Sustainable Clonakilty

Week ending 11th February 2011

Spring is very late this year but at last there are signs of new growth, the earth is stirring. The very first celandine have opened their golden flowers. Rhubarb is sending up nice fat pink shoots. I am thrilled because today I saw frogs are back in my pond, they have arrived very late as they are usually here by end of January. I was worried that they might have died from the cold, or that they found the new pond liner unwelcoming, or that they had been poisoned by some of the nasty stuff that we put down our drains. I believe frogs can absorb chemicals through their skin and that can kill them and their numbers are certainly dwindling. Anyhow, for me, great news that they are safely back and getting ready to mate. Continue reading →

First Garden Diary of 2011 mid January

I am amazed at the resilience of vegetables. We have had weeks of sub zero weather and snow, but still I have something to eat in the garden; leeks, parsnips and some brussel sprouts and kale. The sprouts could be bigger and better and the kale needs time to grow but it is great to have something green. The chards are still alive and I have hopes they will flourish once we have warmer weather.  Shallots are sending up green shoots. The most amazing of all the Aquadulce broad bean seeds that have been sitting in the frozen soil have started to come up, I thought they would die. Continue reading →