A Little Background

We have been looking after this little piece of land for quite some time now.

I likened life and work here -on the Home page- as a Patchwork Quilt. I can’t think of a better way of putting it. Over time here’s been a little bit added here a little bit taken away there. Some things worked from the start, others were rather less useful and threw the whole ballance out. There are some things that – although not always in the best place have stayed put- despite my inclination to have a garden on wheels. The living in bit’s are stationary, most of the tunnels are where they started and paths around the garden haven’t wondered about too much. I suppose to a purist there’s no rhyme or reason for anything being where it is, certainly if you are looking through a Permaculture glass. So, let’s just settle on the patchwork Quilt of life in this garden as being in the style of a Crazy Quilt.

There was LOT’S and I mean LOT’S of homework done in the years before we came here. All the do’s and dont’s were stashed away to be applied on visits to site’s. For a Market Garden it’s always best to go for a nice flat-ish, south-ish facing piece of land, not too big and with good soil. Ha, threw that bit of paper away when we came here. There was no soil in the garden bit, it’s not in the least flat or south facing, it’s probably too many feet above optimum sea levels, BUT, it’s beautiful and lot’s of other things can be altered when you know your smitten.

Market Gardening without an army of unpayed workers ain’t easy but we managed and managed rather well for quite some years. After a bit -sometimes- something inside say’s ‘not sure I can do this for much longer.’ That’s the time when new horizons are looked towards. Thinks…… what do’s one do with a -rapidly becoming- ‘Wild Life’ garden, up a hill, with poly tunnels, lovely paths, and a nice comfy home. Well it’s obvious…Grow Tea…. Yep, Okay, not every ones first thought, but, it seemed like a good idea at the time. And. As far as work is concerned it’s a darn sight easier than growing seasonal veg, with all the vageries of the weather and a good many small squeeky bodies that like to eat well.

Soooo, Tea. Yes, Camellia Sinensis in all it’s glory. I can now admit, growing it ain’t as easy as it’s cracked on to be. But. Had a bit of practice and sort of finding my way-slowly. Being where the garden is it should be a doddle, up a hill, maritime climate, lot’s of rain, low ph soil, oodles of rhododendron’s and their like. All Good. Apart from the very heavy late frosts in early May, fluctuating temps in the winter and the often April drought. Plays merry what’s it’s with the new leaf. Still, found a way round most of the drawbacks and we-the bushes and I- are still here to tell the tale, even if we are both a bit weather’d.