All of you who have livestock in the UK throughout the winter months with be familiar with the term “Mud Season”. For those of you who do not, just think of it as an unsolicited core workout that lasts for 7 months. However, because it is raining and cold, you are bundled up in so many layers that no one knows that you have developed unexpected abdominal muscles to enable you to carry feed, move muck in wheel barrows and carry buckets of water through the mud!
I don’t think I am overstepping when I speak for everyone currently traversing mud season, when I say, we are over it. It has been SO wet this year, and we are done! Except we aren’t, because we can’t be, because somewhere along the way we chose to have livestock.
Don’t get me wrong, we love our animals and we love our lifestyle, but we also love crisp frosted ground. This year has been exceptionally mild and exceptionally wet. So no frosts and more rain, means even more mud!
Despite my above rant about mud season, when sat in my warm cottage with a terrier (Gin) snuggled up next to me, all is forgotten and I start thinking about what animals I could add to the smallholding this Spring.
Speaking of Spring, I need to start getting my ducks in a row. These ducks are metaphorical ducks, I don’t actually have any ducks (yet!). There are a few big jobs and lots of small jobs that need doing in preparation for growing season. The big tasks I hope to get done this week are,
1. The Poly Tunnel
I bought a second hand poly tunnel frame from a friend last year. I used it to grow brassicas last season, by covering the frame with a mesh to keep the butterflies from laying eggs on my cabbages.
This year I have bought a poly cover to put on the frame and return it to a warm growing space.
2. The Hedge
There are gaps in the hedge of my kitchen garden that I want plug up. I managed to get hold of some bare root hedging plants that are desperate to go in the ground.
3. The Small Green House (square house)
I have a small plastic, slightly rickety and aged plastic green house, which I refer to as the square house. I left this fallow last year. Unfortunately, this means weeding and cleaning is required, before I can do any planting.
4. The Potato Patch
Another area left fallow that needs putting back into production this season.
5. The Potting Shed
A winter of neglect and mess making needs putting right with some spring cleaning and repairs.
I will keep you updated on my progress and lets hope for a dry week!
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