The small things are big things

Pulling ragwort – it’s a rubbish job right? … but soon the swallows were flying so close around our heads their white bellies flashing in front of us as they swooped and soared, and the mysterious call of red kite filled the sky, and even though horsefly bit us a hundred times, we realised, there’s even something magical about pulling ragwort. A few hours later we had about 7 acres cleared on this baking hot July day, with hands as red as my beetroot face from using my much recommended metal ragwort puller. Ragwort (aka Stinking Willie) is a toxic flower, in case you don’t know, which I have also spent many, many hours pulling as a child at the riding stables – ungloved in those days might I add! Fortunately, it’s growing at the other end of our land, well away from our forage gardens, unfortunately though it’s growing by next door’s horse field, so the Cinnabar moth and our family must work together to get the stuff cleared.

August’s forage is dried and ready to pack. A blend of apple leaves & stems, as well a few garden mint varieties are August’s additional seasonal treats for our subscribers. They are just about dried and ready to add to the familiar monthly favourites. I’ll also include some left over lemon balm and cleavers from last month, and plantain from the month before. I notice as the months go on, the boxes become even more varied!

In other news our long awaited commercial polytunnel is finally being delivered on Monday, so we’re looking forward to extending the growing season, growing and drying enough goodness to last throughout the winter. I’m also looking forward to having somewhere we can work when beautiful Wales only provides hour upon hour of damp, windy weather. Saying that, we’ve never constructed a 20m x 7m commercial polytunnel before, but to avoid the £10K construction cost we decided… how hard can it be? I mean the kids are big now and a huge help – it’ll be fine! Won’t it? I’ll keep you posted on that one. So, there you have it, a little update from me. I hope you’re also finding some joy this summer, and finding time to stop and appreciate the small things, which it turns out are big things – when you think about it!

Until next time….

Louise x