Rambling #169

As the seasons turn and the days become longer, the growing season–our 29th here in North Aston–is hurtling towards us. The glasshouse is filling up with thousands of seedlings. The crops in the polytunnels, many of which have sat there since they were planted last Autumn, are really taking off. Spinach, chard, lettuce, carrots, radish, salad onions, to name a few.

Outside, the Hungry Gap kale—one of my favourite vegetables to grow and eat—is coming into its own. Named after the period “between seasons” when winter crops and stored vegetables are running low and new harvests are not yet ready, this hardy plant provides fresh nutritious, and surprisingly sweet greens when other options are limited. Over the coming weeks, we’ll get round all the boxes so everyone has the chance to try some. We nearly didn't have any seed to sow for this years crop, as when I went to place my order with the only wholesale seed merchant who stock Hungry Gap, I was told it was not being supplied anymore! Luckily I managed to find an obscure nursery who still had some. For a long time I have been thinking that we really should be making serious attempts to save some of our own seed, so I think the time has come. I have just ordered myself a copy of  'The Seed Savers Handbook' and I now know which seeds we will be saving first!

As ever, many of our ‘winter jobs’ are spilling over into Spring. Fencing is one of them. For the first time in our 28 years, we now feel the need to protect our fields from deer. When we first started growing in Mill Field, there wasn’t a fence in sight, and we had a blissful honeymoon period, with the local wildlife seemingly giving us a head start. Then came the rabbits… and soon after, our first rabbit fence. But the badgers soon punched their way through that, letting both themselves and the rabbits in. Since then, we’ve got by with a combination of stock and rabbit fencing, and we’ve largely tolerated the damage done by deer. But it has meant covering more crops with mesh, which entails more plastic and–as any member of our growing team will tell you–more work. So, the time has come to raise the height of the fence.