OK, I am reluctant to do too much planning until my partner in horticulture can join me, but these are the plans…
• Replace the current spider-infested shed (right) with something more civilized and useful
• Greenhouse, buy, erect
• Water butts collecting rainwater from the roofs of both.
• Continue soil conditioning over winter – 4 tonnes of finest rotted muck arrives in 5 days time.
• Build some raised beds.
• Convert de-spidered remains of existing shed into chicken house.
• Look for some nice, knobbly, tasty heritage fruit and veg to grow. Preferably ones banned by the EU.
I appreciate the despidering.
Our supply of zero-food-miles freerange eggs has just dried up (the chap who lives in the caravan in the field opposite has sold his hens). Jen and I are seriously considering getting some of our own. The problem is how to look after them when we are both away (which only happens occasionally – but often enough for it to be a problem).
greenhouse: I recommend salvaging some old window panes and glass doors, elevating them on bricks/turves above your prepared soil (with the bricks on the north side stacked 2-3 high and the south side only 1-high to reduce diffraction by the glass), and presto-greenhouse-o. Or is that a cold frame? Anyways, then when it gets warm enough, you only have to remove the glass and you won’t disturb the seedlings by re-planting. Cheap too!
collecting rainwater from the roofs: in that case, please take care when choosing your roofing; the last thing you want is organic solvents etc. leaching into your water
raised beds: won’t they be raised simply by virtue of digging in the 4 tonnes?
So, how are you getting on? Too busy gardening to post? Since April?