bronze turkeys,  goose

Leaves, lots of leaves and dumb turkeys

. I continue to rake up leaves. One strawberry bed is now weeded and mulched with chopped up oak leaves. One more to do, weather permitting. I picked two ripe strawberries from the Mara Bois bed! I have not touched the leaves in the house garden and I suspect the worms will get to them before I do. All around the trees are pretty much bare. Autumn is drawing to a close and winter is arriving. Temperatures are still above freezing but I have the cuisiniere in the house going all the time now. Forecast is for the weather to get colder.

  Forking and weeding have been the main tasks to undertake although I have pruning to do and a major job to be done with a couple of old apple trees. I really want to get those done this winter.
  In the poly tunnel the temperature is staying well above freezing and what plants are in there are still managing to grow a little. Sunrise is around 0812hrs and sunset around 1710hrs which makes for a short day! The second sowing of peas has not shown yet which really does not surprise me. The ground is wet and getting colder and I will be delighted if they do show but I am not expecting it. 
   I continue to pull leeks, carrots, celeriac and celery. Some of the later planting leeks look like they have taken a hit with the mild damp weather mould has been an issue. The chickens do not help as they forage between the plants and tend to squash them! The late planted sprouts look good but I am doubtful if they will produce proper sprouts. The winter cabbage is starting to heart up. My small row of spinach is forming "true" leaves and fingers crossed it will produce the goods, chickens permitting!
   Our female duck has taken to laying an egg a day much to my surprise I must admit. My daughter has been cooking with them and they do make a lighter cake. 

Dumb turkeys

Two of our turkeys took a bath and one got very wet and cold. She did recover thanks I think to the mild weather at that time. They are really dumb these turkeys! Plenty of garden activities to do. The battle of the nettles is currently on pause. Other jobs have taken priority.