I realised last week when I rather tenuously categorised seed bombs as 'organic gardening' that whilst I've been fairly consistently blogging since launching Earth Heart on the 25th of March, we've not shared very much at all about the garden.
| Yes, there was the slug post, and it really has been a very good year if you're a slug... But in all honesty, it really hasn't been a great year for the gardeners. A lot of wet weather and abnormally low temperatures have hampered germination and growth. To be fair, we do basically live in a cloud on top of a Welsh hill but difficult growing conditions seem to be an accepted fact of 2024 far further afield than our valley! However, with careful use of a small LED grow lamp and a heat mat on one of our brighter windowsills (old cottage, small windows, fairly cave-like) as well as a modest cold frame, Nik had skillfully and painstakingly cultivated various veggies that were really doing pretty well. With slightly drier weather (finally!), the regular 'slug taxi' hadn't been hailed for a while and the wistful comments about greenhouses had all but stopped. So, you can imagine the anguish when we got home after two nights in London last week to discover that Slug Fest had given way to Rabbit Party. 10 days or so earlier, I'd rescued, temporarily nursed and released a baby rabbit that Lacey the cat had optimistically caught. Nik had originally recruited her as a mouser, so that was particularly diligent on her part and she wasn't to be deterred, going on to fully dispatch one a few days later. Of course that was a sad thing, but little did we know that this poor, unfortunate was but one of a nest of young bunnies who, making the most of the absence of cat, dog and human for 48 hours, between them put pay to the entire crops of leeks, celery, fennel and sweet peas as well as having a good go at the lettuce. That was not such a happy homecoming! |   |
 |  | Eight days on and the poor little plants are showing some signs of unexpected recovery but it's uncertain how well they will really bounce back. Veggie mesh and liberal application of crushed garlic have been our main anti rabbit strategies, along with some tactical placing of kitty poop and a keen eye out at dusk with a bit of hand clapping for additional oryctolagus off putting! So far, so good and they seem to be getting the message. |
 | Poor weather, slug damage and rabbit antics aside, the garden is looking lovely and we're really starting to enjoy our produce. We've had a lovely, full first crop of radishes and the Marvel lettuces have adorned many a delicious salad and sandwich, in fact they are so profuse we've even sold a couple and still have more to spare. The latest stars to make it to the kitchen though have been broad beans, new potatoes and globe artichoke. What a feast! Not long now until the beetroot are ready and I'm really looking forward to some crisp, fresh, minted peas too! Yummy! |
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