We're living on just under an acre in NW Co. Cork. Everything has to be grown in raised beds (the number of which are increasing year on year) as our plot had no topsoil whatsoever. Fortunately a neighbour has cattle and so we get a huge pile of manure with straw for free every year. I get worryingly excited by composting! This year I've also created a dedicated asparagus bed (for some cheap corms I got in Lidl) and another which I transplanted my poor, previously neglected rhubarb to.
I have a small polycarbonate greenhouse (that has to be patched up regularly when the gales come through) and this year we've built ourselves a 30ft polytunnel using ESB duct pipe, recycled scaffold boards, an old trampoline and free, partially spent growbags from a friend's strawberry farm. The greatest cost was the cover, which we didn't skimp on. So, this will be my first year being able to grown anything more than basil and a few tomato plants under cover. Next experiment is going to be a hotbed in the tunnel.
I keep chickens (only 4 hens and a rooster) and this year we're going to try and raise some chicks to increase our little flock's size. We have a pond project on the go with a view to getting ducks but realistically that's going to be one for next year I think.
We're off grid in terms of electricity and generate our own power via solar panels, a wind turbine and a back-up genny.
What else? Oh I homebrew a lot - mostly fruit/veg wines and weird ales - and I have a preserving/pickling addiction!
Today it's sleeting out there and I'm feeling pleased with myself for not having planted my spuds yet. Two years ago they all got frost damaged...on 29th April!
Looking forward to learning more and maybe being able to share although I am but a novice!
