The Doors

Father and son arrived today to install the doors. They are in, they are fine. Are they finished?  No. Still need to paint some stuff and finish off the cement under the doors which were just s smidgen too short. 

The colour of the doors is a bit off from the rest of the green components but we don't mind. We'll hardly notice after a bit. 

Alex finished the fence today while I removed the spent raspberry canes. The flies are out in droves, which is annoying as hell. Green ban helps somewhat. 

It's been windy and on/off wet all day, but tonight will be very intense. Wind in the 40-knot range and heavy rain. The shed makes creepy noises from time to time as the metal expands and contracts. I guess the conditions overnight will let us know how well-built it is, but I do think it's about as solid as it gets. 

I'm getting used to the size and its exciting to see all the things we have built here, including really good lives. Alex set up tables and chairs for the CBOC workers to count oysters but they didn't need them. At least we now have facility. 

I continue in my role as Chief Butterfly Rescuer and every day I release multiple flutterbys from the polytunnel and curiously my office. I had a giant black butterfly in my office yesterday and others almost every day for the past week.

The Vanessa grapes in the polytunnel are almost ready for harvest. I harvested my first lemon today. I plan to make lemonade. Our first broccoli is ready for dinner and the grapes in the vineyard are coming along great. I love this place. 

The probate for Alex's mother's will came through yesterday, so lots of activity will follow. Perhaps it will all come to a close at last. 

Broken Records

 

The earth hit a record temperature on Monday 3 July when it reached 17C, topping 16.9C in 2016 an El Nino year. But that record didn't last. On Tuesday 4th July, it hit 17.2C. 

I wonder what today's result will be. I'll bet I can predict it. Another record. Curiously, I've decided to embrace the change as it makes living in Ireland decidedly pleasant. And as I as an individual can do little to change the world, I continue to do my best to alter mine for the best in my little sphere.

CNN agrees. India, China, Texas, Mexico are all under extreme heat pressure. Who is next?

 Meanwhile, the Antarctic was above-freezing temperatures today mid-Winter, so the ice just isn't forming. 

Before and After Gardens

I responded to a survey about gardening and growing fruit and veg today. This is what I wrote...

BEFORE...

I grow succulents indoors so I can go on holiday and not worry about them. 

I have a small greenhouse and a cold frame near the house, as well as an herb garden that produces year-round. I grow lettuce and tomatoes, spinach and radishes so I can pick them easily for lunch or dinner. 

I have a polytunnel for the fruits and veg that I want to extend the season of or don't do well outside here: strawberries, peach, olive, small apple, orange, lemon, kiwi berry, grapevine, avocado tree, lettuce, tomatoes, cukes, peppers, pak choy, etc all grow happily in the tunnel. It is my happy place in most seasons, especially in winter. 

I grow other vegetables and fruit in beds in the garden: raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries  and currents that come back every year.  Asparagus and artichokes come back every year, too. Annuals include brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale, etc), Swiss chard, beetroot, potatoes of many colours, and various other crops that I rotate every year.  I intersperse flowers throughout for colour. 

We have an orchard that brings us an abundance of apples for cooking and eating, a crabapple and rosa rugosa for rose hips, a pear tree and several cherries which are dying this year.  It takes careful pruning to make an orchard productive. 

I have a vineyard planted outside that is doing exceptionally well and producing wine grapes: Solaris, Rondo, Chardonnay, Pinto Noir and Albarino. It is the westernmost vineyard in Europe (sort of if you don't count the Azores, Madeiras and Canaries). I hope to convince farmers to grow grapes and make wine instead of milking cows and raising bullocks. 

I keep one field naturalised and allowed it to rewild after planting an area of trees and shrubs. Many native species have returned including wild orchids which support the insects and pollinators that are now plentiful on our land. We have other wildlife that is living in the forest we planted up the hill from the gardens. We have pheasants and curlew, a fox, otters, and a hedgehog.  We hope to attract more to our little oasis. 

We built a pond for the wildlife during Covid and it has proven very popular. It collected rainwater off the roof. 

Everything is grown organically and biodynamically, with our own compost, comfrey, and seaweed collected from the shore as fertiliser. 

There was nothing here but a bulldozed brown clay hill when we started. No grass, no trees, no shrubs, no wildflowers, no wildlife. In 15 years we have enabled nature to re-establish itself while providing joy and sustenance for ourselves.  

AFTER: