I’ve made a mark on the farm, at long last. I started to plant the forest garden trees when some sheep crept up and laughed at me so I had to get this fence in place first. The stretches in this picture will keep out the wooly jumpers that come over the meadow walls. Another stretch, uphill from that far gate, will enclose a paddock where I’ll keep the wife, her bees, her shed and her potato beds. I managed to include a couple of tree shelters in the fence design—you can see one near the gate—and I avoided ruining the kids’ toboggan run. I’m very happy with the shape and look of the post and rail fence. The final section is now in place and follows the immediate horizon up from the gate. It gives a pleasing sense of perspective on a field that was hard to understand from this angle—our normal view of it. Kevin walked away from us, through the gate, dropped out of sight over that horizon and then appeared, surprisingly small, at the far end. I consider it handsome from across the road, too, and the residents of the houses that overlook it seem pleased by the addition.
The late Spring has been a boon for us because the sheep didn’t wreck the trees. Only a few got nibbled and they’ll recover. Also, the trees to be planted are late into bud so I have time to get them in, now that they won’t be uprooted by the sheep. Monica and I went out, just now, to chase out any squatters but it appears that the shepherd has taken his stock somewhere else for lambing. So it’s on with the planting. Woo-hoo.
We may have a different kind of intruder, soon. A young bloke, Adam Entwhistle, was put in touch with us by Incredible Edible because he wants a patch of ground to grow tea flavourings. Turns out he studied graphic arts at Canterbury before getting into a foodie life so we have lots in common. As we have newly enclosed the field below Monica’s paddock, I was musing on what to use it for and was considering oats and barley patches. Now Adam will take an area to terrace in a tasteful way for his plants; and we’ve agreed to try lavender in another section for its beauty and the bees.
Monica just descended from the land of Nod to point out how delicious my onion soup smells. Unfortunately, by the time you can smell what’s in the Aga, you’re generally too late. We’re going out for tea, now.