Pandemic Veg Patch Begins
I thought you might like to see some pictures of the beginnings of our temporary, Covid19, vegetable garden. I am pretty worried about the British food supply now and for the rest of this year, because Britain imports half of its food and much of what is grown here is picked by migrant workers who are now quarantined in their own countries. There have lots of worrying reports in the news about this, which my father-in-law and I have been discussing, so I thought it would be good if I could help him and supply some of the vegetables for our table.
I started by moving the flowers from the small bed in front of the sitting room to other places in the garden, but then realised that I wasn’t going to get much yield from this small amount of space.
In the News
For about two weeks supermarkets had empty shelves. It was crazy, stressful and eye opening. The community chat channel had a running commentary of photos of empty shelves from every supermarket in the area and there was constant reports of ‘panic’ buying on the news.
In the Garden
Making Raised Beds
We had some old wooden doors, which someone gave us for a prop, but which we no longer need, so we were able to turn these into half a dozen boxes for raised beds.
Seed Sourcing
Buying vegetable seeds was a real challenge because other people have become concerned about the food supply too and have been buying all the seeds up. I managed to get a few packets from Yalden’s, quite a range from the local Chiltern Seed company, and some from Thompson & Morgan, an international company, but the T & M seeds have not arrived yet and may take a month to come!
Filling the Raised Bed Boxes
First the beds were lined with cardboard to exclude the light and hopefully prevent the weeds from growing. Then I watered the cardboard. The cardboard will compost down in a while. How long? I’m not sure, maybe a year?
Someone I know in the village with horses offered me some well-composted horse manure. It was stored against a hedge so there is some bracken in it, but the compost looks really dark and good and is filled with worms!
We filled the beds.
The First Seeds Planted
Here are my first seeds starting to grow (in the porch).
Pater's Salad
Stay tuned – I’ll send more pictures as I get things growing. Hopefully they will be as delicious as Pater’s salad and herbs, shown below.
Provisioning
We are all trying to stay safe and stay home and I am helping Pater with his ankle dressings so that he doesn’t need to go the nurse’s office twice a week. To be safer, for my HALO project of helping the lady across the street I wear a mask and gloves when I go to see her and when I go shopping as well as disinfecting everything when I get back and any deliveries. I am not sure that my former fashion teachers would be impressed with my new look!
I have also been able to get all the groceries we need at the local shops in Seer Green and Jordans so that I don’t have to risk going to Sainsbury’s.
Food of the Week
Bagels
Raphael is back to home-schooling after only two weeks at the Beaconsfield School which he found really good. The school is being very supportive and trying to make lessons as near to normal as possible. Here he is baking extra-curricular bagels, which tasted great!
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HALO organising tip
In the kitchen mise en place thinking is a life saver. This is a professional chef’s term for having everything in place before you start cooking.
As we move in to these uncertain times with Lockdown for Covid19, and we have random things in the fridge and store-cupboard, now, more that ever I need to be organized. Otherwise, a stress out will ensure and you can’t just run to the grocery store, corner shop or take-away for a quick fix.
Preparation
We are very grateful to Pater. He is 93 and shares his house with us. This is one reason we are very worried and careful about the virus.
Hibernating the Car
As Lockdown for vunerable elderly groups may last quite a few months, Raphael is washing Pater’s car. Them we covered it securly with a tarpaulin. Hopefully, even when the birds which roost in the tree above the driveway poop on the car the paint won’t be damaged.
Life Suspended
Cardora Classic Film Festival
We host the Cardora Classic Film Festiva a monthly at the Baptist Church in Seer Green. We had just put out the posters for our next four films:
- Sabrina
- I’m Alright Jack
- High Noon
- Rear Window
Just before the Lockdown, we postponed our screening of Sabrina. When the Lockdown was announced we removed all the posters in the village. Hopefully we can resume film screenings one day.
Daily walks
Flowers in our Borders
