Taking a year off

[doofaloofa]

This year I am building us a new extension, so I have decided to take a year off from the gardening to free up valuable time in the spring, when I will be going full steam ahead on the building project

That means no pigs, and maybe no turkeys for christmas

I am feeling a great weight lifted from my shoulders

[Flo]

Will the garden go away or turn into a jungle whilst you are building the extension? Can understand you not having pigs and turkeys whilst you are building - bad mixture.

[doofaloofa]

Hopefully the extension will be sealed against the elements (and therefore work can slow) by the late summer, so the turkeys/geese will still be viable

I am planning to start to get more bonhams to sell live, so pigs may also happen, i just wont try to grow the fodder

I though I'd cover the garden in black plastic for the year, or maybe sow some rye in the late spring as a forage for the geese/turkeys to graze

[ojay54]

From my personal experience,the 'relief of not having to care 24/7 for stock very quickly becomes a feeling of abject loss.It's 2 years + since we said goodbye to the pigs (and goats) and now I only think about them 4 or 5 times a day.You'll want them back as soon as .

[diggernotdreamer]

So you had a weight off your shoulders, no pigs, turkey etc.............................

....................... and now you might do turkeys and also pigs may be an option, maybe you should just put in a few spuds and cabbage just for the sheer hell of it. Isn't that what is known in political circles as a u turn

[doofaloofa]

I'm glad you asked me that question...

the 'weight' is planning and growing a full garden

The animals are way less work(now our infrastructure is good) and will come after the bulk of the building is over

rather than half do both I thought 'feck it' put the veggies on hold till next year

[doofaloofa]

In short, I am undecided about the pigs and turkeys and geese

[diggernotdreamer]

you missed out saying 'going forward'

[doofaloofa]

You'll still vote for me though?

Right?

[Flo]

Just get on with the building will you instead of trying to make decisions? It's far too early in the year for decisions - well up here anyway when outside work starts on 1st March, give or take a foot of snow and frost.

[Flo]

The question is - is doofa building the extension or is he keeping pigs, turkeys and geese or is he gardening?

[doofaloofa]

All of the above

The family are away on holidays for 2 weeks, so I have taken the opportunity to join the house and extension roofs

The swedes are looking good to

[Flo]

About this year off then? What went wrong with the plans?

[doofaloofa]

Just growing the one crop has been way less stressfull than a mixed garden, and though there was a good deal of work to do earlier, the crop is looking after itself at the moment

or something

[Flo]

You must be able to do a lot with that one crop then.