Raised beds

This year I am going to try raised beds, mainly because i had such trouble with weeding and keeping grass away from the edges of my beds last year. Hopefully they will become 'no-dig' beds a la Bob Flowerdew.
As you can see from the picture below i have not filled it to the top with compost as i will be mixing it with topsoil when it has settled a bit. The plastic mesh is to stop the cat from going to the toilet in it. I have more to make (because one isn't enough - 7ft x 3.5ft), hopefully this weekend but so much time seems to be taken up with building the house at the minute I never seem to get an hour to myself.

This second picture is of a bed from last year 'converted' into a sort of semi raised bed. I planted my garlic in there a few weeks back so it should be resting nicely in there. Its not yet finished because I made it with scrap wood I had lying around and i haven't found a piece for the other end yet :) donmcfeely@gmail.com

Say hello to... the chickens

This is a picture of some of my chickens. I currently have 4 Rhode Island Red, 1 new Hampshire, 2 white silkies and 3 black pekin bantams. They all get on wonderfully and help to keep weeds and grass down around trees.
The RIRs and the New Hampshire I hatched myself (along with another new hampshire which died - see previous post entitled 'dead chicken') whilst I got the silkies and the pekins through a friend. I have had the RIRs since June and I found 4 was just not enough I always buy the local farm newspapers to keep an eye out for a bargain.

My coop is big enough for a few more birds and when its full, well... another coop isn't going to cost much to build is it? ;) If you dont have much space in the garden it doesn't matter because they dont take up much room get some and you will never regret it!

donmcfeely@gmail.com

A reason to love winter.

A view like this on a frosty evening from my front room. Reason enough for me :)

donmcfeely@gmail.com

Mushroom ring...

...or could it be fairy ring???

I just noticed this a few weeks ago and it's still going strong at the top of my garden. It's almost a complete circle of BIG mushrooms and they have never been there in the previous 2 winters that we have been in the house. Can anyone identify them from the close-up below??

donmcfeely@gmail.com

Say hello to... Bracken

Bracken is an 8 1/2 year old miniature yorkshire terrier and she is a grumpy old girl. This young cat (velcro) and dog (toaster) that have started to edge in on her territory are no good and she is not afraid of being vocal about it.
My parents have two alsatians and even they have been on the wrong end of a few ear bashings from Bracken.
She loves being fussed over and if she thinks she isn't getting enough attention she will jump up and bounce off your leg repeatedly until you do something about it.
We have had bracken since she was 1 year old - her previous owner had her sharing a kennel with a boxer dog, she was afraid of her humans and was messing in her own bed, but we took her and she now has so much confidence she will happily sqaure up to the biggest of dogs.

donmcfeely@gmail.com