A very large polytunnel! - Healthy Life Essex

Just a little update for everyone out there who is interested in the latest exploits of  our “Poly tunnel and the chooks (and ducks)”.

 The great weather at the weekend saw the main framework go up with some help from Ian (our nephew). Quite honestly the poly tunnel is much bigger that we had at first thought.  It is 14 feet wide by 21 feet long.  We ordered one with the sides straight for 4 feet, before the curve and this already looks like it will be extremely useful.  It is about 8 feet in the middle so plenty of room for growing the taller plants.  Sunday was another lovely day, but Mother’s Day and my dad for family lunch, meant the garden took a backseat.  Lots of plans talked about with my wonderful dad of 93 years young who enjoys his own garden immensely.  His advice and wisdom is priceless.  He also enjoyed the chickens and ducks running around, telling us tales of when he too had his own birds.    Meanwhile,  also enjoying the sunshine  the birds were running around the garden and basking in freshly dug soil.  At one point, the cockerel and all 6 chickens were in the same “dust bath”.  They all had a great time and of course, they won’t be allowed to do this when the planting is done.  They were so busy having a good time, that they did not produce any eggs on Sunday.  First time since their arrival.  On Monday though, they were back to blessing us with 2 eggs a day. 

Our old dismantled greenhouse has been reborn.  We have used the top apex – we also salvaged some glass from it too.  It is now a very useful cold frame for hardening off smaller plants and seedlings.  The ground where the greenhouse had previously stood is now dug over ready for potatoes to be planted.  Rick is of course doing most of the work, but my daughter is also helping with this.  She has a great knowledge of plants and especially fresh herbs – having worked in this area previously.    I hope you are getting a bit of a picture of what we have here and are trying to do. 

Can’t remember if I mentioned or not in the last blog, but we also have a rather splendid cockerel.  He is very handsome indeed.  However, after doing what cockerels do in what appeared to be record time after his arrival, his attention then turned to the ducks.  Mmm, Small Duck was not happy about being “cockerelled” at all.  She now hisses and chases him away from her at every and any opportunity.  He has shown no interest in Big Duck at all.  Needless to say, the chickens are all very happy girls and he is a good protector for them. 

Not so my daughter – who incidentally is in her mid 20’s – not just a little girl.  She is a bit nervous of him now, having previously picked him up and and made a fuss of him. Over the weekend, he went for her a couple of times and I have given him a verbal warning.  The next warning will be more severe “coq au vin” or behave.  Apparently coq au vin is good served with dumplings, but hope it won’t come to that though.    When I can figure out how to upload photos to this, I will add pictures for you.

This weekend is scheduled for completion of poly tunnel, pending appropriate help.  We have already been given some asparagus plants and some seed potatoes.  Rick is itching to turn our dining room into a “nursery” for the seeds.  We have done this every year so far, and it works well.  This room faces south, so gets plenty of heat and light.   We have really got to get things planted now, before too much more time passes. 

From my computer vantage point (on the landing) the daffodils are out in the woods and lots of green shoots appearing throughout the woods and garden.  The honeysuckle is again going to give us another year of glorious colour and fragrance on the front porch.    The rabbits are playing happily across the other side of the field (they had better stay there).