Horse Power

Thanks to some neighbours, we have a continuous supply of fresh horse manure

Some is laid down to rot but the most exciting use is to power the hotbed

Up until now, we kept on adding new material but today we modified the system to allow continuous throughput

So there was space to top up

and prepare more germination space

Elsewhere in the same polytunnel
Strawberries are flowering (and spiders are flourishing)

The vine is starting to bulge

and beneath is space for fennel, ferns and frogs

The First Radish rises

The Fig tantalises

Parsley and mint are given space

The horse manure neighbours had their first swallow two days ago – ours usually arrive a few days later. Meanwhile we have to be satisfied with other signs of Spring:

The Blackbird defending his territory

The Guineas asking when they can move to their new pastures

The ducks keeping an eye on the weather station

and things happening down at The Lake

Lottie hopes her exciting swamp does not dry up too soon

and the kitchen window Vole feels slightly more relaxed

There is no accounting for where they choose to spawn.

We’re spending a lot of time creating our new pond

Exciting creatures, including water boatman, have moved in

Some frogs (the sensible ones) have made use of the facility

But most seem to have chosen a disused, slightly fetid, pig run

where an unusual dry spell is rapidly shrinking their potential.

Meanwhile a large flock of Fieldfares passes through

and the piglets reach the age of responsibility – 18 (days) – ready for anything

especially treats brought by humans

but also wondering if they will inherit their father’s tail

Pethan eraill yn y tyddyn heddiw:

Lamb and Salad

As spring progresses there are waves that lap up the valley. Later we will see green hedges in the lowlands, moving day by day until the flourishing reaches our altitude. It is the same with lambs: lowland lambs have been bouncing around for weeks but we had to wait until today for them to arrive on our threshold.

We look forward to salad tomorrow

While the Guineas enjoy salad today

The litter experiment with solid food

and a bit of rooting

Last year the Nuthatch reared a handsome brood under the eaves. So far this year he has been all alone, every day spent shouting as loud as he can hoping a mate will join him.

We add a new sighting (although no picture) as a Brambling passes through for the first time. We have had geese overhead before but it is always a stirring sound

Some hedgehog shuffling tonight:

This one

had been coughing in the bushes and needed a quick check over

While this one

has been over-wintering with us and is just waiting for a toe-nail trim before setting off on his spring adventures.

Sunny Frolics

Sunshine raises us all to new levels

Floppy and his ladies have had to jump high to strip these offerings

Followed by a preen

and a mutual beak clean

The roots are moved down to the pigs

where sunshine encourages boldness

knowing that someone is in charge

We stock up on bedding

as the ducks do their own frolicking

and the wren frolics in the gutter

Even the frogspawn is frolicking a little

So tonight as the sun burns itself out

We have dinner provisions

Blinking Sun

The rain has paused and the sun is back

Leaving one resident blinking on his doorstep

The beating rain leaves its causalities

which are collected for indoor use

not all is lost

although the ducks are oblivious

We know spring is around as we can see lambs

More growing room is prepared

moving on some of last year’s growth

to be hen entertainment

We have our first tomato (plant)

and salad production is progressing

with overflow into polytunnel 2 as space is prepared

The sun filters into Dinah’s nursery

but a chilly breeze decides the youngsters stay mainly indoors

Meanwhile, we enjoy the sun and dream of the months ahead

Small pig, big world

There is still snow on the hills

But the piglets sense there is a change in the air

Time to venture out from the familiarity of the porch

Out into the big world

More to sniff

and space to run

Meanwhile Floppy has gathered his harem for a lecture

Not everyone at the back is paying attention

Cooperative bottom cleaning is more compelling

Life is growing in the pond

plus

Shooting up in the toilet following kidnap

One of Dinah’s litter has a cut on his jaw, probably caused by a bit of sibling jostling. Nothing serious but the vet insisted on a short course of antibiotics.

Now when piglets are picked up they emit a very very loud squeal. This activates Dinah’s maternal instincts and she rushes to take on the kidnapper. Food should prove a distraction and did the first time. But pigs never forget and subsequently Dinah took a few mouthfuls before coming to do a head count.

So it is a matter of seizing the moment and with a stifling towel rushing piglet to the nearest refuge

the compost toilet, where the cut jaw can be attended to

Meanwhile, we are currently saturated.
Fungi are flourishing

Selective reporting

Today – heavy rain, mist and cloud until noon; end of the afternoon the temperature drops and sleet beats on the roof.

But we take out the camera during the brief spell when the sun shines…

Capturing the wind on camera can be unrewarding

Here is another attempt:

Meanwhile, we continue our experiment with geometric salad

Ne’er cast a clout…

At this time of year (ie March to May) we know that when the sun shines, the mud dries and the spirits lift it is only a temporary state.

Next day the wind can whip through

and piglets line up in the warm

Water plants battered but resilient

Rain runs off the trees

New life and hanging mist

While hints and promises are glimpsed

Inside the polytunnel is another world where geometric salad planting can progress

Strawberries evacuated from the polytunnel site have been relocated

And broccoli, sown ten months ago, is now producing

Meanwhile, the hotbed, currently not in use, has decided on its own crop

Marching on

As we slip towards the equinox, here are a few glimpses of life around us in the last three days:

and today the duck eggs increased by two hundred percent