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Growing Firewood – Year 11 update
Following on from our 2019 update about our less than scientific ‘growing your own’ firewood trial, it was time to harvest the same stools again so thought it worthy of another post. This hybrid willow stool pictured below is on its third cut since planting and was last harvested five years ago. The brash is…
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Sustainably Grown Bulrushes
Our sustainably grown bulrushes are nearing the point of harvest for cut stems for immediate use in arrangements or for those who dry them for interior design / decor. Stems are hand harvested to order so can be cut to order at any length stipulated (normally between 60cm and 90cm) and cost £10 for 10…
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Removing Diseased Elms
Dutch Elm disease is not a thing of the past and is still a problem for the long suffering trees that survived the wave of disease that spread in the 1960’s. The disease is spread by beetles who bore through the bark of the elm. We count ourselves lucky to still have a few elm…
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Purple is the Colour
Our farm walk is swathed in purple at the moment. Purple is said to represent transformation and it feels a bit that way as the harvest has begun and we have tasted the first blackberries.
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Planting Cherry Trees
Yesterday we were sawing up our home grown cherry wood for BBQ wood chunks, today we were out planting pot grown cherry saplings for future supplies. The first cut will be in 10 – 15 years so it is definitely a long lead time project – nothing happens quickly!
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2022 Garlic Harvest Begins
It’s that time of year when we start to harvest our garlic. By growing it indoors and outdoors and on different soil types we get an extended season for supplying it fresh from the ground.
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Home made Pesto
Our basil is at it’s best and so the first fresh pesto of the season beckons and today was the day. It is easy and quick but ingredients like pine nuts and Parmesan are expensive so whilst it might be a special treat, at least you know that only the best ingredients have been used.…
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Preparing another ‘sole use’ dog field
The bee hives have been moved so it was out with the loppers and secateurs this morning, clearing overhanging brambles and branches to create new paths through the trees. It’s a small field, fully fenced and stocked with a crop of short rotation coppice (mainly alder and sycamore) with some clearings all of which is…
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Growing Firewood – Year six update
We originally chose a six year trial for hybrid willow to test the claims made by retailers of the willow for firewood production. Not a particularly scientific approach but, hopefully, it might be useful to share the findings: Hybrid WillowThese were established willow stools which had been previously cut annually to provide more plants. Bred…
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Ponds & Scrapes Update
The recent rainfall has raised the water level in the scrapes to full with each overflow now running. It’s hard to believe how quick the ground recovered from the earthworks.