To make a change form the usual posts of blue skies, bees and flowers, or of baskets laden with fruit, here are a few reality photos of the effects of winter storms, and endless rain on our frayed 18 year old polytunnel!
Even so, this post Will have light at the end of the tunnel.
December 20th.
The small tunnel plastic lasted 18 years until last December's storms...
The small tunnel plastic lasted 18 years until last December's storms...
.... and when the time came to replace it...
The idea came to move it back and have access to the East side of the barn.
Doing any moving or replacing plastic was delayed...
...by record breaking rainfall.
In early January we removed the old plastic, took 3 hoops from the front and put 2 on the back, Hence the small tunnel is now 5 hoops long instead of 6, so only a little smaller.
We also moved one of the peach trees!
We also moved one of the peach trees!
On January 19th Angus and I, with help from Tivon, put the new plastic on.
I saved what I could of the old plastic to make cloches with or to keep rain off compost heaps. The scrappy bits are in a bag hoping to be recycled.
February 24th,
Alfie digging holes...
for planting...
the early potatoes.
March 10th, Shemmie Sheep wandering past ...
....as Alfie is digging outside the small tunnel.
The hens want to be in on the act too.
March 20th Peach tree in blossom, first shoots coming through on the early potatoes, tunnel filling up with plants, all is settling back to normal, ready for a new growing year.
Wishing everyone all the joy of spring.
Wishing everyone all the joy of spring.