This year I will be covering the Potatoes with dried grass cuttings. The leaf is showing well on the earliest sowings. We are still eating from last years harvest. Anne-Sophie pulled out some leeks and parsnips from the freezer. Broad beans and peas still in plentyful supply. This years peas are just about to get a grip of their supports. Our maize is growing ahead of the local cattle feed., hope we get some decent cobs on the plate this year. Some squashes have been planted out. Strawberry plants are flowering. New plants a little way behind, leafing up well, should produce fruit into the Autumn. Looks like we will have an abundance of fruit this year, there will be much bottling and conserving come season's end. Beetroot and carrots are showing. Mulching with straw keeps the moisture where it's needed most. The cabbages look happy. Perfect onion and schallots , determined to impress. The garlic looks strong. First year of Chinese cabbage. What else?... Words don't do justice to the miracle in the garden. Photo images only give a one eyed view. You would have to be here to appreciate the wonder and beauty of it. Every family needs one of these. The world would be a happier place. Let's not kid ourselves that we own the money. We can however own our food supply. The learning curve towards self reliance and the physical work of cultivation is all the tax you need be expending. The money earned in our oppressive contractual labours will be of greater value if the expense of healthy food is eliminated from the fiscal equation. Members of one's family once a short term contract is finished, may not expect to be re employed immediately. Stay strong deploy your family's energy to its own survival. Food security is the key to civilised living.
Our income at the moment is static. Lockdown means we may not market our home produce craft goods. With food in plentyful supply we have energy enough to prepare in advance of even greater challenges. Anne-Sophie is busy in the new field. "What can the poorest do to ensure their families of a dignified and sustainable way of life?" "Free food "pantries are closing down or are oversubscribed.Malnourished clueless demoralised, desperate folk queue for beyond sell by dated throw outs from the big supermarkets. They will become the next cheap labour pool. Welfare payments and food stamps are not the answer. Volunteer labour is needed. Enthusiastic muscle power dedicated to equitable sharing of Nature's bounty. @ zero % commission. If folk think all they need is money, they can get in the queue for a job interview. Chances are they will die of starvation.
We survive on less than the average welfare payment. We are not panicking about the uncertain future.Building a volunteer workers garden is a viable way forward from urban dependency to rural freedom. Addressing poverty at it's most fundemental level obviates the need for compulsory wage slavery.
Some pretty pictures might refresh your head...
Can you Adam and Eve it? The figs are early this year...
Beetroot freshly mulched with straw
Strawberries just started to flower, that's a clump of bluebells top centre...
White currants in flower. We will make some soup from the nettle tops before weeding out the roots...
Stand on the ground beside the watering can, this raised bed is nearly chest high...
Tree onions in the foreground, garlic in the background...
Support for runnerbeans completed the seed is sown. I will squeeze a small row of Kale in the remaining space...
The ever evolving view from the house...
The garden is smiling, it's hard to not smile back...
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