There is always something so special about seeing children at the allotment. Time spent outdoors is becoming scarce in modern childhood due to a mix of over-scheduling activities and endless screen time. For the past few days, we have had one of our godchildren stay and we have loved sharing the joy of the allotment... Continue Reading →
Broody or Not Broody – that is the question!
Today we walked down to the allotment in the glorious sunshine. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. All three bantams were out enjoying scratching and dust bathing. It was interesting to see Trixy outside after her attempt at being broody yesterday. Yesterday, I had to extract the eggs she was determinedly sitting on. The... Continue Reading →
Roses are red, violets are blue, angry bees are all over you!
Today was rather a bitty day. We ambled down to the allotment at lunchtime to feed the chickens. They were all happy to scoff their treats and then ignore us. My husband amused himself in picking up Tommy for a cuddle. Needless to say, he wasn't impressed. I showed my husband all my hard work... Continue Reading →
Is it even summer?
Where oh where has the sunshine gone? Judging from how wet and rainy June and July have been I suspect we have had our "summer" in May. Today was overcast and I walked down to the allotment to check on Pop and to go a few jobs. When I got into the greenhouse, Pop looked... Continue Reading →
Evenings at the allotment
After work today I ambled down the allotment. Although it's been a lovely week, it has been exhausting and I was glad the week was over. When I arrived, my first job was to water the loofa plants. I can't believe how much they have grown since I last came down. I am sure if... Continue Reading →
Unexpected Fish
Upon my arrival on site this morning, I was greeted by Phil who asked had I seen the fish? Fish? The only fish we have on site are the three that Cliff rescued and live his in pond made from a converted bath. There are no other fish on site. Phil was quite insistent that... Continue Reading →
Buzzing along
Today I got down to the allotment early to check on Leia and her chicks. It was just possible she might have an extra chick or two. When I got to her coop, I counted five chicks and spotted three eggs remaining. With Tracy's help, we removed the eggs. It's important to remove them so... Continue Reading →
The day when everything happened
I walked down to the allotment this morning, never dreaming of how much would happen. There are weeks when nothing much happens then everything seems to happen on a particular day. Today was that day! After saying hello to everyone, I began to clean out the chicks. Steve dropped by and said they looked a... Continue Reading →
A sick chick goes to the Vet
For the last few days, our Plymouth Rock chick has been struggling to stand and walk. At first, I thought it was because the other two chicks were picking on her. They were but her legs don't seem to be in the correct position and she seems to be in pain. On Tuesday morning, I... Continue Reading →
A plethora of Queens
Today I went down to the allotment ready for a full day of work. In the afternoon we were expecting Steve's bee mentor to arrive and I wanted to make sure that the plot was clear of weeds before they arrived. I joined Cliff and Michael at the clubhouse for a chat. It wasn't long... Continue Reading →
A day of two halves
Yesterday, I walked down to the allotment in the sunshine. Thankfully the rain had stopped and I wandered down to the main coop to find all the chickens sunbathing. I fed them and went back to the top of the plot to open up the greenhouse. Emily and her chicks were hungry and made good... Continue Reading →
A day of two halves
This morning we ambled down to the allotment, armed with the last few bits for the shed. We dropped off the final bits outside the shed before looking at the shed in the daylight. All the paint had dried and after a short discussion, we decided to do another coat on the top panel and... Continue Reading →
Bee inspection
After minimal sleep last night, I dragged myself down to the allotment to sort out the chickens. Upon my arrival, I spotted Steve and Phil checking the bees. I quickly suited up and joined in. All the hives are still busy but they are struggling to produce a decent amount of honey. The plan is... Continue Reading →
Flowers and bees
Yesterday I pottered down to our allotment as usual determined to make serious inroads into the jobs list. And, as usual, very few were completed! We fed the chickens who were all pleased to be fed at an earlier time than normal. However, they took exception to what followed. Over the past few months, some... Continue Reading →
Chickens and Bees
Despite still dying of flu for the second week running, I managed to drag myself down to the allotment. Unusually for the UK, the weather is still good, a little cooler than last week but still lovely and sunny. Today, like an idiot, I decided it was the day to shift things around in the... Continue Reading →
Autumn Bee Inspection
Last Sunday was the final bee check of the summer. I am not sure what we are going to do on a Sunday afternoon now! We removed the feeder now after two weeks. The feeder fills a super and is designed to allow the bees access to the sugar water without drowning (which they are... Continue Reading →
Busy, busy, busy!
Today was a full day down the allotment - chickens fed and watered. A couple of eggs but then it was still early. Molly has been moved back into our main coop and is bearing the brunt of the arguments between the chickens. Hopefully she will stand her ground and they will all settle down... Continue Reading →
A relaxing Sunday
Yesterday I popped down to the allotment to feed the chickens - they are still in two distinct camps and never the twain shall meet except to peck at each other. Give it a few more days and they will have calmed down...hopefully! Birds fed, I started to clear more weeds from the centre of... Continue Reading →
First hive check
On first glance, this seems a silly title for this post. Anyone who has been following this blog will know the hives have been on site for over a month and I have been regularly helping with the weekly hive inspections. But today was different. Today I did the hive check! Well, not all of... Continue Reading →
Bee updates!
Being Sunday, it was hive inspection day! Phil was back, dosed up on painkillers due to his back injury and was put in charge of hive inspection by Steve. Steve has led the previous hive inspections and decided it was time for Phil to get some practice. Hive 1 on Phil's plot has been massively... Continue Reading →
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