2025 - What I did today

What I did or didn't do today.

Emptied some compost from the bottom of the Hotbin - enough to fill 2 x 30ltr tubs and a builder's bucket. I let these dry out a bit in the GH before sieving it.
Did a bit of pruning in Strip 3 - mostly raspberry canes that have gone wild! I must have planted them there at some time, many, many moons ago.

Long walk with Kato slipping about on some icy areas. Shopping in afternoon (mainly for Kato's chicken thghs and dog biscuits. That was after I managed to get in the frozen car by having a boiling cup of water and dipping my key into it numerous times to unfreeze the lock.
Put the hookup cable onto the motorhome and set the 240v blow heater on low to defrost it and  keep it dry inside, afer opening all the cupboards with clothing and bedding in them to aerate them.
Got back and brought a few loads of logs in for todays burning. Sat in front of a blazing woodburner now waiting for my steaks to cook in the air fryer!

Watered the polytunnel. Cut back and tidied up the fish kettle planter. A bit of adjustment to the garden cane holder bottomless bucket. Screwed the actual bucket to the wall so it doesn’t flop around on the handle anymore and added a brace to the shed wall, just above ground level to stop the canes slipping sideways. Hopefully now I can get to my shed door without nearly loosing an eye on garden canes.

Heavy overnight frost again so no meaningful garden activities today.
Did another load of washing - bedding & towels - the sheets dried but not the towels. Moved those into the log store as snow is forecast for tomorrow.
Went out collecting freebies and to Morries for a few odds & ends. Lots of happy people there today, laughing and chatting to strangers - even to me.

When I dug up the potato crop last year, I kept all the ones that had gone green but were otherwise OK, to use as seed potatoes this year.

I noticed this morning that they were starting to grow shoots, so I've set them to chit in the garage near the window.

It must be nearly spring.

   

Last couple of days I’ve been making things for the shed. I made some straps for the net cloche thing. The plastic bags they originally came in disintegrated. So the straps help keep them under control.     

Also made a crate that fits exactly under the cupboard.      Top to bottom. Cane feet, labels, cane toppers.

Turned my propagator on. Put a little 6 cell tray of compost in to warm up. Set 3 varieties of chilli seeds to soak. Found a bag the right size for the now tamed net cloches. And found a place to hang it in the shed.

Cut back a climbing rose. Ready for digging up when the ground isn’t frozen. I’m giving the thug to my neighbour.
Sown chillies
Cut back all the sticky up dead in the cottage garden. Left all the flat dead as things are probably hibernating amongst it. So I got to add a trug full of chopped brown / dry material to the compost.
Bob did the (hopefully) final bit of work on the shed. It should now be properly sealed.

Thursday's Herb day so I cut back the oregano/marjoram (don't know which it is) then dumped the cut stems with seed heads on a bit of ground where they can grow, if they feel like it.
Then I moved on to VP4 and emptied a wire frame (was a rabbit run) that had become a dumping ground. Pulled out a wheelbarrow with a wobbly wheel, several plastic pipe "hoops" that once supported beans and some other bits of rubbish. Cut back the brambles that were invading it and, before you could say "No spender" I'd hacked my way into the ditch. It was wonderful, standing there, surrounded by dead brambles. You should see my face! I bear the scars.
I managed to clear my way back to the fence, which has been pushed over by the brambles from the field beyond. The fence was put up about 20 years ago and is the responsibility of the field owner. Its just post and pig wire but we added some smaller mesh wire on our side, to keep the dogs and chickens in. The fence posts have rotted so its no wonder the fence has been pushed over. The fields have been bought recently and the new owner has been putting up lots of new fences so, hopefully, he'll get round to "my" bit soon.  Don't want his horses in the garden. One did  come over to see me and  left a big dollop of manure, out of arms reach!
Its the first day for a while that I've felt as if I've achieved something. A good day.