Greenfingers. Caused by gangrene, but it still counts
on Mar 08 in Uncategorized by DanMy in-laws have recently moved house and are currently in the process of gutting their new home in order to completely re-decorate. I have not only cunningly avoided getting involved in this process, but have also managed to swoop down and salvage their discarded carpets like some sort of… I dunno, carpet vulture I guess.
I have great plans for these gaudy and flowery rugs. They are to form the weed suppressing base of a network of paths I’m putting in throughout our back garden. The weather has been rather clement recently so I’ve been able to get out and do a bit of messing around with spades and dirt. I’ve been slightly hampered by the fact that Amy has been with me and shrieks in terror every time I uncover a worm then demands that the hole is refilled. Still, it’s been nice being outside together and she’s certainly proud of helping Daddy work.
As you may know already, I have a grand and intricate plan for the garden and in five years time I should have it pretty much how I want it. Of course we also plan to move house in about five years, but I try not to think of those two goals at the same time otherwise I break out in a fit of maudlin apathy. For the time being though it still very much resembles a piece of waste ground.
The whole affair isn’t helped by the fact that the garden’s slope is roughly 90 degrees, but we struggle through and have done quite a bit of terracing over the past couple of years. This summer I’m going to continue to concentrate on structural work, which rather excitingly means I get to play with big hammers and chunks of wood and stone rather than any namby pamby flowers.
My current project is making some raised beds for the vegetable patch, which is proving a bit tricky as I don’t have much quality topsoil. The nature of our little street means that getting any delivered is virtually impossible. Plus I really don’t fancy having to carry buckets of the stuff all the way up the hill. After much deliberation I’ve decided to steal some from other parts of the garden and worry about having no topsoil there later.
All this focus on the garden is further proof that I have become horrendously middle aged. We’ve even got hold of some tickets to see a recording of Gardeners Question Time for gods sake. This is a national radio show where a live audience ask gardening related questions to a panel of experts, it’s been going since 1947 apparently – although I’m assuming some of the experts have changed. I am so sad that I even have a favourite panellist – Bob Flowerdew is my hero. I have a theory that, like Samson, the secret to his green fingered prowess is his platted ponytail.
Kerry and I have asked a few friends if they fancy coming along to see the show with us, but the only response has been a withering look of pity and scorn so it looks like it will be just the two of us. I’m very excited and have my question all ready and prepared:
“Hello. My question to the panel is – Would you all like to come and do my garden for me?â€
Well, you never know.
If you click on the photo you’ll even get to see some of my special notes!
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Do you still have spare tickets? if so I’d love to go. I love Gardeners Question Time and listen to it every week, even though I don’t garden ( I just sort of hack at things but luckily we inherited a fabulous garden and we just have to keep it going) nor do I understand what they talk about.
I like Bob but I also like John Cushney? – he can be quite scathing of all that ‘hippy nonsense’.
Plus I’ve heard that carpet can be very nutritious and tastes delicious with a pinch of nutmeg.
No matter the Wendyhouse door won’t stay closed, after all children need fresh air and think of all the exercise you get chasing after the dog – you won’t get that if they can no longer escape. ;-)
John Cushdy (or whatever his name is) is my second favorite – but I’m a Bob man in my heart of hearts. I even have a book by him. I haven’t actually done much gardening yet, just digging and huitting things with hammers.
We don’t have any other tickets, but they are free from the reception desk of the White Rose shopping centre (where it is being held). You were only alowed two tickts per person.
Gardening? That’s what I pay people to come to my house and do. Of course, being in LA, you can’t really have a “garden” garden here. The “dirt” here is more like sticking your toes in the sand at the beach. We’re lucky we even have grass at all.
Although, looking at your hill (I would call it, oh, I dunno… a mountain!) I would say that just getting up to the shed would have me calling it a day at that point and sitting down with a cold beer.
The slope of that garden definitely adds a few degrees of difficulty to the whole adventure! And the rock wall at the bottom is awesome.
Go for chickens. I was going to, but then a dead swan landed about 10 miles away, and I thought I’d get caught up in red tape. Had all the plans planned too. Damn.
Might start again this summer. But then I might be in Edinburgh, and there’s less scope for chicken hutches (or whatever they’re called – I didn’t look into the nomenclature of poultry housing) in the middle of a city.
But thinking about it, there’s a couple of volcanoes in the middle of Edinburgh, so a chicken kennel (or whatever they’re called) probably wouldn’t be out of the question…
Looks like a good view from your house, never mind the top of the hill. What would you see from the top anyway? I’m guessing that you’d see your house.
I think the official terminology is chicken stable. Have you seen the Eglo, it’s the chicken house of choice for city dwelling urban sophisticates such as yourself. I’d rather something a bit more free range myself, but it all depends on space.
You can see the other side of Slaithwate and into Marsden from the top of the garden. You can’t see much from the house unfortunatly due to a big hedge and another house being in the way.
This is the view into Marsden:
To clarify, the mill you can see in the middle of the photo is in Slaithwaite. Marsden is in the distance.
wow! what a gorgeous view! you should put a ski-lift in now so that when you become too old make the climb, you won’t have to burden Evan with the frequent piggy-back rides.
Good view, good pic. I think you might be only the second person I know to live on that side of the valley.
I’ve seen the Egloo – looks pretty cool, but is very expensive… I too would prefer something more natural. And bigger too – I reckon 12 hens would do to start off with. The Black Rock hen is apparently a good layer (5-7 eggs per week).
Indian Runner ducks also interest me – they’re like tall pepperpots on legs, and run around the garden in pairs. Also pretty good layers (3-4 eggs per week), however they like to have a source of water to play in, which I currently don’t have.
My mum’s neighbours keep 3 or 4 chickens in their garden – they’ve got a moveable battery, (sorry RUN) which they shift around the garden so the lawn is evenly battered.
12 hens laying 5-7 eggs per week? I hope you like omelets. My own ambitions are slightly more modest, 3 hens to start off with. I want to minimize the damage to the patch of grass they will be on and too many chickens can turn lush grassland to a barren waste-ground.
I saw an advert for some Black rock hens for sale today actually.
I like ducks too, but you really as you say you need a pond for them to be properly happy, and it needs to be a good size to if you want it to be anything but a stagnant puddle.
I have it on good authority that you’re better off buying a shed from B&Q and converting it rather than pay for a specialist chicken coop. You do get some problems with infestation of red mites though.
I really don’t know what I’m talking about to be honest, I just have a romantic idea of going out in the garden and calling “Here chicky chicky chicky”