Diggeroo: Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Happy Halloween!

I was hoping to be carving an own grown pumpkin this year - never mind, I'm still pleased with the look of this one. I chose the design as a reference to the Harry Potter books, which of course concluded this year. Farewell Harry!

Here's proof it really is a pumpkin..

No comments:

Post a Comment

On Maintenance and Steady Progress

I'm up, not quite with the lark
but in time to feel the first warmth from the sun
The ground is frozen hard
neither fork nor spade can get a bite
today is not a day for planting, then.

So back to the brambles
and the cyclical ritual of cutting them back
as they tumble over the fence
from the rough ground
beyond the carefully plotted boundary line.

It's an endless battle, to keep my bit of ground.
It took time to clear my patch
I toiled daily, digging up the longest roots.
Every last bit had to be removed
my progress was slow and whenever I stopped
the darn things grew back!

So now you see
why I keep such a close watch on the fence.
In a week a bramble can make it
over the fence and to ground.
In two weeks its taken root
and in a year the wilderness has returned
a wilderness where nothing good can grow.

It took years to reclaim the garden
I made a good start and thought I was winning.
A big storm upturned my beans
and down-hearted, I took a break
I realised too late my big mistake.

And so back to square one
trying not to think about the endless repetition
same ground, same weeds,
same old same old
same job still needs to be done!

Head down, only way forward
keep digging, keep pulling, don't let up.
Stop only for a breath, a drink of water
keep moving, lest I seize up
can't sit down in case I don't get up

Go through the pain, ignore the aches
pull out the thorns, don't let them irritate
No more excuses, this job will get done.
Hard work, fresh air, water and sunshine
like a plant I grew strong, and better still
one day I looked up and the job was done!

Before The Spring...

I dig the earth
Pull out the weeds
Just like last year
And the one before

They will, of course, grow back
- in soil this rich
They spring up by the hundred

I break up the clay
And add rotting matter
Vegetable, mineral, bone.
All the growing nutrients

In a month or so
I’ll be planting
Seeds and sets
In pots, trays and drills

I’ll rake, mulch and water
Protect from frost and insects
And I’ll try my best
To keep the cats and the birds off

I’ll come back daily,
Often twice
To tend the seedlings
Thin out, feed, stake

I’ll dance for rain
And pray for sun
And through all of this
I’ll steadily grow stronger
Drinking in the daylight
And grounding myself in the soil

I’ll build a compost heap
And add to it often
With all the weeds
That are bound to return.

I’ll dutifully turn the pile
At the end of the summer
And I’ll smile inside
Knowing that something’s put aside
Already, for next year

I like to think I’ll do it all
Without fail, whatever the weather
Though in reality
I’ll do my best, given
What I have to work with

All in the hope of growing
Something worthwhile, something to be proud of
Something that will sustain us
Through the cold months of distant sun
When only the hardiest can survive

Last Year In The Garden

What really got me back to the garden last year was the arrival of builders at my house. The major renovations drove me to the far end of the garden where I rediscovered the long abandoned and ridiculously overgrown vegetable patch.
For the six weeks of building work I spent every spare minute up there - it was my only sanity!
The main problems were brambles growing in from 3 sides and with them bindweed which I think I'll be fighting forever. Underneath all the weeds though the soil is rich and fertile and as no-one close by grows anything much I don't seem to get too much trouble from aphids and diseases.
So with the help of an enthusiastic friend last April and May I got my garden into some sort of shape and considering the late start, did quite well in managing to grow a supply of veg that lasted from July til November.

Diggeroo

Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Happy Halloween!

No comments:

Followers

Growing Blogs

Labels

Links

Wilfie

Kittywitch

Tiny Toes

courgette flower

On Maintenance and Steady Progress

Before The Spring...

Blog Archive

Green Gardening Books

Last Year In The Garden

About Me

Diggeroo

Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Happy Halloween!

No comments:

Followers

Growing Blogs

Labels

Links

Subscribe To

Wilfie

Kittywitch

Tiny Toes

courgette flower

On Maintenance and Steady Progress

Before The Spring...

Blog Archive

Green Gardening Books

Last Year In The Garden

About Me