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Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. I like the idea of the bottle path - means I've got a good excuse to drink lots of wine so I can recycle the bottles :icon_smile: I'm not so sure about the powered fan system as it's a long way from an electricity source but if I ever get a small solar...

I remember seeing one of the It Isn't Easy Being Green programmes where they dug a hole in a greenhouse and put in some pipes etc to make a passive heat source. I can't remember what they used or how they did it . Does anyone know how to do this?

Richard

This has probably been mentioned before but this is the time of year to be reminded. Cut the tops and bottoms off large, clear plastic drinks bottles to make brilliant mini cloches for new seedlings in the veg patch. Not only do they provide extra warmth but they ensure that, when watering, the wate...

I've been using old TRs and kitchen rolls as potting containers for a couple of years now. They work very well and biodegrade in the soil very quickly when planted out. Initially I had the problem that the compost fell out but now I make sure to tamp down the compost at the bottom. I've never had th...

Thanks for the help on this but the sale fell through - there were big problems with the survey (not to do with it being a wooden house!) We had no problem with transferring our mortgage with our current lender (Halifax) and I managed to find a local surveyor who was experienced in wood frame houses...

At the moment my veg garden is only 1 metre x 1.5 metres. I've got rocket, french beans, beetroot, chives, spearmint and peppermint, 4 tomato plants and I had one coriander plant until the slugs or snails stripped it bare this week! I've also got lots in pots - 10 tomato plants (Gardener's Delight a...

You're right about Freecycle - I've noticed people wanting new mobile phones and even, this week, Nikon camera lenses! You've prompted me into giving up on them. Another thought for lengths of wood - are there any building sites near you? You might get some long off-cuts and it would save them havin...

I've heard of this happening in DIY stores but don't know the reason. The point, however, is why are you buying new timber to make raised beds? In this age of reduce, resuse and recycle I'm sure you could could find some suitable wood elsewhere. If not at the local tip try signing up to your local F...

I've salvaged the cover from my "greenhouse" but the frame has had it. Also, 2 large, new terracotta plantpots are smashed - at least I won't be short of drainage material for other plantpots. I managed to save some of the seedlings so will just have to hope they're not too traumatised! Re...

Thanks - I have to be grateful that at least I didn't depend on them for my income! I pity the poor farmers who are having a bad time already. The house isn't all that far from CAT. We're going over to have another look tomorrow and I'll see how far it is. We're trying to be sensible about it as a l...

What a friendly bunch! I could do with a bit of cheering up as the strong wind last night and today has blown over and smashed my tomato plants and pots as well as my plastic little greenhouse which was full of beetroot, coriander, pak choi and rocket seedlings which were ready to be planted out. Th...

I'm not too sure but I think they are softwood frames with cedar shingles on the outside. Colt have been making them since the early 1900s. The one I'm in the process of buying has hardwood double glazing and hardwood panelling on the inside - very '70s! We're going to have another closer look at it...

I'm in the process of buying a Colt-built wooden framed house. I've had some helpful information from Colt themselves but wondered if anyone else has any experience of them? In particular, I'm looking for a surveyor with experience of wooden framed buidlings but any information about maintenance, pi...

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. Look forward to exchanging views and information on the forum.
Richard

Hi Ina Beekeeping is absolutely fascinating - you should try it. Although I've been doing it for a while now I haven't got my own bees (got a hive and everything else though!) as our garden is too small and overlooked. I'm a member of Manchester Beekeeping Association and work at their apiary once a...