Some Lightheartedness On Election Day

A few parody videos to make you smile on election day.

First one is a rather catchy farmer one (Ed Sheeran cover)! 

And these two are some parenting ones that are a little too close to the truth! 

This one is another Ed Sheeran Cover.

And this one is a cover of Feetwood Mac

Now that should have made you smile, just one more thing:

Make sure if you live in the UK that you get out there and vote today! 

I don't care who you vote for (well I do but I won't tell you on this blog anyway) but make sure that your voice is heard, even if your party has no chance of getting in in your constituency show them that you support them. 

A Tour Of The Coppice

The garden and the sheep (and the children) take up most of my time around here, but I have got a few other areas growing on quietly in the background. 

The coppice is one of those, it's quiet happy being neglected  but it's looking better every year. I did make some extra plantings this year and I plan to plant even more this next winter/spring - I'll clear an area of grass by leaving plastic on it and then plant it up with self seeding annuals or perennial herbs and bushes. 

Here's a little walk around of what it's looking like at the moment.

Let me know what you think!

What would you plant in there?

Playing Peter Rabbit

The girls spent a good three and a half hours with me out in the garden this afternoon. 

They were quite happy entertaining themselves, creating games and playing with the mud. 

 When I asked what they were playing they told me "Peter Rabbit". I asked who they were and my eldest said she was the cat and my younger daughter told me she was Mr McGregor's wife. They then showed me all their "pies" they'd made with mud and bricks and in each one was a character from the book "This one has Peter Rabbit in, this one has Benjamin in... we don't like rabbits in our garden!"

I guess I've taught them well on that front! 

Tasty pies...

Eating some New Zealand Yam leaves, these girls are animals! 

They had a great time playing in the mud but a wash and a change of clothes was needed! Lovely company for an afternoon planting veg! 

A Talk On Gardening With Children

Last year I did a talk at Hellens Garden Festival and I've been asked back to do a talk again this year.

The last talk was on our journey with self sufficiency, one that wrote itself really, but this years is a little different, it's going to be about gardening with children.

My talk will be at 2 o'clock on the Sunday so I hope if you're local you'll come along and give me a bit of support! The whole day is for a great cause and there's loads going on for children and adults. the day we had there last year was amazing.

Planting tomatoes on Wednesday with the girls

This is certainly a subject I think I have a lot of experience with, as during the last five years I've really tried to involve my children in everything I do here when it comes to growing our own food. I've got lots of tips and tricks for getting them to help out, as well as having them with me whilst I grow most of the veg we eat, from things I've made to getting them to dig for things like New Zealand Yams and pretending it's buried treasure! 

But I want to know what your top tips are for getting children to help you in the garden?

Children Helping

My two girls (5&3) helping me get the sheep in.

Kids seem drawn to farming and gardening and the other day I was wondering why.
The animals and things are fun but I think it's more the fact that they feel helpful. They can actually help and feel useful when doing tasks, my children are no fools and know if I need them or not.
My eldest spent the whole day with me, drenching the sheep, starting a new front garden, planting a big batch of Brussels sprouts out and never moaned once and helped with different tasks, as well as being great company.
I remember being useful as a child on my father's farm, I spent so much time with him growing up and I learnt so much from him (and still do!). I hope my children have similar memories!