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  • Newbie

    Hi all,
    Just joined the site and bought my subscription.
    So thought I should introduce myself and my interests.

    My name is Michael, im 27 years old and so far I have, bees, chickens, horses and try my hand at gardening, I have a 30'x14' polytunnel and some outside beds.

    Few somewhat related hobbies would be fishing, hunting, smoking fish meat and cheese so I am always looking for new plants and herbs to compliment these hobbies.

    Really excited to be here and cant wait to learn from you all especially if you have any advice for folk starting out. I have worked in the garden for two years with mixed results. Really want to have a good year this year and looking at irrigation options and any tips for organising my time.

    Hope to hear from you soon

    Michael

  • #2
    Hi Michael and welcome to the Forum. Sounds like you already have a lot of experience of the great outdoors and a sizeable piece of land!!
    Are you in the UK?

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi,
      Sorry I meant to say that in my post. I am in Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland.
      Our family have land however we rent it out to a local farmer. I hope to work the land in a few years perhaps get some sheep etc.
      For now I have a section wired off for my own hobbies

      Thanks for your reply

      Michael

      Comment


      • #4
        What a great opportunity!! What would you like to grow? If you give us some ideas I'm sure someone will be able to help you - although we don't always agree on the best way.

        Comment


        • #5
          So In my 1st year I grew everything in the polytunnel then last year I built some raised outside beds, they are still a bit messy need to put down flag stones etc and generally tidy it up but i attempted to grow potatoes and leaks in outside beds this year and unfortunately they grew for a few weeks then everything died sadly.
          And the previous year I had a real good year in the polytunnel but this year I had a good crop of tomatoes but everything else didnt grow great I have to say.

          SO thats why I joined here. Hope I can get some tips on best composting methods, soil treatment and a better feel for recognising when something is going wrong before its too late.

          I can be over eager

          What is your set up like?

          Comment


          • #6
            There are always good years and bad I find. For example, last year I had loads of courgettes - this year only 4
            With your horses, you should have plenty of manure and, as you know, that's great for feeding your soil. Build yourself some compost bins and pile it up with green waste.
            I have a few chickens, and throw all my green waste and shredded paper in their run for them to kick about. With their bedding and poo it seems to break down quite quickly. That's my main source of compost.
            I garden at home, mostly fruit trees and soft fruit, some veg and 5 greenhouses Its enough to keep me out of mischief! I'm not the best person to advise you as I make up my own rules and ignore conventional advice.
            I'm sure someone who knows what they're talking about will be along soon.

            Comment


            • #7
              See with your chicken compost.
              So I put shavings in their coup but when I clean it out it doesnt seem to break down too easily. Only had the chickens about a year now. Do you layer your compost or do the chickens break it down for you?
              and last question lol Could you keep compost in your chicken run as that would free up a bit of space for me

              Also you mentioned you had fruit trees?
              What do you grow and do you grow them outside?

              Thanks again

              Comment


              • #8
                Hi there, and welcome to the Vine!
                Sounds like you have a fantastic setup already!
                "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

                Location....Normandy France

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi Engineer and welcome to the vine. You've come to the right place for advice
                  Location ... Nottingham

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hello and welcome to the vine Michael
                    Location....East Midlands.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Welcome to the Vine Michael
                      Nannys make memories

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hi Engineer,

                        Welcome to the Vine, their a good bunch on here .
                        Never Let the BAD be the Enemy of the GOOD

                        Conservation and Preservation for the Future Generation

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Morning Michael and a warm welcome from me as well.
                          I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Thomas A. Edison

                          Outreach co-ordinator for the Gnome, Pixie and Fairy groups within the Nutters Club.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi welcome to the vine
                            Sounds like you have a nice set up. Photos we like photos ( we're all really nosey )
                            That's a good size tunnel. My 14 x 25 tunnel is used just for my chillies ( I'm a little obsessed ), the 12 x 20 and the 10 x 10 is used for all the other inside crops.
                            I'm also a fan of fishing. So are you sea or fresh water fishing? You'll meet a few grapes that like there fishing.
                            Like you I also do a bit of smoking mostly fish and cheese because I only have a cold smoker.
                            You're also in the right place for help with chickens. Lots of knowledgeable chicken keepers on here. I've recently got another 13 ( 12 girls 1 boy ) after the otter ate all my girls over the summer. Otter defences have been improved!
                            Only hunting I do is bunnies. With the help of our little fang, Django, smudge and badge the ferrets.
                            Lots of people have had a bad year growing this year. My squashes and tomatoes were dreadful, brassicas weren't great. I could go on but you get the idea.
                            Next year will ( fingers crossed) be better growing for everyone.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Engineer354 View Post
                              See with your chicken compost.
                              So I put shavings in their coup but when I clean it out it doesnt seem to break down too easily. Only had the chickens about a year now. Do you layer your compost or do the chickens break it down for you?
                              and last question lol Could you keep compost in your chicken run as that would free up a bit of space for me
                              I have 3 chooks that free range when I'm in the garden. Their run is in 3 sections - the "home section" with their coop in which is securely fenced and 2 runs that lead off it and they use each one for a couple of months before swapping to the other one.
                              I use wood shavings on cardboard in their coop and empty this into the run that they are using at the time. All the green waste and shredded junk mail is thrown in there too. After a couple of months its all raked out and spread on empty beds or into bins to use as required.

                              Originally posted by Engineer354 View Post
                              Also you mentioned you had fruit trees?
                              What do you grow and do you grow them outside?

                              Thanks again
                              All sorts - apples, pears, plums. Cherries but the birds pick them first! and some "odd" things (mulberry, persimmon, medlar - that are too young to fruit yet). They're outdoors. Also peaches, nectarines and apricot in a polytunnel.
                              Plenty of raspberries, blackcurrants, jostaberries - and figs, grapes and I can't remember what else.
                              I recommend growing fruit as its perennial, needs minimal care once planted and gives structure to a garden - and you can plant veggies beneath the trees.

                              Comment

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