Well its very hit n miss with the weather at the moment, one moment its glorious sunshine, really warm, then within seconds the sky darkens and then it hammers it down, lovely perfect growing weather, just tricky for doing stuff outside.. it always catches me out, it seems to wait untill Im as far from the house and shelter as possible... yet its far too warm to bother with a coat.
All our main level of veggie plot is planted up now, thats , cabbages, broccoli, caulis, lettuce, tons of carrots, green beans, french beans, runner beans, parsnips, leeks, tons of beetroot, onions and peas, and packets and packets of coriander, parsley Basil, thyme, and Sage. The next level is 3/4 full of the spuds, leaving just enough room to plant out the squashes (they are still all in seed trays) thats butternut, spaggetti pumpkin, pumpkin, black courgettes, green courgettes, yellow ones too... pattypans both green and yellow, and some kind of round type ones..
The raspberrys and redcurrants are on that level too and seem to be flourishing this year..
We are hoping to rototill a new patch between the cottage and the house over the next couple of days as we are short of space to fit in the Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillis and melons...
Thats without planting any corn yet... phew....
Sadly the medicinal herb garden still just isnt happening, Ive been so busy I just havent had time, Ive been hoping our helpers that were due tomorrow would be able to sort it out for me, but now we dont think their flight will happen due to this volcanic dust thing over the whole of the UK...
We've also been trying to help out what is the local unofficial dog shelter, the poor woman has almost 100 dogs IN HER HOUSE !! The local Camera(council) give her asmall allowance for food, but never enough, the place is over run, and she is in a terrible state, but stillnever turns away a dog... the trouble is that here, dogs are treated very badly by most people, well by UK standards, and if we complain too much they'll all just be put down, so we have to do what we can, quietly, we are organising a pet food collection amongst friends, and Rik and some others are hoping to talk to the local wood mill into giving us free or cheap a load of wood to make some kennel/runs to move dogs into outside... then once its looking a little more acceptable and clean to visit, we can try to get sponsers etc and get people to sponser dogs, vets bills, or more kennels to be built... it will be a long job... But lots of people are getting involved, the Dutch community out here are really helping too... can you imagine how much poo you get every day with that many dogs... My God the smell is beyond imagining....
We havent really done much to the kitchen since the update, Rik dug a hole outside the window, located the sewage pipes, and then left it... so much to do... we've had to spend the morning cutting logs , splitting and stacking them in the barn, as the weather has turned so wet, although its warmer it still gets damp in the house and I need the kitchen range lit for cooking... So we need wood... again... Hpefully if the helpers do arrive we can spend a day or so in the forest collecting more...
Frugal living in the Portuguese countryside,Eco-tourism, Agri tourism, recipes,family life, self sufficency, eco living, vegetable growing, tips and self help ideas for country living.
