barrys-blog

Midlife crisis? (part ii) - 3rd March 2010

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:27:59 +0100

My first (yes, first) car . . .

Germination - 1st March 2010

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:38:57 +0100

The first seeds of 2010. Up on Sunday 28 February. Sowed on Tuesday 23 February in a John Innes soil-based seed compost.

Two types of tomatoes, one red and one yellow: don’t know the variety as I saved seeds from fruits bought at the Stornoway farmers market last summer. Medium size. Will need to ask Les Brown of Balanstruthal, who grew them in his polytunnels.

Also, got a companion plant, tagetes or French marigolds, started. Again, I am not certain of the variety. Saved seed from my own stock. I think they were called marmalade, or something. Interesting, the two-year old seed came up before the seed just saved last year.

Anyway, all seeds were fairly thinly sown on damp compost (soaked from the bottom), dusted with more compost shaken through a sieve (strainer in the US) to just cover the seeds, and then into the heated propagator lined with moistened capillary matting. As it has been pretty cold and the room is unheated, E threw some bubble wrap over the propagators. Success !

Cut off - 25th Feb 2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:15:41 +0100

I was meant to go the mainland today, but the ferries are off due to gales. Probably none tomorrow, either.
Wasn't it Baudelaire who said, "When the going gets tough . . . the tough bake" ?

Mid-life Crisis? (part i) - 25th Feb 2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:12:46 +0100

Got me a guitar . . .

Harris encouraged to get growing - 23rd Feb 2010

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:43:46 +0100

Working together, local growers can overcome difficulties –– whether wind or waterlogged soil –– and return land to productive horticultural use. That was the message of a two-day horticultural training event held in Tarbert and Buonavoneader last week.

Over 30 people, mostly living on Harris, attended the training, held 15 and 16 February. This group of current and aspiring horticulturalists heard a detailed and engrossing presentation from two experts in their fields: Scottish Agriculture College soil scientist and lecturer Norman Stephen and Dr Audrey Litterick, formerly of SAC and now an environmental consultant at Earthcare Technical Ltd.

At one time more than 1800 acres on Harris were cultivated, Stephens said. Cropping fruit and vegetables on the Outer Hebrides can be testing, Litterick acknowledged. Yet the elements can be braved and tamed by enthusiastic, cooperative small-scale growers.

Participants were also given useful information on problems to anticipate and overcome, whether soil pH levels and poor nutrient uptake to ground- and pest-borne diseases. They were told a combination of crop rotation, good soil and plant hygiene (especially under cover), and informed application of soil improvers all can contribute to sustainable food production on the Outer Hebrides.

In the evening Litterick and Stephen were joined by crofter and land use expert Donald Murdie (formerly of Great Bernera) as well as Tarbert crofter and leading citizen John Murdo Morrison. The quartet engaged in a lively question and answer session, which revealed among other things that a relatively short 11/2-foot screen will protect carrots from root fly and too much manure can be added to soil, when a more modest amount will suffice.

On the morning of the second day, participants descended on the fertile polytunnels adjacent the Harris Hotel to see a bit of soil analysis in action. They then moved on for a site visit to an impressive fruit and veg garden in Buonavoneader. Here they saw how shelter and drainage have combated the elements of an exposed south-facing location.

Special thanks go locally to John Murdo, Angus Macleod, and Peggy Briggs for generously assisting on this rare and impressive two-day training in Harris, which was only made possible by the support of SAC and the Scottish Crofting Federation.

The event also set the stage for more hands-on horticulture workshops organised by the Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers, which runs the farmers market. For more information on those Get Growing workshops, contact Barry Shelby, project officer for Get Growing, at 01851 612 239 or by email at barryshelby@mac.com.

Hands-on advice from SAC's Norman Stephens on Harris during the recent horticultural training event

If you're on Harris next week - 8th Feb 2010

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:02:14 +0100

The Ducks Return - 7th Feb 2010

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:24:33 +0100

Good news, relatively speaking, on the duck front. Though we had seven Indian Runners, four survived whatever accident befell the lot back on 13 January towards the end of the big freeze.

To recap: One, as you remember, was left behind. I moved the hut and her closer to the cottage. Then on Saturday 16 January, E found another one down at the lochside and we shephered her back. A week later, we got a call from the house up on the hill saying one drake was in their garden. Finally, 25 January, about a quarter mile away on the isle of Bernera, E and Able corralled another duck on the old road. Amazing, I thought.

So this quartet are getting back into the swing of things, even if none is laying any eggs just yet. They quite enjoy the company of the hens (three out of four of which are now laying -- see above), following the chickens around the house. Happier days.

Look like a duck?

PS -- Out on a walk around the point southwest of the croft last week, I came across two sets of bones that look very much like water fowl. The remains of our lot?

PPS -- apologies for no postings over the past month. Computer problems took a while to sort out.

Thawed out - 17th Jan 2010

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:42:49 +0100

Well, it's all melted and the ground's a soggy, sodden mess.
Everyone moaned at the time, life was made a bit trying, but before we forget entirely, some images of the last month.

frosty fork

snowy drive

frozen loch

glazed front garden [yard]

Ducks....Done a Runner? - 16th Jan 2010

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:12:47 +0100

Done a Runner?

I wish that were the case. The other morning, 13 January 2010, I found no Runner Ducks in their hut. None to be seen in the dim Winter’s light. Checked the croft, all their usual spots, and the surrounding area. Nothing. Back to the enclosure and closer inspection revealed straw pulled out of their home, mixed with a few feathers.

what’s left

In the improving light, I saw that one female was still tucked in the back of the housing. El Ultimo Pato? The last duck standing.

I feel responsible, as livestock should be protected. What happened? I’m told mink leave a mess and usually some bits and pieces. I’ve also heard that they sometimes just suck the blood of hens from the neck and leave entire carcases.

Other possibilities? Sea otters, which I would guess would drag its prey back to the deep water. Hawks or eagles? Overnight seems unlikely.The landscape has been frozen-over for more than a fortnight, though, so it’s a proverbial dog-eat-dog situation for wildlife. A snipe, which usually stays in the deep rushes, had been lingering around the house. A whooper swan lost his mate(s) and spent a couple days on the front lawn.

The ducks and drakes had been behaving oddly over the previous three days -- staying mostly inside, not eating much. Were they aware of a predator? Or were they just fed-up with the cold weather and the approaching-gale force south-easterlies?

More questions than answers here, I am afraid.

Out Walking - Panoramas - 4th Jan 2010

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:23:20 +0100

E and I went for a hike 2 Jan in the afternoon. Having figured out how to use my Canon 'PhotoStitch' software I produced these images taken out on the common grazings behind the croft.

glow on the horizon

cairn on hill

wide angle setting

elizabeth

sheep pens & disused dip