It rained and was windy and was windy and rained pretty much all morning. I had half a plan to get outside between showers to start Operation Clear Up in the polytunnel – the various failed crops need to be fed to the pigs (sweetcorn that was stunted, tomatoes which never flowered, that sort of thing) before they rot and spread disease. The things which can over winter or may even still have a chance need to be spread out and maybe given some feed. The seeds should probably be brought into the caravan for the winter and I can pour over them and plan a spring planting schedule, plus top up with ordering any new ones to fill the gaps. There is a crate of tools, pots, plastic and stuff adjacent to the polytunnel which needs sorting out, some is probably rubbish, all needs stacking tidily so it doesn’t get trashed or blown away over winter. The raised beds need the netting removed and the birds encouraged to feed on them (easily done, we just chuck a handful of their corn on each bed and they’ll scratch down to earth level) and then they need a mulch put on to protect and enhance the soil. prevent weed growth and keep it warmer ready for spring. We’re planning seaweed so need to get gathering that at low tide. The fruit trees and bushes also all need a mulch although that can wait a couple of months yet and be a turn of the year project. We also had a plan to clear out some of the stores of wood and tools and stuff and burn any rubbish and get a better idea of what we actually have taking up space, use the galvanised sheets to start building a compost loo and camp kitchen / shelter for next years volunteers. But suddenly it’s nearly the end of October and winter has arrived! And we still have three pigs to deal with. Hmmm.
This was scuppered by the kids getting up and requesting croissants for late breakfast / early lunch and then us getting into a really interesting conversation about venn diagrams. So Ady left is to it and went and did some work on the shed /shop.
At 2 we all went out together, Scarlett on her bike, the rest of us on foot. We posted Lovefilm back, collected some food from the freezer and the kids came back home to have showers and light the fire while Ady and I went round to Fliss & Sandy’s. Sandy has been back for a week long visit and is heading off tomorrow so Ady went to have a catch up chat with him, while Fliss and I drank tea, crocheted and chatted. It was very pleasant 🙂
We left and came home, picking brambles along the way. I brushed Scarlett’s hair and got dinner sorted while Ady fed the animals and brought in some firewood. A good early dinner with two episodes of Warehouse 13 which we’re really enjoying. It’s much stiller than it was last night but there is the odd huge gust of wind which keep making me jump.