A Summer Round Up

It’s shaping up to have been a pretty good year at The Secret Acre, despite the very dry weather.

Where crops simply failed in last year’s unseasonable rain, at least the gardener has the chance to water things, especially, if like us, you live in a well-managed area like Severn Tent Water, which rarely needs a hosepipe ban.

So most things are back to growing reasonably well, even if the fruits are a bit undersized from the lack of rain.

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Garden of Delights

There is usually something to surprise you in the garden at The Secret Acre.

Earlier this year, Emma was joined by a very curious pheasant in the Greenhouse.

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Of Autumn in July and Summer in September

It’s been a difficult year for plants and wildlife suffering the stuck weather systems of climate change. A worry for the extremes to come.

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Here come the Crops

And we say, it’s all right.

Despite the Climate Change driven drought, summer abundance arrived at The Secret Acre.

It all made for a busy July and August, along with the usual influx of willing helpers at the start of the school holidays.

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How it’s going on the Veg Patch

Here’s a quick pictorial catch up of how it’s going on The Secret Acre Veg Patch after our unexpected slow start to the year.

Overall, things have caught up pretty well considering our chaotic spring, and garlic, field beans, salads, strawberries and red currents are all ready to start to harvest.

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White Dog, Blue Bells, Slow Start

Despite our usual New Year optimism for the gardening year ahead, an unexpected combination of care duties, hospital treatment and Covid, meant that we are having a very slow start to our spring at The Secret Acre.

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Sunny September’s Harvest

Here’s our quick pictorial look at some of September’s harvest season action at The Secret Acre.

As is so often the case now under climate change, awful August gave way to warmer days again in September, as soon as the school had gone back (September was second warmest on record for the UK), before autumn could return again properly in October.

In the garden, flowers, fruit and veg all continued in abundance as we moved into this harvest festival and apple pressing season.

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Flaming June on the Veg Patch

Here’s a quick pictorial look at some of the June’s garden action at The Secret Acre.

After a slow start, due to the weird Spring weather, June finally delivered some warm sunshine allowing the garden to burst into life.

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A new toy, and more garlic

Ever since we got the ride on mower, I have secretly coveted a toy, sorry important farming accessory, to tow behind it!

It turned out there is a whole catalogue of possibilities, none of which I could really justify the expense of to Emma. Continue reading

Nursey Times, Lockdown Hair, and Pallet Man Rides Again

We’re currently busy with the annual planting out now that the risk of frost has passed.

There was some unusually late frost here last week that had us dashing out for several nights to fleece the young potatoes. The first time we’ve ever had to do this, as climate change driven weather extremes continue to build. Continue reading