sustainable beekeeping ∙ baking ∙ chickens ∙ wildlife
Having land is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference, but where to start? I often get contacted by people wanting to keep bees, as this is a common way to think about "giving back to nature". If you follow my blog, you might already know that this way of thinking is fraught with problems …
Continue reading "What can I do with my Field that will be Good for Nature?"
I've not been over to see the bees for a while, but they arrived in June as a swarm in to a baited National so really this summer was all about letting them build up and collect stores for their first winter. They were flying well when I arrived. We are having a very mild …
Moulting time for the chooks, and eggs are currently a rarity to be savoured! They are enjoying the windfall apples and excess courgettes (now marrows) which helps keep them healthy at this time of year. We have had a bit of a red mite issue so the perches are liberally dusted with diatomaceous earth, and …
Yes. That million-dollar question. As you may know, my chickens have moved to my friend's plot, and we ended up with 5 roosters, 3 of whom were related, and Ralph the Rhode Island was father to about 60% of the flock. Ralph had lost a spur early on in his life and the new growth …
I was called to the Selmeston wild-living bees, as the owner said the hive had been knocked over and the bees had disappeared. I was rather alarmed as we had strapped up the hive and made sure it was secure when we transferred the old crumbling hive on to the new one. The bees had …
I have had some car issues recently but I did manage to film a little vid as we were dealing with the hens this week at Starnash Farmhouse. https://youtu.be/CrZHdMq_CJY I am really looking forward to documenting what we do, and now it's becoming noticeably lighter in the mornings and evenings, we can tentatively think about …
I haven't made a great many cakes recently, but my youngest is vegan and wanted to make some granola bars, and the recipe called for coconut sugar. I looked up about coconut sugar, and apparently it causes less of a response in blood sugar than regular glucose, so I thought I would try it, as …
Well the weather hasn't improved much! We got on and moved the chooks though, and created a nestbox for the young 'uns who are laying. Henry the rooster seems to be very happy with his hens so should anyone go broody in the spring, we can rely on those eggs being fertile!! Fresh eggs are …
I have mentioned that I am collaborating with Vicky at Starnash with the poultry and vegetable garden, and we are both really keen to share what we are doing, using a great expression I heard on a podcast: We can talk about making a difference; we can make a difference; or we can do both. …
Continue reading "A Resilient and Adaptive Growing Space: an Introductory Video!"
I get a veg box from Abel & Cole - have done for about 15 years - and although I have patronised local veg schemes, I must say the quality and service I have had with A&C has been consistently good over the time I have used them. One of the problems with the smaller …
Wayward Bee 