What a time for the phone line and internet to go down, 20th of December started having issues with the phone, within 24 hours the phone and internet had died, cutting us off at a time when we really wanted it, with all this lockdown stuff, no contact with the outside world no shopping, the advised date for repair was 4th January, neighbours were in the same predicament.
A little man from BT came out yesterday and by the end of day we were up and running again. The problem we have here is our lines are all over land and run through parts of the forest, branches from trees cause issues with the phone line. They need to get some cutting back done but with COVID causing staff shortages, (don’t understand that one) it has been overlooked this year.
Christmas was very quiet and uneventful we took the dogs to the beach, the place was deserted.
The pigs went off on there final journey, we raised Berkshires this year very placid easy to handle
We had the first back the week end before Christmas, the other two won’t be back for a couple of weeks they are becoming bacon, gammons and ham.
I have been rendering the fat down as lard and I did a mamouth sausage making session
The pesky badgers are back ripping up the field, it seems the only solution is going to be a strong insecticide drench to kill off there food supply, I am so reluctant to create a field devoid of life, but might have to bite the bullet
This week I have cleared out the last of the Tomatillos from poly tunnel number 1 and made up a batch of Salsa Verde
On the subject of poly tunnels we have just ordered number 3, this one is 14ft x 50ft and will go over the area of the raised beds, putting all our growing area under cover, the new poly tunnel will have mesh ventilation sides, creating a cooler growing area.
Number 1 is kept dry and hot, Number 2 is more humid and shaded, I love having ing the different growing areas, The hoops down the side of poly tunnel 2 which are used for growing climbers are to become a net cage , we will only have a few small pallet collar beds that will not have any protective covers.
This will be the last of the big alerterations in the growing area.
While I wait I have plans for the back garden and front garden that I will share in later blog posts.
I hope you have all stayed healthy over the Christmas season and I will catch up with you on the other side of 2021.
Enjoyed your post - it brings all the farm activities to life for someone far away. Covid cases cause more shortages than just one person being out sick - that person can't work obviously even if they recover within the isolation time period, but anyone else who had contact with the positive person cannot work either. Our fire department was short-staffed for a month because 2 people were positive and had to isolate and 6 people who had been exposed to them also could not work until the quarantine period was over.
ReplyDeleteYou are right - of all the times to lose phone and Internet! How aggravating!
ReplyDeleteThe polytunnel sounds amazing. Looking forward to seeing pictures.
The concept of badgers being a pest - I had no idea. Probably my American naivete, as I suppose I never really considered what badgers actually ate. Any chance they are impacted by sounds or smells?
I find it difficult to get my mind off those beautiful sausages - a work of art if I may say so.
ReplyDeleteI always love your posts; such interesting things you have going on. Glad you're back online! It's amazing how wonderful internet access can be, especially considering the times we live in.
ReplyDeleteI never realized that badgers were so very destructive. Here, our big problem was woodchucks. They can do a number on a garden in very short order.
ReplyDeleteI follow Weaver around the blog world. I visit but don't always comment.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the Badgers. Maybe you could just leave the field to the Badgers? I know John from Going Gently lives with a Badger family across his fields.
I had to dig in chicken wire all over my side yard to keep the moles and pack rats out. They have destroyed my veggies, plants and cactus. I can't poison any land as many critters live here you know the food chain.
I have to watch my dogs where I live as I get coyotes, foxes, wildcats, javelinas and mountain lions walking thru my land. They would be a tasty treat especially in winter.
Your Salsa looks so good it is a favorite of mine.
Good Luck with your garden. Happy New Year.
Gald you've kept healthy over the Christmas Season...Here's to a productive 2021. x
ReplyDeleteGot to be honest that's sort of our dream situation, no mobile signal, wi fi or tv plus snowed in. Not for everybody I know.
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