There is a narrow strip in front of the house with a patio and seating area. This blends into the flower garden then past the house the garden reaches it's full width and splits off with an above ground swimming pool on the left and the vegetable plot to the right.

 

 

 

They share the garden with three cats (Josh, Rosie & Jemima) and five chickens who are completely free range (the chickens not the cats although the cats come and go. Oh you know what we mean)

 

They then have a selection of fruit trees followed by a wilderness (not got to yet?) area.

 

As Ian is good at plumbing they have excellent pipework even in the vegetable plot. This is a nifty idea for tomatoes and peppers. They use plastic pipes to act as a support and to water the plants at the roots.

 

The main pest in their vegetable garden at the moment is Colorado beetle. The only organic control is to pick them off the plants. The chickens will not eat them even though we read in a book that they do (perhaps it's French gourmet chickens). This is really only a holding action to keep the foliage on the plant for as long as possible to maximise the crop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another neat idea was letting some of the leeks go on to flower. Not only do they look striking (well it was a surprise to us!) but they look excellent dried in flower arrangements

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can find out more about the daily goings on on Debra's blog

                                                                  

 

 

 

 

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