Mid-winter update

We are really in the heart of winter now. One of the coldest winters that we have had in a long time. I was cycling around the valley today and noticed a lot of boggy paddocks and very little grass. We should have kept a lot more hay as it will really be in demand at the end of this season. We just sold off the small amount we still had on hand today to clear room out of our garage today. We haven't had any Wwoofers staying for a few weeks now - very few people are applying and we don't have a lot on. It is nice to have a bit of a break.

We have planted 4 rows of garlics today - at least we have gotten some in near the shortest day (the saying goes that you plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day). We do hope to plant a lot more - hopefully we will get to it next week I am hoping for as good a crop as last season.

I managed to get away on an overnight tramp a week or so ago. I went into the Western Hutt river which was a restricted access water catchment area until a few years ago so it is good wilderness area. The one hut in there had a hut visitors book that started in 1986 and was only half full - not a lot of visitors. My weather was great (for this time of year) - there was a small amount of ice and snow on the top of Mt Alpha (1300m)

I did not see a soul for two days. There are very few tracks so some areas are a bit of a challenge for navigation but I have been in there are few times now so am begining to know my way around a little so I don't get lost for too long.

I stayed at Alpha hut (a 30 person Hut with just me). My cook stove didn't seem to like the altitude or temperature so would not vaporise so it just spewed liquid fuel out so I had flames everywhere. I managed to get it out and had to light the wood burner to cook dinner which was a bit of a challenge with the limited dry wood supply at the hutt. Instead of cooking on top of the woodstove which would have meant really getting the fire going I put my pot inside the stove with the fire which cooked my rice and lentils in no time. (yes it tasted as boring as it sounds - and there was plenty left over to have cold for breakfast next morning - yeah!)

New update for 2006.

Hi All

New update for 2006. I have just been telling our Wwoofers what a wonderful thing blogs would be for keeping a log of thier travels so that friends and family can see them adn keep up with what they are up to.

I am a little disappointed with what we have in the garden this year -
Tomatos - a variety of types - itallian, cherry, hierloom orange and ugly ones,
Courgettes - prolific as ever,
Cucumbers - sweet if we get them early enough - bitter if not,
Aubergines - almost there with fruit,
Chard/silverbeet most of which is self sown in the polytunnel and in the garden,
Corn - about the third attempt to get some growing this season which is looking pretty good now I just hope there is enough season left for them to develop,
Scarlet runner beans just coming on now,
Cabbages which I have had covered with frostcloth for the last month to reduce the White cabbage moth catapiller
Garlic I was really happy with the Garlic crop this year. If it keeps alright I am hoping it will keep us going for the year.
Potatoes Most of the crop is in a "no dig" arrangement covered in hay. Some has been too diligently covered early on and has smothered but should still be a good crop there.
Leeks - It is there but not looking like much.

The weather this Summer has had plenty of rain in it. I was concerned at one stage about our rain water supply but now we have one and a half tanks which should be plenty to keep us and the polytunnel plants happy. There has been no need to water outside at all. With the warm and wet weather I am sorry that I do not have a lot more happening in the garden