My vegetable seeds are starting to germinate, the chickens are laying more eggs, it is lighter in the morning, the garden is in full bloom, the birds are singing and the weather is hinting at getting warmer.
Witkrans vegetable garden
A couple of field mice and I have been at war recently. I have planted out loads of seeds in the garden as well as some seedlings. The seedlings disappeared the next morning and the seeds were not germinating. I got a couple of yogurt containers, cut holes in them and poured some beer in them, which is meant to trap the snails – checked them every morning to find one or two tiny little snails and then peeking out the rocks I saw a little mouse nibbling happily on my seeds. I have tried really hard to keep the veggie garden organic and not to use any poisons etc but with this little guy I did use the drastic route and hopefully we will not have any more trouble. So far so good. Inspired by my neighbor I have been making pots out of newspaper and the kitchen is full of little seedlings happily germinating. I have never had a very good success rate with seeds as when I eventually get them to germinate (if I do), when it comes to transplanting them, I seem somehow kill them in the process – the joy of these pots is that you can plant them straight into the ground with the newspaper.
Seedlings growing in newspaper pot plants
I have some lovely purple podded pea’s; beans; cauliflower; tomatoes; celery; strawberries all come along nicely. Trying to interplant flowers to attract bee’s and which help the vegetables etc. Not my strong point at all, I really should stick to my day job but it’s been great fun.
We got another 10 chickens from Growing the Futures to increase our laying as we are now supplying eggs to Bodhi Khaya; Whale Song; Haus Giotta; Private Villa De Kelders and various individuals. There was a bit of unsettlement in the coup with the new recruits and laying ceased for a few weeks, but it seems to be increasing again. We are also working hard at trying to improve our egg color by letting them free range a lot more in the garden and giving them more kitchen leftovers. They are also enjoying the pig food from Coffee on the rocks as Boldrick, our pig is on sabbatical visiting his girlfriends on the neighboring farms.
Matthew and Goldie
Sadly we had to say good-bye to Matthews favorite chicken of 5 years, Goldie. She really was an amazing chicken who enjoyed eating cereal with the children on the trampoline, went down the slide, bounced on the trampoline with the kids. She would also sometimes get decorated with hair clips and bracelets around her neck to come and do egg delivery. She sat on Matthew’s shoulder whilst watching children’s t.v; came up to the dam whilst the children swam and gave the children endless hours of enjoyment. She was really old and Matthew had to pick her up to take her out the hock in the mornings and then lift her back in again in the evenings. She couldn’t get up on the perches anymore and unfortunately a Genet managed to get in a hole one evening and she was obviously the easiest target. Poor Matthew was devastated and a funeral was held later that day. All the chickens had to come to the funeral and they enjoyed a bowl of pronutro (Goldie’s favorite cereal), a stone was painted for the grave stone and many happy stories were shared about a special chicken and few tears shed. We enjoyed a chocolate cake afterwards made in Goldie’s honor. We then lit a big bonfire which Matthew really enjoyed and helped cheer him up a little. R.I.P Godie – you will be missed by us all.
Goldies funeral cake
Matthew and Emma next to Goldie's gravestone
Nothing like a bonfire to cheer up a sad little boy
Painted egg boxes ready to be filled with Matthew's fresh organic eggs
The cottage has been fairly busy from the overflow of Bodhi Khaya’s retreats next door. The children have enjoyed helping entertain the children whilst the parents were at the workshops next door.
Rohan enjoying time with Privett kids whilst his mom and dad attend a workshop on Bodhi Khaya
We think that we have speeded up the fermenting process of the wine and now await results from Vinlab for our next Wine Times blog.
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