Last Sunday in spite of the snow, I sallied forth to take up an invitation to speak at the Christmas Fair in Sonairte, the National Ecology Centre in Laytown, Co Meath. Some wonderful food and crafts supported by the brave members of the public which included Ian Lumley of An Taisce and James Nix, writer [...]
Posts Tagged ‘November’
24 Nov
TALK OF TIMBER GROWING IS RELEVANT EVEN IN A SMALL GARDEN – THIRD WEEK IN NOVEMBER 2010
The temperature at night has begun to dip below zero but politically it could not be much hotter. This frenetic period in bringing in a vital budget and a National Recovery Plan 2011 – 2014, has meant the garden is firmly on the back burner at the moment, except as a foraging area for ingredients [...]
17 Nov
BEETROOT BOTTLED TO MAKE SPACE TO SOW OVER-WINTERING GARLIC – SECOND WEEK IN NOVEMBER 2010
Last Sunday was calm, cool with a bright blue sky. After a busy spell, I at last found a couple of hours to dig up the beetroot crop, better late than never. Not a big patch (7 by 3 feet) but enough to keep me in beetroot for the year. My only worry was that [...]
10 Nov
MEETING GROWERS AND FARMERS AT ORGANIC TRUST AGM – FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER 2010.
Weather forecasts of tempests and floods for this first weekend in November limited work in the garden. I looked forward therefore to meeting other growers and farmers from all Ireland at the Organic Trust AGM held this year at The Grain Store at Ballymaloe House near Midleton, Co. Cork. The focus naturally was on large-scale production, prices, routes to [...]
26 Nov
THE BIG PICTURE – U.N. PLANS TO FEED THE WORLD – FOURTH WEEK IN NOVEMBER 2009
The garden is almost on automatic in November. I am still harvesting lettuce from pots in the greenhouse along with basil. This goes well in sandwiches with tomatoes grown by Matt Foley in nearby Rush. Outside, parsley, sage, rosemary, kale, leaf beet and cabbage are going strong. Brussel sprouts are coming right while the chives [...]
10 Nov
EVERLASTING CABBAGE CUTTINGS START OFF NEW BRASSICA PATCH – SECOND WEEK IN NOVEMBER 2009
Early Monday 9th November, before the phones start ringing, I steel an hour in the garden to start a new generation of everlasting cabbage plants. (This is a perennial hardy kale-like heritage cabbage variety obtained from Irish Seedsavers in Scarriff, Co. Clare.) Last spring I put up a video clip of cuttings being taken from [...]
3 Nov
SEEING AS GARLIC IS BEING DISCUSSED ON ‘MORNING IRELAND’, IT IS TIMELY TO SOW SOME CLOVES ALONGSIDE THE RECENTLY SOWN ONION SETS – FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER 2009
I understand that garlic was briefly discussed at Cabinet recently. Cabinet confidentiality precludes me from going into further detail. However, just like any kitchen gardener, I am keen to meet as much as possible of my own garlic needs from home-grown stocks. With this in mind I am planting a few extra cloves this month myself. [...]
3 Nov
SOWING BROAD BEANS – FOURTH WEEK IN OCTOBER 2009
The recently sown Radar onion sets are growing well now in the cleared patch from which beetroot was harvested about a month ago. Nearby, last season’s onion patch has now been cleared, some compost mixed in and the soil levelled. This patch will now become the legume patch between now and next autumn. Broad beans [...]
