It's been weeks since my last blog so you would that we'd have achieved a huge amount of work given that this is March and the sowing season. Unfortunately it hasn't quite worked out that way. Excuses range from my being sick with a tummy bug for four days to my having a night out in Belfast that required two days recovery time but whatever the reason March has flown by and we find ourselves under pressure horticulturaly speaking.
So what have we been up to? Well to start with
the chickens are settling in nicely and are beginning to look less like juveniles and more like proper hens. They are however stubbornly refusing to lay any eggs and this is quite troubling given the amount they are able to eat. I've taken to reading to them from Floyd on France, particularly the recipe for cock au vin but the threat isn't working yet. One of them has taken to roosting in the nesting box, despite my best efforts to block it off. She's a particularly fine looking bird but I can't honestly say her appearance wouldn't be improved by the addition of a knob of butter and a few shallots.
So what have we been up to? Well to start with
the chickens are settling in nicely and are beginning to look less like juveniles and more like proper hens. They are however stubbornly refusing to lay any eggs and this is quite troubling given the amount they are able to eat. I've taken to reading to them from Floyd on France, particularly the recipe for cock au vin but the threat isn't working yet. One of them has taken to roosting in the nesting box, despite my best efforts to block it off. She's a particularly fine looking bird but I can't honestly say her appearance wouldn't be improved by the addition of a knob of butter and a few shallots.The Newcastle vintage association had one of 
their tractor runs this month. It was nice to see all the old machines in various states of disrepair or restoration. It has quite put me in mind of getting one (as if I haven't enough to do), I've managed to convince myself that it would really be a useful addition to the farm (no honestly it would).
their tractor runs this month. It was nice to see all the old machines in various states of disrepair or restoration. It has quite put me in mind of getting one (as if I haven't enough to do), I've managed to convince myself that it would really be a useful addition to the farm (no honestly it would).
This past week saw the long awaited return of moonbeam. I'm not sure if the NVA allows vehicles other than tractors in the club (though one member does have a small tank), but if they do we'd better sign up for membership.There have been a couple of new investments this month. I've gone a bit chicken mad and
bought eight broilers to rear for eating. they are growing at an impressive rate but are still a bit small to be let out unsupervised so we have them in one of the stables which seems ideal and gives them loads of room to scratch about. They eat a phenomenal amount though, I hope they are worth it. I also bought two beehives. Unlike the chicks these were not cheap items (cheep cheep ...get it?....oh sorry), but if we manage to get some bees and if we manage to get any reasonable amount of honey they will nearly pay for themselves in the first year. There are a few large if's in there. I've been talking to my local beekeepers association. Under normal circumstances it would be possible to get a nucleus of bees without too much problem but beekeepers are experiencing such heavy losses due to mystery colony collapse that any nuc's they've created they are very much keeping to themselves. 
I was chatting to the chap who sold me the beehives about this and he told me some very disturbing stories. Firstly it is illegal to import bees into the republic of Ireland. This is an attempt to maintain the genetic integrity of the native Irish bee and also to prevent diseases being introduced. You can however bring them into Northern Ireland and no-one has explained to the bees that they can't cross the border. In addition to this beekeepers in the republic are having difficulties getting colonies of bees from native stock and when they do get them they have to pay like €200 for them which is incredibly expensive. So what are beekeepers doing? They are importing bees illegally and where are they getting them? Well believe it of not you can get them from Brazil for a mere €12 for a queen and a few workers. Now I know we're not quite comparing like with like here but €12 v €200 guess what's going to happen. I find this very worrying. Brazilian bees will be Africanised (meaning they are vicious little bastards) and they will potently be carrying lots of lovely diseases that our local bees have no immunity to. It's a bit of a disaster. I won't be getting my bees from Brazil or China or Eastern Europe. I'm hoping I'll either get a swarm or that someone at the BKA will be able to help me out but to stark with I'll be trying the half honeydew melon trick. Basically you scoop out the contents of a honeydew melon and leave the empty rind outside the hive. Bee’s love the smell and spontaneously decide to move in. If this sounds like an old wives tale that's because it is. I first saw this technique demonstrated by my mother. Naturally I thought it was ridiculous........until it worked.
Finally this week we did manage to get some planting done, we've now filled two of our four
beds with onions and have begun to realise we need to dig over way more land. Digging soil for the first time; especially soil which has been trampled by horses and is full of perennial weeds, is no joke and we are running out of time. We have a kitchen full of chitting potatoes and no-where to put them. I think it’s time to get some mechanical help. An old Massey Ferguson, now that would be the job.
bought eight broilers to rear for eating. they are growing at an impressive rate but are still a bit small to be let out unsupervised so we have them in one of the stables which seems ideal and gives them loads of room to scratch about. They eat a phenomenal amount though, I hope they are worth it. I also bought two beehives. Unlike the chicks these were not cheap items (cheep cheep ...get it?....oh sorry), but if we manage to get some bees and if we manage to get any reasonable amount of honey they will nearly pay for themselves in the first year. There are a few large if's in there. I've been talking to my local beekeepers association. Under normal circumstances it would be possible to get a nucleus of bees without too much problem but beekeepers are experiencing such heavy losses due to mystery colony collapse that any nuc's they've created they are very much keeping to themselves. 
I was chatting to the chap who sold me the beehives about this and he told me some very disturbing stories. Firstly it is illegal to import bees into the republic of Ireland. This is an attempt to maintain the genetic integrity of the native Irish bee and also to prevent diseases being introduced. You can however bring them into Northern Ireland and no-one has explained to the bees that they can't cross the border. In addition to this beekeepers in the republic are having difficulties getting colonies of bees from native stock and when they do get them they have to pay like €200 for them which is incredibly expensive. So what are beekeepers doing? They are importing bees illegally and where are they getting them? Well believe it of not you can get them from Brazil for a mere €12 for a queen and a few workers. Now I know we're not quite comparing like with like here but €12 v €200 guess what's going to happen. I find this very worrying. Brazilian bees will be Africanised (meaning they are vicious little bastards) and they will potently be carrying lots of lovely diseases that our local bees have no immunity to. It's a bit of a disaster. I won't be getting my bees from Brazil or China or Eastern Europe. I'm hoping I'll either get a swarm or that someone at the BKA will be able to help me out but to stark with I'll be trying the half honeydew melon trick. Basically you scoop out the contents of a honeydew melon and leave the empty rind outside the hive. Bee’s love the smell and spontaneously decide to move in. If this sounds like an old wives tale that's because it is. I first saw this technique demonstrated by my mother. Naturally I thought it was ridiculous........until it worked.
Finally this week we did manage to get some planting done, we've now filled two of our four
beds with onions and have begun to realise we need to dig over way more land. Digging soil for the first time; especially soil which has been trampled by horses and is full of perennial weeds, is no joke and we are running out of time. We have a kitchen full of chitting potatoes and no-where to put them. I think it’s time to get some mechanical help. An old Massey Ferguson, now that would be the job. 
