Monday, May 24, 2010

Life's a beach


Well that was a weekend it was hard to find fault with.  Friday night tea on the beach with sizzling sausages and children jumping in the waves.  Saturday with a very useful friend who is a dab hand at beach paella.  Then Sunday at Crackington Haven. 
Here is our favourite beach, just 15 mins from home one of the most reliably empty beaches on the coast.  On Friday and Saturday we went to this beach and had a lot of space to run around which was in contrast to Crackington Haven on Sunday.

I guess you put a pub on the beach and it's always going to be busier.  Mind you, I think I'd prefer to take my own beers in a cool box and enjoy a long empty vista of wet sand.

Friday, May 21, 2010

First sight of a tomato


The sun is definitely out and urging on the tomato plants in the greenhouse.  Today while giving a thirst quenching feed I spotted my first toms on two plants.

This year have three varieties of toms, an ugly gnarled Italian beef tomato, a cherry tom and a traditional English garden type.

Reading through Sarah Raven last night she said she will sow another lot of seeds in June in order to get a late greenhouse crop which I will try this year.  I can't believe they'll have time to ripen but will give it a go.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Garden moves


This weekend saw blazing sunshine on Saturday so a day spent in the garden, planting out bedding plants, sowing more seeds, potting up seedlings, planting out Hooligan Pumpkins under fleece.  I'm incredibly pleased at how the yard garden is coming up (above).  Looking at the photo below from the last week of March it really is bursting into life.  The delphiniums are even avoiding the usual slug buffet.

I try and keep the yard in good order as this is where the shower and pantry are based. It's a nice peaceful area which catches the sun and there are few places I would rather be on a sunny day with a newspaper and an espresso.

After a sunny Saturday, Sunday was drizzly but it was good to see the newly transplanted plants drinking up the water after so many dry days.

I wish we'd kept count last year on the dry vs wet days, this year does feel much dryer and sunnier.  It's impossible to look back retrospectively at the weather forecasts as they are so often so very wrong.  Heavy rain forecast when it's dry and steaming hot, sunny intervals forecast when in reality it's a drizzling grey tupperware sky day.

So from now on I'm going to keep my own Berridon Farm weather record.  And today... is sunny!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Blackberrying in the country


Oh lord is this what life has come to.  Sitting on an old sofa in the farm yard looking like a refugee from Shameless.  Beer balanced on tum.  Buttock firming clogs on.  Frowning on my blackberry.  Not taken this morning I hasten - beer is not taken before lunch!  Well at least not on a school day.

When I moved to the country to pursue my love of blackberrying, this wasn't quite what I had in mind.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Taking the trail


The new nature trail is going down a storm this year.  Signs are placed in the field and the children can scout around to answer the questions and then... win a lolly!  Ok, it's hardly the lottery but when you're five you'd so much rather a lolly than a boring old cheque.

Some children would like to do the nature trail twice a day... naming no one in particular... you know who you are.  (Conrad, aged six, bless).

Monday, May 10, 2010

Never mind the dandelions

My lord they are everywhere these dandelions.  Weaving their way through the garden, veg plot, courtyard, lane, fields... everywhere.  I'd originally taken this pic to show my peonies which are popping up all through the garden but the dreaded yellow peril managed to get in this shot too.   Grrrrr, pass me the round up!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Salad days

This summer for the first time we're offering produce boxes for campers based on what's in season in my garden.  This time last year we were eating broad beans and peas but the snow put paid to my overwintering seedlings, but we've just started cropping, radishes, spring onions, lettuce, rocket and a abundance of herbs.

Last week a dear friend died suddenly and unexpectedly and I've been taking real solace over the past few days sitting in my new greenhouse and tending to the fragile seedlings, planting new seeds in rows and pots.

While the rest of the country seems to have had a washout bank holiday I'm happy to report that, bar a downpour on Saturday night, we were blessed with steady sunshine and blue skies all the way.  All the better to spend time in the garden, losing myself in the steady work of bringing in the summer crops.