The season is rushing by. Everywhere I see bumper crops. The hot summer last year and then cold winter have created abundance. This is because these conditions are preferred by apples, pears and blackcurrants to set blossom.

The first fruit to be picked was the strawberries and so I tried my hand at making ice cream. So simple, I don’t know why I haven’t tried it before! When it comes to raspberries and later on in the season damson, jam making and chutney will be the order of the day.

The Potato Patch
The new potato patch has been a mixed success. I planted lots and varied and mostly they have been successful.

The chickens have enjoyed snoozing and dust-bathing amongst the plants and I have no problem with that, as they don’t seem to be concerned with eating the plants.

However, one variety called swift — described as a very early cropper — has not been quite so successful. To begin with they came up with the same vigour as the other plants, but soon became dwarfed by the rest.

Closer inspection has revealed that they were being eaten, and watching the activity on the plot for a little longer I discovered that the chickens are partial to the tender leaves of this particular variety; no early cropping swift potatoes for me it seems.

And So to Beds…
On the allotment plot, I now have two beds running; each one is approximately 3m x 2m.

Early in the spring I raised lots of broccoli, celeriac and Brussels sprouts, all of these plants need the space to be in the ground for some considerable time — over the winter, in fact — so the allotment is the obvious location.

So far, the two beds that have been created are filled with the broccoli (40 plants) and celeriac (approx 40 plants). There are plans to create more beds as I will be sowing cabbages for the spring and I intend to try my hand at swedes.

I have already discussed with you the potential difficulties with this particular part of the plot as it is covered with a dense growth of nettles; however, I am determined to give it a go and so far, it’s working. It does mean the surrounding plot has to be cut regularly with the strimmer, to make it possible to visit the beds and I have seen evidence of rabbit invasion, with one of the plants having its stems chewed clean off.

A Little Disappointment
I have to report a particular disappointment – the straw bales. To save some space in the kitchen garden, I tried to grow squashes and courgettes in bales. Despite feeding and watering them constantly, the plants are looking very poorly making the experiment, for this year at least, a failure.

Thankfully I planted squashes in containers filled with my home made compost and I did have some room for three plants in the kitchen garden, I can report that these plants are growing well.

I feel that with the hot early spring weather followed by the near drought conditions experienced here it is difficult to decide on the reason for the failure. This means that to be a real trial, I need to repeat the exercise next year and see if I can do better.

Drying Out
The unusually dry weather has meant that the big pond that the moorhens visit has dried up much earlier this year. As I write this article, a small puddle in the bottom is all that remains.

The water level in the well dropped to an all-time low, so for a while we were watering with great care. But by the time we were heading to this year’s Lincolnshire Show, the rain had returned. It was a welcome sight.

A Taste of Honey
During August I will be trying my hand at bee keeping, the local bee keeping association run taster days through the summer months and I am going along to give it a go. If I am successful and have the confidence to take up this fascinating activity, I will have to practice some patience, as it will be next summer when I will be able to take on my own hive.

For me, bee keeping is the logical next step on the path to sustainable living. I have spoken with another smallholder and she described how her crop productivity has increased since the introduction of a hive on her plot.

If that wasn’t incentive enough, the health benefits of eating honey from hives that are very close to home are also a motivator for me.

Hay fever sufferers have reported great improvements in their symptoms and as my daughter is a hay fever sufferer; I hope it will help to bring some relief.

Show Time
This year was my third visit to the Lincolnshire show and the first year that I have had a soaking. It didn’t in any way dampen my enjoyment though. I love to visit the livestock; here at Damson Cottage we all have a weakness for the pigs, sheep and goats. In particular we are tempted by the goats.

To Goat or Not to Goat?
Every year we visit them and every year we come home and debate the merits of keeping a couple; keeping the grass down, giving us milk, being a great accompaniment to the plot.

However, we have always reminded ourselves of the wise words of John Seymour in his book, The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency — The Classic Guide for Realists and Dreamers; “Goats are called “desert-makers” in some countries because they destroy what scrub there is and prevent more from growing.”

Every year so far we have driven home from the Lincolnshire show and so far talked ourselves out of it. However, in our discussion this year we considered the different breeds and their characteristics – could this mean we are step closer?

If you have experience of beekeeping or goat keeping and would like to share that knowledge, then please email me at lorraine@bellisperennis.co.uk... I’d love to hear from you.