Magic encounter in the wood

In the wood today (Wednesday) we could hear an owl calling and by chance as we walked through the wood we came across this young owl sitting as still as a branch in the tree.

Our open Days at EcoDIY

Everyone is invited to our open days next Sunday 4th and Monday 5th. We even have (one!) Easter chick born on good Friday.  See the other homes opening in may in North Essex at www.greenopenhomes.net

Using Biochar

We are using charcoal which I gather when I light our wood fires in the morning to create biochar.
The charcoal is used to mix with our growing compost to fill our pots and tomato ring culture.  It needs to be 'activated' or it will pull nutrients out of the compost.  I soak the charcoal in liquid feed (comfrey tea) which we make by soaking nettles and comfrey in a bin of water till it rots down.  The liquid is sieved to remove any nettle seeds.

Charcoal from our fires

Charcoal soaking in comfrey liguid

A slowworm at home in our brascica patch

Home again

Back from our trip to Cornwall by coach!
Rosie survived the 7 hours in a coach (she gets travel sick) and I got to see Bernard Leach's workshop /museum -he's my hero artist/craftsman/green living inspiration from the 1960s in St Ives.  Seeing his old workshop took me right back to potting in the Isle of Man (and a tear to my eye!)
 The Eden center is inspirational as well would need 2 days to see it all!
 5 days well spent and my baby plants/chickens/dog were all still living when we got back home! (Thank you Merry and Laetitia)

Waiting for mum

Broody coup waiting for me to place a broody hen (after dark when the broody hen is dozy and not so likely to object!)