Ouch, lots to do

Well, it may have been a mixed start (see previous blog); but the gardening business has taken off. Almost binary in nature. Mid/late February nothing much, now mid March, my diary is full with returning customers, National Trust work, and some new customers all wanting a ‘Spring clean’.

I’ve had to turn away two jobs; one was just too large a task and the other, a spring clean, I just couldn’t fit  it in. So I’m very pleased that the gardening year has started this way – though my body is telling me different!

I bought a pressure washer this week, to use at home and perhaps for some cleaning jobs too. Managed to set it up today and give the van a blast and then had a go with one of the mucky waste bins. Finished off by cleaning the side path paving slabs – so no more moss or muck, looks like new (almost) concrete – Lynne not impressed…  But, I am impressed by the power of the washer (a Karcher model), and if called upon to clean patios I shouldn’t have to get on my hands and knees anymore, and it’ll make a better job of it too!

Allotment is just about up to scratch now with all but one small area dug and prepared – this will be for outdoor tomatoes so there is plenty of time to do this. Planted some shallots and first early potatoes this week. The soil is in pretty good condition, though drying out too fast in this warm weather. At home I’ve pre-planted loads of onion sets in trays prior to planting on the allotment. I’ve found over the years that it’s better to start them off this way as it helps prevent birds taking the sets out of the soil.

Next few jobs to do will be to sow leeks, parsnips, beetroot, basil and carrots.

On the church front, I’m organising a plant sales stand at the Woodmancote May Day event, with all proceeds going to County Community Projects. Last year was a really good success story (apart from the useless marquee I purchased especially for the event); with almost all the church community taking part. We sold loads of plants, many of which were grown by folk from the church, and just as important, we met lots of local people and had the opportunity to make new and renew friendships. Let's hope the weather is fine and our plant stocks are high..

A 'mixed' start to the year & working season

Having had some time away from the gardening business over the winter; which was expected, some late winter / early spring activities are starting up.

Obviously the weather plays a large part of what I’m able to do outside. So some unseasonably mild and stable weather in late February enabled me to tackle a fairly large crab apple pruning job which took the best part of 6 to 8 hours to complete. I was keen to ensure it remained attractive to look at after its prune and not just to leave a set of stumps in the air.

A couple of returning customers are welcome too as I get back into the gardening working pattern again. Winter tidy ups - getting ready for the Spring growth.

Our daughter was married in late February, so this was a welcome event in the family, and we enjoyed a fabulous afternoon and evening, especially with the reception location being Hestercombe Gardens – with very fine weather; plenty of warm sunshine and blue skies too.

Following the wedding I went down with a sore throat - initially thinking I had talked too much (what me?), which subsequently developed in to a particularly nasty chesty cold; really fed up with coughing after 5 days of it.

I was pleased to be successful in getting the National Trust’s Snowshill Manor holiday cottages gardener job this week and look to start later this month. I’m looking forward to making some improvements and changes this year, to build on all the hard work from last year.

Due to some recent poor weather and my cold I’ve been set back a bit with the plans and activities for the allotment. I still have fence posts to replace and a gate to make. Also some weeding needs doing before I make attempts to plant the early potatoes and create seed beds. Today's rainfall should help the soil though.

Having signed up a while ago for Twitter, I have found some useful information sources and other ‘twitterers’ of interest. Following the Guernsey Walled Garden produced a link to the Sarah Raven ‘birds, bees & blooms’ programmes; whilst following Snowshill Manor revealed that the gardeners have a blog too. Following Monty Don has revealed his recent travels in France – so maybe some interesting gardening programmes might be in the offing.

Allotment - espalier apple tree maintenance

I managed to take advantage of a few hours down at the allotment, and during some unseasonably mild weather to replace the posts supporting one of my espalier apple trees (variety is Adams Pearmain).

Hopefully as these posts are treated with preservative, they'll last for years, as it's a bit tricky unwiring the trees, and refitting after the posts are renewed. Looking at the condition of the trees in general, I'm very pleased how my 'experiment' to grow these as espaliers has turned out. The crop from all 3 trees last year provided enough apples to supply our needs from September to January.

Now today its raining + getting colder, so I timed that well.

Adams Pearmain - espalier
(grown from a maiden whip some 7 years old)

End of an era

Well, it had to come sooner or later.

Our trusty Nissan Micra, owned from new (1990), finally had to go.

It has served us all very well over the years, with all of the family having driven it, learned to drive in it, taken stuff to the rubbish tip in it, etc...

Richard has his own car now, and the old Micra was surplus to our needs. Sentimentally, I managed to sell on the car to a local person, [the other choice was the local scrap merchant :-( ] so at least it will continue to be useful for some time to come. It'll be strange if I see it on the road - owned and driven by someone else!

Farewell....

Nissan Micra 1990 'G' registered!

Winter activities

As January starts, I’ve been taking advantage of some unseasonably mild weather – though this weekend (14^th), temperatures have decidedly taken a nose dive..

I managed to cut back an overgrown hedge on the allotment and had a good reason to have a roaring fire. Jobs left to complete on the allotment before spring are; the renewal of two support posts for one of my espalier apple trees,  replacement of 3 fence posts and construction of a new gate for one of my plots. Digging and mulching has been finished now, though there are some weeds left in places these will easily be removed in the spring.

At home I’ve treated one length of fencing with preservative – first time since we moved in 13 years ago. I’ve removed the ugly buddleia shrubs on the outside of our boundary fence so that I can also get to apply preservative to this run of fencing. Hope to get this done this coming week.

I constructed (rather hacked together) something I’ve called a wood/log store, picture below, from two old pallets and some bought feather edged timber (bought? yes, about £10 worth); ‘design’ was done ‘on the fly’ and even if I say it myself it looks the business – just remains for me to saw up a quantity of long logs I’ve got to put inside to dry out. I reckon that it will also become a haven for local wildlife (frogs, newts, spiders etc).

Log store

Work has dried up this month – which wasn’t surprising though I have a returning customer restarting in February + one tree pruning job later in February. I haven’t yet started the house decorating, though I suspect it will start soon..

Year's end

Well, at the end of an eventful year; personally, domestically and nationally, it would be typical to try and reflect on what has been and what might be. I’m not going to try – the blog contains sufficient for the year; however, I found this text in my NIV bible (a version for men and containing helpful contributions from men) and thought it might be a useful reflection for anyone to ponder. Happy New Year!

The sooner a man becomes satisfied with what he has and stops comparing his financial scorecard and trophies with those of other men, the better he will feel about himself.

The apostle Paul states: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want” [Philippians 4:11-12].

Men who opt to be satisfied with what they possess will have more time and energy for the kinds of nurturing relationships that will meet their basic needs.

{Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop}

December starts

December is here, and I’ve still a few bits of work to continue with. Just waiting for the inevitable closing in of the weather to bring a halt to my customer’s work. I’m looking forward to some time off – although I have ‘penciled-in’ some home decorating activities during January.

I finished this week with the work at the NT at Snowshill too, so I have some ‘free’ time in the diary now. Perhaps I’ll get out on my own garden and allotment to catch up with the seasonal activities!

November was mostly work – so much so that I’ve realised just how tired I am. Normally I’ll take any / all work in my stride but one job last week consisted of breaking up pruning materials to bag up and after 45 minutes of this (there was a huge amount of material), lets say, exasperation kicked in.. Thought; that if only I had a gofer…, but then I’d have to increase my hourly rate…

We enjoyed a weekend away at Mission Worship at Eastbourne last weekend.

At Woodmancote Church, the leadership team have been working very hard this year on the process of finding a replacement pastor – as Keith ends his time with us on Christmas Day. The leadership team proposed to the congregation that Andrew Hiscock be the new pastor, and after a vote, this proposal was carried. It’ll be sad to see Keith and Ruth leave us, but we will be looking forward as a church to see God’s future work being carried out with Andrew as pastor.

The church has a number of activities happening over the Christmas period, details of which can be found at: www.freechurch.freeserve.co.uk