Well, there hasn’t been much mention of vegetables this month. But, quietly behind the scenes, between snow storms and ridiculous wind (the weather not me) we have got a bit done on the Huerto. And, being a tad forgetful, as usual I shall record the excitement of planting so I remember what I am supposed to do next year…
- One bed of onions planted and carrots sown (I’ve inter-rowed the two to defeat carrot fly I hope).
- Garlic planted.
- Cabbage seedlings and lettuces planted.
- Radish and beetroot sown.
- More broad beans, peas and mange-tout sown.
Harvesting has depended on the weather and my laziness but we’ve eaten okay with cabbages, cauli, lettuces that are completely snow proof, swiss chard and beetroot.
Sadly we still haven’t had any leeks this year but their consumption is imminent. Unfortunately a run in with four escaped hens as seedlings left them a little worse for wear. Ditto the brocoli which is looking very dubious, that it would seem is far from snow proof.
Another pile of compost has been ‘capped off’ and a new heap started too. And this one, with lots of weeding being done at last is actually looking to reach full height pretty swiftly.
Of course we have been harvesting lots of fire-wood too. Its not that we are the kind of super organised people that sort out next years wood pile in January usually. Rather, the snow brought down so many trees on our land, the track and in the surrounding woods that it seems a pity to waste all that warming bounty. Plus of course it warms you sawing it, so you need the fire on less which is good as this winter’s woodpile is all but a distant memory!
At some point I will take some photos to put on this ‘ere blog too…
Well, the evil one was missing for over a week, assumed frozen under a snow-drift somewhere…
But Naruto made it back. We were even kind of pleased to see him. Not that he was bothered about seeing us – he just wanted a furry cuddle with Faye Faye the giant dog. Though he does scare her a little, she bravely obliged.
Now he is back on a mission to kill off all small mammal competition in the valley, so is covered in cuts and swollen bits, oh and he stinks of Fox wee. The foxes are all making a lot of noise in the evenings, I guess they have that spring feeling even if the weather is decidedly wintry again. We did toy with the concept of washing the cat, but I feel that would be way too dangerous a pass-time, so he shall just have to continue smelling truly terrible.
Now he’s just back to mainly being a little teeny weeny bit annoying. But I promised I would be nicer to him, and so I have. He even got some fresh meat of his own from the lovely butcher lady that supplies the dogs with raw meaty bones to keep their gnashers shining. Not that he cares…
We made it out to the village yesterday. Lugged home some supplies and agreed to meet some friends today for a trip to the supermarket as their car had been freed of its drift.
We met our elusive neighbour on the way back too, which was good as we only ever see her when we’re all out walking too many dogs. This leads to lots of chaos and little chance for peaceful ‘get to know you’ conversations. Since she was starting a trek down to the village for dog food we invited her up to collect some spare supplies from us that would be easier to carry down the hill to hers.
Not only did we get to feel we had done a good deed we got to actually converse and enjoy a cuppa with her, which was about time. Still didn’t realise till we met her again today to transfer cat food supplies, that she’s not a neighbour from Barcelona as we thought, but instead one from Berlin. That really makes me feel inept at the whole language doo dah!
Wandering the supermarket for supplies but knowing you will be hauling it all up a snowy track later is a tad difficult. Deciding what is really useful AND really light is a tough job. But now we’re back and with more food in store the tiredy legs seem worthwhile.
Rain has started now too, so with any luck we shall not be stranded for too long now…
