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Ah, thanks Mike. TBH, we could probably do the beds to fit the feebleness of the wood. A lot of smaller beds would be ok, maybe even better. Then I could do one for salad, one for spinach etc. I wouldn't mind chemicalling the exterior. I was thinking of 6 by 10- beds, or even 3 by 5.

We have a 250 ft garden. I am hoping to fit 4 6 by 10 beds at the bottom of it. Thing is fully 2/3 of the garden is gravel with hardcore underneath. I want to get shot of it, but the less we have to move the better! I was hoping we could make raised beds on top of the gravel, if I loosen ti and add ...

I can get numerous pallets for free, I just wondered if you could use them to build raised beds, or would the wood be too feeble? I was thinking of taking them apart and then overlapping the wood to construct them. I just need cheap beds, and hope they could be used!

Pesky ants are farming blackfly on my Angelica, mint, catmint, naustuartiums, lemnonbalm, um, ALL my herbs except marjarom and sage. Even the lovage! Anyone recommend a way to get shot? I pinch out tips but it doesn't stop them. Do I need to locate the nest and kill the ants?

Just realised that sounded panicky! I don't mean to sound officious, but I was taking herbal supplements for years and they made the problem much, much worse. I was hospitalised for months, and the endocrinologist explained to me that not taking medication was simply not an option. Pregnant with DD,...

If she is taking herbal supplemenst for thyroid probs, please be aware that these can make the problem WORSE. If she has autoimmune thyroid disorder, she will need to take medication, NO QUESTION, or it is extremely dangerous. I know whereof I speak because I was in the situation. Taking supplements...

I don't think it needs ramming down peoples' throats, but it does need positive input. Although many FF feel hounded by BF women, it is the case that many women choose to FF through misinformation. And it is a class thing too, in Hackney, where I was taught to BF my son by a lovely Surestart group, ...

This has been helpful, thanks! A pub nearby has a load of Black Pekin banties and they are wandering the gardens and lovely. Maybe I need to think about breed a lot more with 2 wee ones. I am also veering towards ex-batteries too, it would be great for the kids to see them repair and a good learning...

I have started training as a Bf counsellor. I did son till 18 mo, when he self weaned, and daughter till 20 mo, self weaned, and there is only 15 mo between them (just!) so I tandem fed too. After over 3 years at it i was glad to give them a rest! When I was living in London I found it easy to feed ...

Susie Gee, I've just noticed your tag. The great Mr Cohen ahs a lovely song about how there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. You're not a fellow obsessive are you? That would be too lucky!

Ooh, ADG, that sounds great! There are onion fields and leek fields all around me. I've never ever seen a mushroom though! I am in Chatteris, where are you? I'd love a good puffball!

I am planning to keep either chickens or banties. I want to let them roam free as much as I can. I have 250 ft and will have, soon 4 raised veg beds. I was thinking that banties might be a better bet, as they may be less destructive of flowers/ veg? If I let them roam? I also have 2 kids under 3, an...

Hi all, I am a SAHM (stay at home mum) to two under 3 , 15 mo apart (just!). I live in the Fens. Prior to the kid onslaught I was a history teacher in Hackney, London. When the kids came along, we moved, downsized, and fetched up in the Fens with the idea to live cheaply, quietly, and on one wage. W...

We've recently moved to the Fens. Aside from the usual blackberries and a lovely collection of sloe trees, I really don't know what to expect! Is anyone local enough to help? I used to forage sloes, small damsons and berries and wild garlic in South Cambs, but the Fens is different, so many ditch si...

One is sambucas nigra, the other I can't find. You are right, they are not as smelly, though very pretty! I may have to forage the only 3 hedges in Fenland for real Elderflower to make my wine, though I could just fall back on dandelions... :iconbiggrin: I might try them anyway, they are such a nice...