Tuesday 30 April 2013

a field study of mixed oriental salads




28th April 2013

Sown in the raised beds of the polytunnel c.4 weeks ago, the salad mix consists variously of mustard, giant red mustard, mizuna, mibuna, lettuce, and rocket along with radishes and land cress. There are also many self sown and compost born seedlings. This year the 'fat hen' is especially dense and we harvested it along with the salads.   

Monday 29 April 2013

another field study of the Rev' W Wilks progeny





'Rev W Wilks' - apple trees in the forest garden
Malus domestica
29th April 2013

There are 2 'Rev W Wilks' trees, about 3 to 3.5m apart, on a west facing slope in a slightly shaded location due to the close proximity of a tall willow dome and a substantial bramble thicket. Other trees nearby in the forest garden are taller and therefore cast some shade over the 'Rev' W Wilks' trees.  One of the 'Rev W Wilks' trees is coming into bloom well ahead of the other.


You might want to compare today's 'Rev W Wilks' report with last weeks - here.








Sunday 28 April 2013

Field Study's Man in E17 says papa, you say potato, and I say patata






Cara, Setanta and Hunter Potatoes emerging
in the no dig beds of Plot B
27th April 2013.

Field Study's Man in E17 glowed with the luxuriant warmth of the late afternoon sun when he showed me  pictures of the newly emerging potatoes of Plot B. He recalled several weeks of waiting for the spuds to shoot, and even some anxiety that they might not show. I was quite alarmed when he described various, shall we say, 'rituals' enacted to encourage or entice the 'chitties' to make a gift of their leaves from the chicken manured darkness of the straw covered compost. 

The field student smiled as he described one ritual which required him to dance naked around the potato beds at a particular phase of the moon. I expected the field student to acquire some of the customs and superstitions of the locals although I was, as I said, alarmed at the extent to which he immersed himself in the springtime potato wassailing customs of the denizens of E4. 

The dance, he all most had me believe, had him naked, hopping about on his left leg, while grasping his scrotum firmly with his right hand and yanking firmly. He took a hold of his right ear with his left hand and  also yanked vigorously. He romped around each potato bed in this contorted pose in a clockwise direction and sang out, "papa, potato, patata" at the top of his voice. What of his right leg? Well this appendage was engaged in the most peculiar of spasmodic genuflections which I would not debase myself by trying to describe or demonstrate. 

"Of course, you are joking aren't you?" I gasped.

Field Study's Man in E17 (fully clothed) grasped his ear and nether part in a partial recreation of the act and  replied with a wink, "the results speak for themselves".   

Tuesday 23 April 2013

a field study of the 'Rev W Wilks' twins



21st April 2013

Half way down (or up if you are that way inclined) the forest garden there are two 'Rev W Wilks' (M9 root stock) apple trees.  




In previous years:


29th April 2012

3rd April 2011


16th March 2006


Saturday 20 April 2013