REMEMBRANCE DAY ON THE PLOT Today, while I stood on the allotment in contemplative silence at 11am to remember heroes past and present, living and dead (including horses) I noticed a marble-sized fruit on a twiggy branch of my Discovery apple tree. Obviously confused by the unpredictable weather (this day it has been lovely and [...]
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Posts Tagged ‘courgette’
11 November 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman REMEMBRANCE DAY ON THE PLOT
Wednesday, November 11th, 200930 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SUNDAY MORNING AT THE END OF AUGUST, THREE LADS ON BIKES IN MISTY SHASTON, SOUNDS OUTSIDE THE BACK PASSAGE
Sunday, August 30th, 200930 August 2009 SUNDAY MORNING AT THE END OF AUGUST (Yesterday afternoon and) This morning the plots were full of allotment folk bending backs, hoeing, cutting, shifting piles of this and that. As a feather-soft drift of misty rain came in westerly before lunchtime, with quiet focus so we worked. Much to do, not a [...]
Read More »6 August 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman A CLOSE ENCOUNTER IN THE SHED WITH FRED
Thursday, August 6th, 20096 August 2009 A CLOSE ENCOUNTER IN THE SHED WITH FRED I opened up the shed this morning to sort out bits for my day ahead. In the side room, formerly an aviary full of finches and other cage birds but gutted by me some years ago and converted into a vegetable store, a peacock [...]
Read More »31 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ LOG by Joe Hashman OBSERVING FLOWERS
Friday, July 31st, 200922 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman BITTER CUCUMBERS SLOW ME DOWN
Wednesday, July 22nd, 200922 July 2009 BITTER CUCUMBERS SLOW ME DOWN Someone who I’m in fairly regular email contact with asked me last week why her courgettes were too bitter to eat. I said I’d find out. A cure for bitter cucumbers rang a bell. My mum told me long ago to rub two cut halves together to [...]
Read More »5 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman MANAGING POPPIES IN THE VEG
Sunday, July 5th, 20095 July 2009 MANAGING POPPIES IN THE VEG On the plot I manage the field poppies which self seed freely and try to grow in amongst my veg. Many fall victim to the hoe, of coarse, but here and there I spare them and where that happens they prosper. We all benefit in the long [...]
Read More »30 June 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman HOTTER THAN JULY
Tuesday, June 30th, 200930 June 2009 HOTTER THAN JULY There is so much to and so little time to do it – that’s how I feel now as July beckons. This will be a hectic month both in the veg patch and elsewhere. Second Early spud’s will be in full swing, successively sown broad beans still producing fat [...]
Read More »28 June 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman A WIND UP
Sunday, June 28th, 200928 June 2009 A WIND UP Q: How frustrating is it to pop down to your allotment and find a boisterous black Labrador rummaging around all over? A: Very! This was my surprise when nipping down to nosh some soft fruit and cut a globe artichoke for a neighbour. I called out with a friendly [...]
Read More »20 June 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman LETTER TO A DEAD MATE
Sunday, June 21st, 200920 June 2009 LETTER TO A DEAD MATE I’m sitting amongst ripening red and black currants on the plot. You’d love it down here. Town Hall clock struck nine and it’s still warm, bright and cheery. I get confused. Is this the longest day or tomorrow? Either way, right here right now I miss you. [...]
Read More »17 June 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman A SPECIAL SOMETHING
Wednesday, June 17th, 200917 June 2009 A SPECIAL SOMETHING Mrs Nails was running late for a one o’clock appointment so I put the computer on standby and buzzed her up town in the motor. Before an update on the bedlam that is world news, we caught the forecast on Radio 4 going up Great Lane. Northern Ireland, they [...]
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