The English Paysanne

It has been a lovely day at la Singlarie today, the sun shone and as it was the first day of Spring the plastic cover of winter has started to come off the veggie patch. The strawberry patch, as well as the raspberries, need major weeding, my left-hand helper wasn't much good today all got a bit too much for her this weeding lark. With a new bit of fencing to help keep those rabbits out the edges are looking a bit tidier all that is needed know is a major amount of manure to be rotavated in and planting can commence (although it is due to be showers tomorrow, guess that is Spring for you.

As we have been lucky with the weather being dry It has been a good time to start sorting out the veggie patch with the technical gardening term of 'bedding down'. Not sure at all if this is a gardening term but as the weed free (but I know there will be a few dock, nettle and burdock roots hiding) earth is covered by black plastic in the hope that no other weed grows over the winter, I like to think of it as a blanket for the earth over the chilly period or a bit of extra warmth for the mice that will make their nests under it. I am hoping the plastic will be a put off for the rabbits, this year they have eaten most of the veggies I planted. No winter green veg, however they don't seem to like parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes (maybe they know about the wind problem), pumpkins and leeks, all of which they have left alone. What they did enjoy was carrot tops, so much so that of the carrots I planted back in March I dug up loads of tiny mouse size roots, with a...

I dug up the late potatoes today as it was overcast and the plants were looking pretty dried and dead so it only meant they were ready to feed the mice if I didn't dig them up first. I thought my fury helper might want to help but she didn't. Instead she ate the raspberries I picked before hand and had put up on top of the compost bin thinking they were safe. With a spot of relaxing Sorrel did find a few mouse holes but eventually found the plastic trough more interesting.

Potatoes A sad looking patch Hunting for carrots The weather has now gone from one extreme to the other from rain, rain and a bit more rain to hot, sunny and hotter. Time to access the veggie patch after I planted everything in one hit and then it got very damp and soggy. Well the potatoes are growing well, although they are going to be a lot later this year, kind of Earlie's for late ones and late ones maybe ready for Christmas dinner ( if they survive the bugs, rabbits and moles). The weeds have and still are growing really well, this morning was spent finding the carrots and parsnips, which I have with no help from Sorrel, who after a quick sniff lazed under the shade of the apple tree (which by the looks of it hasn't got hardly any apples on it?) The poor herb seeds sowed don't look to good or the french and runner beans, think a hungry mouse have nibbled on them so I will have to resow (once I have weeded -again)

The strawberries are just starting to turn in the veggie patch but there is also a thief stealing them as quickly as they ripen. No its not the snail I found on the side of the road as I waited at the garage for farmer J to arrive. This is the first snail of the eating kind I have seen since living here still in its shell and alive with no butter or garlic around. No our strawberry thief has a bit of fur around her and a nose for smelling. I couldn't pick them quick enough but the training "leave it " is working with a pot in front of her Sorrel posed for a photo. ( I know if I wasn't around they would all be scoffed as quick as two shakes to tail) but she did manage to place her paws either side of the little courgette plant. she may be gardeners aid in training, but I doubt it!

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Work in progress. 

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Between April showers there's been a major weeding of the veggie patch this week.

It was Fete du travail today here in Fance, a public holiday to celebrate International workers day however it passed us by. It was just another working Friday, one that was long over due to be spent in the sorry for its self veggie patch only it rained, all day rain. Yesterday I did manage to plant some leeks although didn't mark out straight lines so they may of gone a bit off kilter in places, at least they have been watered in. So in the patch there are now seeds under water still. Thinking now it may of been a good idea to grow rice instead. However the broad beans are coming on (although serious weeding is in need) As are onions, shallots and potatoes slowly poking their green bits up. It's still very wet under foot, grass is growing as are weeds if only it would dry out for a few days I may get the beans, peas, all the seeds re seeded and stakes put in for the tomato plants. It may be a late veg season this year. Under water chives maybe swappe...

A moment from the week at La Singlarie If the seeds I planted Wednesday survive this I will be amazed. I fear I may no longer have straight lines they were sown in.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Work has started on the veggie patch - better late than never!

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Trying to get enthusiasm up to carry on

Most mornings have been frosty with the weather getting colder and staying until March my motivation to get in the veggie patch is nil. I must start soon as there is a lot to do with a new rabbit proof fence to be erected major clean up and putting down manure including emptying the compost heaps which hopefully have amazing compost inside them. Seeds need to be ordered and a plan drawn up - in time all will be done.  It is the time of year for the inseminater to come along for each cow when she comes into season. high tech stuff is in the boot of his car frozen bulls sperm, no need to go into details but his very efficient. Each insemination we get loyalty points, farmer J has just put in an order for new overalls with our points, you can never have enough clean overalls. Breakfast time gets the pigs up, not for long as they often go back to bed shortly after. Each have their individual bowls. It starts off calm then goes very wrong when one finishes first, usuall...

 Having picked and re picked blackberries along the edges of our fields we ventured further afield to the woods not that far from us. A old dog walking haunt we haven't been over here for a couple of years, the old path had grown considerably, not good for blind dogs it turned into extreme berry picking for blackberries, rose hips and sloes. All having vicious thorny plants I'm not sure which was worse to pick. With our booty home sloes for sloe gin, rose hips for syrup and blackberries for farmer J's wine. The blackberries were put in the freezer, he needs 11kg so they are frozen in dribs and drabs until the required amount is collected, however miss F and I did hide some for crumbles which he doesn't know about. With one batch of sloe gin doing its thing I started another as it does go down very nicely in the winter months and one just didn't seem enough. Whether it will last for next year we shall see, each day they are stirred with the spoon lic...