Selfsufficientish.com

Hi, I am intrigued by the broad bean thing - I have never grown them at this time of year. Do you mean that you can sow them now (maybe under a cloche) and they will germinate? Will definately give this a try if so. I am extending my veggie patch so face the revolting task of clearing turf and doubl...

Helloo, For first earlies, I had great sucess last year by buying ten of those cheap black (though not sure if the colour made much difference) rectangular plastic storage boxes, that you often see in pound shops etc. I planted two potatoes in each and left them under the greenhouse benches. Come la...

Thanks for the advice, what the hell, I will give it a go and keep you posted - I am sure it will be ok for at least a couple of years as the roots are only as big as a mophead at the moment...but self sufficiency may still be a little while off...

Oh well, there goes that idea then! Thanks for all of the advice, I have decided instead to shift the compost bins...not sure where to yet.....somwhere without any dogs either....!

Hello, I have just got home with my brand new plum tree from Wilkinsons - it is 'Stanley' and was only a fiver so I couldn't resist... the thing is I only have a small garden and was planning on planting it in a pot. I have now looked it up and realised that it is a biggy, growing to over six feet a...

Hi, Just a quickie, I am running out of space in my garden and need to plant my blackcurrent bushes out somewhere, only place left is in the cook coop. I want to plant something there anyway so that they have some shade and shelter. Do chickens eat berries from bushes? They don't seem to be too inte...

Hi, I can appreciate your concerns - Bruno, my cat is a horrendous catcher, we have anything and everything, often bigger than he is. I kept mine cooped up for ages because I was scared he would catch them (he kept pouncing at the chicken wire and trying to get in). However one day I felt brave and ...

Thanks for the replies. My stream is quite fast flowing but shallow - I think I will create a little dam and a colleague has suggested using a pond plant pot with mesh sides and normal garden soil - not sure whether or not it needs enriching. Hopefully contamination shouldn't be too much of a prob, ...

Hi,

Does anyone know how I can go about growing watercress? I am lucky enough to have a small fast moving stream going though my garden but no idea how it grows, and cannot find much info on the net.

I would be grateful for any tips!
Thanks

Hello, I am no expert, but I have chickens and i don't see why you shouldn't mix them - mine are free range and mix daily with loads of other birds (even when they are in the coop - they are in and out all day) - infact they take no notice of each other. In my experience other birds roost much highe...

Thanks all, will keep you posted. In answer to questions though, I haven't knitted any poncho's yet - some have more feathers than others, one is almost completely bald. I don't think they would appreciate jumpers but I make sure that they have plenty of straw at night to snuggle up to and there are...

Hello! Today I finally got my lovely new hens. They are ex-bats fresh from the factory, hence a slightly scabby appearance.(would show you butdon't seem to be able to attach a photo!?) Poor little things they are so skinny and bedraggled. As they haven't ever walked on ground before they really do n...

Hi Thomso, I am in exactly the same predicament. I have decided that it is safer to keep mine in their smaller, foxproof (I hope) run (built into the house a bit like an arc with chicken wire on the ground to prevent digging under) run during the weekdays and let them out to freely range the garden ...

Thanks Peggy Sue, That makes sense - unfortunately I have already dug in quite alot of it. I am sure I read somewhere that one of the reasons manure should rot first is that there is too much nitrogen in it to put straight on to delicate plants, which causes scorching. Hopefully the excess in the po...

Do you have a bird feeder? I personally put mine on a tray on the bird table, which reduces the guilt somewhat.