Latest news....

Hi ya'll

Been so wet in the garden this week I am now massivley behind in the turning soil stakes and am starting to panic slighlty about how/when this is going to get done..... I did venture out the other day and stood in my wellies to start but sank into the ground it was soooo muddy!!!

In other news we now have herbs..... no not the smoking kind, but the cookery kind!!!  First shoots have started to appear in my makeshift mini greenhouses (read: takeaway containers!)........

So im dead chuffed with the fact that I, have managed to grow something!!!!  (yeah I know.... start small aim high!!!)  The kids were more impressed until Dan said "but cant you just BUY them Mum???"  Bloody kids............................ha ha.

Spoke to my Mum about veggies and it turns out that she is the fountain of knowledge when it comes to growing and knew all about male/female cucumbers!!!!  So from now on Ill be text/ringing/bugging the hell out of Ma for info :)  (regretting it now arent you Mother?!?!!!) ha ha.  Also went to the library and took out a rather good book on month to month jobs to do in an allotment.  Turns out I should be out there everyday now doing something.  Ooops!  But my wonderful other half is now re-hiring the rotorvator for next weekend so we can crack on and section off veggie plot!!!

Keep you all posted throughout the week!!

Loves xx

Update on the Mud pit/garden.........

Hi everyone!!!

Just a quick update on the mud pit that is my garden......  Due to the large amount of rain and snow SNOW (!!!!!) we've had over the past 3 days ive not ventured out there!!!  (Im brave but not stupid!!!!) However, some behind the scenes work has been going on and ive been reading up on planting seedlings and what to plant when/where etc.......

So not forgot about the garden and the other half is currently making me small fence panels so I can fence off the veggie patch tthis weekend and begin to get the soil right for planting me spuds (oo-eeer!!), carrots and onions over the next few weeks.  Also will be purchasing a greenhouse, which im very excited about (I need to get out more), hopefully the end of this week so can begin to plant seeds to germinate (check me out!!).

Got to say so far, im really enjoying learning about all the differnet ways to grow stuff.  Its turning out to be a bit of science and hopefully ive got it all right!!!

In helpers news Leah has suddenly developed a "sore throat" which Im taking to mean it'll be "sore" all week and thus she'll be unable to help out with any turning soil/digging activity.  Although she said she may be able to manage potting some seeds for me........ Dan on the other hand walked into my room with his wellies and his PJ's on at 6.30 this morning ready to help out...... he was sent away with a groan and told to go back to bed for another hour at least.... but seeing as its a horrible day weather wise, we are now baking cakes and having a trip to the library!!!!

So more photos/news to follow this week.

Loves xx

Male or Female????

Forgot to add.........

I found out yesterday that you can get male and female cucumbers?!?!????  I have yet to research this and you have to throw one of the two types away because they taste really bitter!!!! 

Now I have images of going into my greenhouse one morning to find a cucumber in drag or one in suit heading out the door to work!!!!

Ha ha

xx

Day 1 in the Gallacher/Spencer/Patrick garden.......

My lovely other half has been off this week, so after much bribary and a new toy (a brand new Yamaha 125 Custom motorbike - pic to follow when I can catch him on it!!) we decided to hire a rotorvator to start the back braking digging on the garden.  It started off well, with no rain, but soon we realised that actually the rotorvator wasn't going to dig by itself and we needed to stop making brew's and "discussing" (arguing) and we made a start............

THE BEAST!!!!!

 First strip done and contrary to Lee's whining it wasnt so bad!!!!

Ahhhh isnt it nice to watch other people work?!? (I have to add I got a stone thrown my way after this and a growl which i took to mean as "do some effing work!!!")

Then........ disaster struck!!!  The following picture should not be viewed unless you are an adult of a non-sensitive nature......

This was where my veggie patch was going to be but as you can tell, the soil is riddled with roots and crap basically, so in a second my dream of a lush, vibrant veggie garden slipped away..... :( *snif*

.........until we decided to move it to the middle where the good stuff is and used aforementioned plot to have concrete poured onto it and my greenhouse' new home :) yay!!!! (There was some mention of a shed for a motorbike as well, but i seemed to have selective hearing when he starts talking about shiny things with gears!!!)

We had some help digging.......

Until they decided on a lunch break (union rules - apparently!) and headed off to the all you can eat worm/bug buffet!!!

Previous bonfire plot (where the chickens that didnt survive the -10 winter got ahem..... bbq'd!!!) I think they were paying their respects.....

Done for the day!!!

So a pretty productive day today :)  Ive just been informed however, that i need to keep turing the soil and remove all the turf out of the soil so it can be re-seeded next week........ did i not mention i'm allergic to hard work?!???  Mind you the kids are off next week :)

Loves!!! x

Forgot to show you

My wonderful helpers...... hmmmm i think ive got some work to do!!!!

AND.... if anyone has got any hints, tips words of wisdom...... please share.  Unless its abuse cos i can just go get a job and get paid to have that!!! Ta x

OooOOo So it begins.....

So...... how to write a blog..... Hmmmmm not sure what im doing but ill explain why now!!!

We've completely cleared our 90ft x 60ft garden yesterday in preperation for my first "real" attempt at gardening....

To say im an avid green fingered person would be a lie, however the idea of home grown veggies, pretty flowers and being more self sufficiant has always appealed (ignoring the back braking work, failed crops and crap weather!!!)

So the idea of the blog..... to inspire me to actually DO something with myself on a daily basis :) Aside H the Mum, H the housewife and H the mad one, I thought it'd be nice to account for my time by way of sharing my first year of gardening with you all (whether you want it or not!!)  So enjoy............

My gardening "knowledge" comes firstly from watching my dear Dad slave over an allotment as a child.  Although he did used to disappear there for hours (!) I assume to "tend his veggies" (drink beer in the shed!) i was always interested in it.  That is until I found being a teenager was much more exciting and hanging around the local park was way cooler than hanging with my Pa in a field!!! 

My other knowledge is from my Mum - Plants & Flowers.  My mum LOVES plants.  She waters them, rescues them (from me and my sis) brings them back to life, feeds them, talks to them (if its good enough for Prince Charlie.....), so am hoping to pick her brains ALOT!!!!

So many many moons and 2 children later here I am.... bugging said Dad for his old gardening wisdom (dont drink beer and use a spade Heather!!) and his old books (you can have this one BUT I want it back), armed with my fella (armed.....pushed?!?) and now a decent sized garden to work on...........

A long view

 First of the fruit trees - Blackberry and Raspberry

 First Herbs

 My "starter" kit (from the other half - bless!!)

 The bit on the side i dont know what to do with yet!!!

 The seeds

 The veggie patch to be (currently home to 4 chickens!!)

 First rookie mistake - leaving wellies out in the rain :(

So thats it for today, I hope you enjoy following me (and if anyone knows of anyone rich and famous so i can PAY for someone to come and do it then YAY!!!)

Loves xx