Homegrown Food

Here in Wales there's not been that much food grown over the past year or so, so it feels nice and in some ways calming to get myself back to the land and sow some seeds.

Yesterday I tidied up the polytunnel, watered, watered and watered some more the dried out raised beds until I thought they were suitably damp enough for a bit of direct sowing.  Then I sunk my trowel into the soil and found that less than an inch deep they were still absolutely bone dry.  Thankfully the advantage we have now is that all the watering is not coming from our metered water supply but instead from the rainwater tank buried beneath our parking area next to the workshop.  Thank goodness for that!! 

While the beds thirstily drunk up more and more water I checked on the seeds that I sowed before leaving for the Van, whenever that was ... I've lost all track of time ... they have all started to come up.  I started us off with some Kale, Spinach, Beetroot and Courgette seeds thinking that they would come up relative quickly and look good in the polytunnel and net tunnel beds for the viewings that we sort of expected would be happening in the next few weeks, as well as being a good source of nourishment for our chickens ... and us.

When I left the tunnel yesterday afternoon, due to it getting too hot to stay in anymore, I left it with this side fully watered and soaked, the seedlings growing away in the first two covered trays and a row of Spring Onions planted direct into this first bed.

One day soon it will all look green and fresh in here again, just like this photo ...I can't wait.  This photo has reminded me to sow a few Marigold seeds in a tray as well, to bring that glorious splash of colour and  pest preventative properties to the tunnel.

Sue xx