Sunday, 5th December, 2004

At last - no, I haven't just been digging and clearing brambles today!   I went up to the old plot to salvage what I could.   The only sign of cultivation is the foxes digging up the potatoes I'd planted!

Got some cuttings off the gooseberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant bushes; a few rhubarb crowns; a couple of comfrey clumps; and good "chunks" of some of the herbs I'd planted.   But found nothing recoverable of the strawberries or the raspberries I'd planted - looks like I'll have to start afresh with them - Xmas list is starting now!

Hauled the takings down to the new plot - so I have finally got some stuff into the ground for next year!   Fingers crossed that they take.

Did a little digging where I left off a couple of weeks ago, but I was quickly distracted by six or seven skeins of geese flying over northwards as the sun set.   I don't remember seeing anything like this number of birds from when I was at the top of the hill; I guess they follow the Wyke Beck through to Eccup Reservoir?   All in silence, against a magnificent sunset.   Beautiful.

Sunday, 19th December, 2004

Spent most of the afternoon chatting!

If anybody gives up one of the existing worked plots, I've expressed an interest - there's one I have my eye on, much nearer the gate.   It's been well cultivated and "broken in", has a base for a shed (burned down a couple of months ago :-( ).   It also still has three-quarters of a greenhouse, which can probably be salvaged - build a wooden end to replace the bit destroyed by the fire?   It'd be relatively easy to grow stuff in for a couple of seasons, while I reclaim Plot 4?

At least Plot 4 looks like a plot now it's almost half dug over.   One of the bramble patches is cleaned out - gone!   But I've reached the corner thick with ash and willow tree roots and saplings - even harder and slower digging.

The lad who had taken plot 5 (our neighbour to the east) has given it up - too much work to clear.   That is a pity - for all that it's covered with plastic and carpet, it is THICK with bindweed, which will spread over mine very quickly.   Sowing a border of Tagetes minuta may stop it coming over?   Worth a go!

I'd read about it, seen pictures of it, hung it up, "got caught" underneath it - but never actually seen mistletoe "for real".   Next-door has some on her apple tree - bizarre; it's growing straight out of the apple branch; just ain't right!   It seems it's just not that common this far north.