The Smallest Smallholding – Almost Greenshifters

[carrots pic coming soon]

A few weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to receive firstly an email from Keo Films (the people behind the River Cottage tv productions) and then a few days later Louise France from the Observer. Both parties were interested in my blog, both parties wondered if they could talk to me about some production/article they were writing about Smallholding and greenshifting. But after I explained to them the actual scale of what I do, they said it sounded great but weren’t sure if it was right for their respective pieces. Sadly, I didn’t hear back.

Here is Louise’s article that I could have been a part of: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/ethicalliving.family

Still really interesting, OK so I’m a little bummed I don’t qualify and it would have been nice to have some coverage, but nevermind eh. Incidentally, Musings from a Stonehead is a blog I’ve read for quite some time. I’m pretty shameless in my ambition to do a Jimmy Doherty/Jamie Oliver/Monty whatsisface (not Don) and push this ‘greenshifting/home farming/micr farming/self sufficiency/market garden’ in a variety of media. Books, TV, documentaries, blogging, podcasts, magazine features – you name it, I’d love to do it. I love watching or reading things that inspire me to jump up off the sofa and leap into action, I wish I could do the same for others.

But to be honest, the relentless rain has been a bit of a hindrance here. We haven’t been able to get our monster mower out for ages (it walks us rather than us pushing it) and it’s looking a bit wild out there. Nettles have sprung up all around the greenhouse area and under the fruit trees – that’s one big digging job in a few weeks. The weeds aren’t as prolific – thank goodness – but the dandelions (free BunBun food) are spreading. EEEeeek! I just need a few dry days to get out there and sort it out. We’re still waiting to be able to cut all the hedging. Actually, I’m hoping for a few dry days so I can start gathering some small bits of firewood. Then I think Mum and I are going trekking to gather some ‘wild’ firewood. Responsibly, mind. Got to leave some behind so that it rots and provides fodder and shelter for beetles and their friends. You see, I’ve told Rich we’re not allowed to have the central heating on until at least the beginning of November. I’m one of these people that has to sleep with the window open though, and as a consequence despite it being September I’m already sleeping with an extra blanket and duvet (and sometimes two pairs of socks).

In veggie news, I am so very impressed with my Autumn King (Improved) Carrots. The majority of them are long, straight and thick. Not too many have been munched, and when pulled and cooked straight away, they’re pretty damned sweet. We’ve been enjoying them in all sorts of guises, and they’re the best crop I’ve ever produced. We have sandy soil here which is great for carrots and onions. Even better for me, seeing as I eat buckets of carrots and onions anyway.

I dug up the last of the maris pipers here – there’s still a few pink fir apple potatoes at the allotment to come up. My maris piper seed potatoes that I put in here at the Smallest Smallholding were the remaining small ones I hadn’t put in at the allotment, and as I expected the crop they yielded weren’t as impressive. Still had a few good sized potatoes though. I’m just exceedingly lazy and find peeling the little potatoes a pain in the backside.

My kale is starting to ‘stabilise’ and root itself nicely. Shame that I’m going to have to transplant it *again* into it’s proper position.

And lastly – last year around October I collected up just one bag of leaves for my leaf mould compost. I’m going to tip it out soon and use it as a soil conditioner, and hopefully some of my compost will be usable too. I’m going to try and put some nutrients in the soil before I put my kale in properly, and I have some seaweed extract that I’ll ‘administer’. The other vacant beds over winter will probably be host to some green manure – agricultural mustard I think as apparently you don’t have to keep it in check once you’ve sown it.

In other news – Nannie has been seriously ill in hospital, so I’ve been pretty stressed about that. She seems to be improving so fingers crossed she remains to do so. The job situation – I may still be in the running for this writing job that I thought I hadn’t got a chance at – but I’ll probably hear on Monday. Still not convinced I’ll make it to interview. Apparently my lack of commercial experience is the main consideration (but how am I supposed to get in-house commercial experience if no one will take a chance on me?). And I’ve also been eating too many crisps. Help!