This year has been more of a struggle than I thought.  Just when things were getting going, my father in law was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.  He lived close by and looking after him became a priority.  He passed away in early September and I've been feeling a bit lost.

The sunshine this week has got me motivated and I'm catching up on the weeding.  I missed harvesting some of the crops, which was a shame.  The last few months have been a steep learning curve for me.  Even in my eden depression can come over me, little things that go wrong feel like failure.

I'm planning for next year, one major issue has been watering, I wanted to use rainwater, however, the dry spring meant my supplies ran out and I had to resort to the hosepipe.  I got some soaker hoses as these direct the water more efficiently.  The lack of water early in the year has meant some of the plants have not produced as much as I hoped.  The raspberries I planted last year are doing well and producing a few punnets.  The gooseberry, strawberries and blackcurrants I planted have established well this summer.  I just need to keep the birds off.

The chick Storm and Nyx are getting bigger, though they look like they will be bantam size like their dad.

While I'm waiting for things to grow ready for the weekend stall, I've been taking some photos, some of crops soon to be available, some of the new chicks and some of the flora and fauna in the paddock.

Up and coming crops

cucumber crystal

turmeric

cucamelon 

giant goosefoot

New Chicks arrived last Friday evening, thanks to Mrs Broody Hen for all her hard work.  Storm and Nyx are their names

Some flora and Fauna

Just set up the stall, ready for the weekend with cucumbers, onions, garlic, mange 2, courgettes and squashes.  I'm only opening Friday, Saturday and Sunday as there hasn't been any demand during the week.  Nothing is wasted as we eat what's not sold or it goes on the compost heap to help produce next years crop.

A couple of the new hens are laying nice white eggs (smallish) and I've discovered Latte's hiding place so I have some eggs to sell.  I've got a mix of brown, cream, blue and white eggs, they all taste the same, or do they?

The herb pots (Basil, Thyme and Lemongrass) have put on new growth so they will go on the stall tomorrow.  I've been given a few pots to up-cycle so I can pot a few in nice pots.

The crops are coming along, albeit a little slowly.  Some baby courgettes and new potatoes this weekend.  I've dug the onions they need to dry a little in the polytunnel

I've potted on lots of herbs and they should be ready for sale next weekend, once they have established in their new pots,basil, thyme and lemongrass.

The first courgettes are forming and I've harvested my first cucumber.  I've dug up the garlic, its drying in the polytunnel.  One of the new hens has laid her first egg (the old hens are still hiding their eggs) hoping to have a few more to sell soon.  I'm digging up the onions and the last of the potatoes later this week.

I've spent the last couple of days in the polytunnel as its been a bit cooler.  Tying up the cucumbers, melons and tomatoes. They are doing well with fruits forming on them all.

The peas and mange tout are growing well and I can't resist picking and eating the as I go by. I think I'll have some to sell.

I'm potting on some basil and thyme that I've grown from seed to add to the stall, along with the lemongrass I grew earlier in the year.

Back now,  I'll be in the garden today, picking and packing as the stall is empty at the moment.

Had a great time at the weekend meeting my brother Matthew and Julie.

Thanks to my new customers, hope you enjoy the food.

Thanks to Amy for the jam, gooseberries at lunch, jam by tea, on my toast at breakfast. Yummy









I'm, away for a couple of days, doing my own "long lost family" reunion.  Meeting my brother Matthew for the first time in over 50 years.  I've got 4 brothers, reunited with 1 Tim earlier this year.  Still to make contact with Adrian and Julian, but will be doing soon.

My other half (another Adrian) is looking after things for me, however, he doesn't know the difference between a courgette and a tomato, so be patient with him.  Stocks may be low, but there are courgettes and cucumbers and an odd shaped melon developing in the polytunnel.  I'm back late Sunday so stocks should be up on Monday.

I've been out this morning dropping leaflets into letterboxes.  Why did I choose the hottest day!

I've cooled down now and am going out in the garden to stock up the stall, mange tout, salad leaves, kale and maybe some courgettes.  The sweet peas smell lovely.

The strawberry plants were only put in this spring and have not produce many fruit.  What has ripened has been enjoyed by Mr and Mrs Blackbird and their new family, they are also enjoying the redcurrants by the kitchen window, I'm enjoying watching them.  I don't mind losing a few fruit to a good cause.

The salads and potatoes are really nice.  I've got a good mix of salad leaves, herbs and a few edible flowers, a crisp and peppery mouthful.

The mange tout and sugar snap peas are looking and tasting great (I'm lucky to be able to eat them sun warm straight from the plant - quality control).  The purple ones keep their colour if gently cooked, but I like them raw.

Going out leaflet posting tomorrow (would have been today but my printers run out of ink!)

Today is the day Jo's Eden opens for business.  Iv'e been busy up-cycling to make my stall look good.

First produce on sale will be salads, mange tout, kale, gooseberries and flowers.

Been busy for a while, in the garden and at home.  Things are more settled now and the garden is blossoming.  Just a few photos to show the progress with the polytunnel
.

Survived skiing and Norfolk.  This week I've been working hard, finished off the shed it's now housing some plants.

I've ordered a polytunnel, it should arrive in a couple of weeks, i'm looking forward to it arriving but not constructing it.  I've got lots of seeds ready for planting.  I've also bought the rabbit fencing, they are already nibbling at a few things.  I've about 300m to put up that's next week job.

I've moved the wood from the hedge to a part of the field that I don't need at the moment it'll make a good bonfire.  It has lots of elder in it and it is supposed to be unlucky to burn inside, so I thought I'd play it safe as we have plenty of other wood.  There is still plenty of elder left and some of it will regrow, so I can make some more elderflower cordial and maybe elderberry wine.  Moving the wood, now the hedge has been trimmed back means I've more land available than I thought.

The hedge has started to regrow about 2m from the boundary, you can see the stumps on the photographs.

The rabbit fence will be set in about 2m then I am leaving a wild area about 3m wide then the pathways round the beds.  Then hopefully every body can have a bit of space.

Working outside is definitely good for the soul, I get to listen to the birds sing and watch them as they move around.  There is a buzzard as well, it is beautiful and very big.  There are a few animals in the next field and I

sometimes feel I'm being watched they all have names but I can never remember them.

Preparing myself for a busy week next week, chilling in front of the fire with a glass of wine and a take-away

Scrap metal and chickens in the snow 

Nothing much happening in the garden, snow and frost mean it's to cold to sow and I haven't got my polytunnel yet.  I've had a potting shed delivered, just need to build it, then I can start potting!

frosty day

Today is the first day of my new career.  I'm leaving the stress behind along with some good friends.   My health, family and new business are my priorities now.

I've found my  memory card so here are some of the pictures.

I've cleared out some of the Elder and thinned the Blackthorn and left a few to grow. I'm doing the thinning a bit at at time so the birds have somewhere to shelter and nest.

My girls lay a good variety of coloured eggs, though they all taste the same.  They like to help when I'm digging to, hopefully there will be a few worms left.

I've finished digging over the polytunnel bed today, the frost should help break down the clay.   I've dug up more rusty metal than weeds I think I could start a scrap metal business, that's if there is a market for rusty horseshoes, spanners and rakes

The bulbs are starting to poke through and I think the buds on the fruit bushes are starting to swell, or it may just be wishful thinking.  The snowdrops are flowering and the daffodils are sprouting