What a relief it was to have a bit of rain! Not a sentence I thought I’d ever say, but outdoor, spot watering just doesn’t really do the job. The brassicas and onions in particular aren’t enjoying warm and rainless. Plants in some shade seem to be coping better than those out in full sun. Of course the weeds will be enjoying the rain as well, I foresee a lot of weeding on the agenda.
The croft is really teeming with wildlife at the moment. There are baby sparrows everywhere cheeping constantly and going in the net tunnel then not being able to figure out how to get back out again. The youngest boy’s wildlife pond has numerous beetles and a frog. Most exciting though was the discovery of a hedgehog nest in the sheep shed – a mum and five babies! We’ve covered them with hay put a barrier in front of the nest to stop the sheep treading on them. I’m hoping to see some babies wandering about in a few weeks, ideally when armed with the camera.
This week’s Croft Shares are splitting into three sizes, Small has five different crops, Medium has seven and Large nine plus.
Small would suit a couple or someone who lives alone, Medium would suit a family or a couple who like to eat a lot of veg. Large is a one stop vegetable shop! Customers subscribing to a Large Share probably won’t need to buy much other veg.
This week Small has new potatoes, French beans, a green cabbage, perpetual spinach and sugar snaps.
Medium has new potatoes, French beans, a green cabbage, perpetual spinach, courgettes, beetroot and broccoli.
Large has new potatoes, French beans, a green cabbage, perpetual spinach/chard, courgettes, beetroot, Spring onions, broad beans, salad leaves and cooking onions.
The broad beans are young so no need to peel each bean! Just pod and cook. Courgettes are in two colours now, including a famous Italian variety called Rugosa Friulana. Yes, there are famous Italian courgettes growing on a croft in the Scottish Highlands.