Well, here we are, my favourite time of the year and the time for foraging wood, fruit and more.
Once again, the big House accross the Lane have offered me carte blanche to take Apples, Plums, Quinces, Medlars and following a recent tidy up of their Wood, a load of Logs as well.
Time to ignite the Freezer I think!!

Pondering over the Winter to come and some of the Sweetcorn

The Cricket Season Winds Up

Just one more 4-day game in a week’s time at Canterbury. It’s always a time of mixed feelings; from early August it’s been really busy with just the odd day off so I’m ready for the break – but the break is nearly six month’s long!
This is offset by looking around the Ground; the trees are heavy with leaf, going golder by the day and the days get cold by 4pm. Nature has a way of saying “No more Cricket”.

The India Team visited us a week ago and attracted a 7,000 crowd. Scheduled for a 50 overs each 2.30pm start, owing to heavy rain in the morning, this was changed to a twenty/20 game and a good game it was at that with Kent just being pipped at the post in the final Over.

The day was slightly saddened by Security Alerts which came just after the Game finished. About thirteen of us were marooned until nearly 3am unable to get to our Cars which were parked in a danger area.
It appears to have been a false alarm, but following more real threats in Canterbury earlier in the day, you couldn’t take a risk.

There is a Celeb Match on 21st. Sept though and will feature Chris Evans, Freddie Flintoff, Darren Gough amongst others. Should be good and for me, pressure off!

The Great Forage

Foraging has well and truly started down the Lane. I’ve picked some Blackberries which will be frozen with Apples for Winter Crumbles, tomorrow I’m digging up the Horseradish in the fields around here (see Horseradish Page for identification and Recipe), so all this with the fruits from over the Lane, I’m looking forward to some goodies through Winter.

Wood collecting for Kindling etc. has also started, but it never does start really, it’s continual – ‘find wood, keep’ !

The Vegetable Garden

All of the Sweetcorn has been picked and what a bumper crop! The Three Sisters method seems to have worked so well and the Squash in amongst them looks like being a great harvest as well.
The Tomatoes and Runner Beans also continue to do well.

It really is a pleasure to sit down on a cold December to February evening eating the results of your labour. You also find yourself remembering the day you seeded them and the day you harvested them as well (Squash Soup and Chutney on Curry especially).

The big crowd at the India Game & all picked and ready for the Pie!

News from the Coop

The Chickens are enjoying themselves. Like many previous years I’ve found that leaving some of the Stinging Nettles to grow has actually helped the Chickens out.
They seem to love making Tunnels through the high plants and upon arriving at the Coop gate, you see them appearing from all directions through them!

But, tomorrow most have to be cut right down and / or pulled altogether. This usually causes mayhem as they rush to scurry up the seeds as they fall to the Ground.

It’s when I’m doing work in the Chicken Run that each Hen has the same name; ‘Getoutthebl**dyway”.

After all the Vegetables have gone, I’ll let them out during the day a bit more (only when I’m working in the Office and can see them the whole time). They love this time and spend most of it scraping the fallen leaves under the Bushes. They especially like the Laurel.

Summing Up

Soon I shall have time on my hands, but am amazed to see that after the end of Season ‘fully’ on 22nd.Sept, I’m fully diaried up til mid October!

Most of the Autumn and Winter this year will be working on the Website. There are quite a few plans laid in the design and new Subject fronts.
Hopefully all will be revealed soon!

Don’t forget you can also follow goings on down the Lane on the Facebook Group Page and Twitter.