Saturday 3 May 2014

The Rotovator arrives.

On the back of a lorry from the firm in our little market town who hire out machinery and equipment.   The back vegetable garden had become so hard during the Winter that the farmer just could not dig it properly.   It had all been well-'mucked' but apart from the onions, nothing else had been put in.

The rotovator arrived at lunchtime and by the middle of the afternoon, when I took this photograph, the whole garden had been gone over once.   Then the farmer did it again, working the opposite way, and now there are also three rows of peas already planted. What an easy way to get the garden dug - I trust he will always do it this way in the future - it is certainly less back-breaking.

Friend W and I went to the monthly coffee morning and had lots of nice chats as usual.   After lunch Tess and I walked round the fields, looking for what the farmer saw yesterday when he walked round.....a female roe deer!    He thought she was probably looking for somewhere to drop her calf as they tend to calve around the beginning of May and like to be in a quiet, private place.   Last year she calved in the field which we have bought this year - the field had been neglected for some years and was in a sorry state  - just what she would like.   But, of course, it is now well-looked-after and sadly not at all suitable for her purposes.   I do hope she found somewhere.

Friends tomorrow.   I have already made the rhubarb crumble - smelled so good when I took it out of the oven that I was severely tempted to have a taste.  As recommended by Nigella, I added the grated zest and the juice of an orange, so I will report on the taste tomorrow.  Now, in the morning, all I have to do is make some Cream of Watercress soup - an easy job - and make a variety of salads to go with the cold meats and pate.  All ready and no hard work.

The weather has been fine and sunny until the middle of the afternoon, when it clouded over, but stayed dry.   So the first day of the Annual Food Festival in our little Market town has gone well - I am sure it will have been a great success.

Have a great week end.

19 comments:

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Your weekend sounds delightful so far.
And Nigella's Happiness Soup has become one of my summer staples. Summer squash, rice, turmeric, lemon and lemon zest, and a little rice. Delicious.

angryparsnip said...

Your lunch sounds so lovely.
That is the way to dig a garden. So much faster and easier. Leaving you time to get the plants in.

cheers, parsnip

Em Parkinson said...

I wish I was coming to lunch with you tomorrow!

The Solitary Walker said...

Any recommendation from Nigella can only be ambrosiac as far as I'm concerned!

Barbara said...

Your garden spot is just beautiful! And the soil...oh, I am so envious!

Our BSC tiller looks just like the one in the photo...and according to my husband "it is the ONLY way to garden!"
I have not learned to use it (nor do I intend to) as I am sure it would become MY job. haha

Here's to a great growing season!

rachel said...

Oh, the joy of a rotavator! Your post brought back a lovely memory.... When my son was very small, and called anything he didn't know the name of "a funny t'ing", he came rushing indoors after his grandfather started the rotavator, saying excitedly "Granpa's got a funny t'ing - and it's PEELING THE GROUND!" An apt description, we thought.

Heather said...

My husband used a rotovator in our previous garden - the veg plot was huge. Now I grow a few vegs in tubs! How wonderful to have a roe deer giving birth in your field. There are wild deer not far from us but I have never seen any. Adding a touch of orange to rhubarb crumble is a good tip - I must remember to try it.

Joanne Noragon said...

Your soil looks wonderful; years of neglect appear to have hurt little.

John Going Gently said...

Just looked at your updated photo
Do u know pat
I feel that I know you x

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Great looking garden - I love it when the roto-tilling is all done and the soil is soft and ready for planting.

Your lunch tomorrow sounds wonderful - we are having brunch here at our house with our daughters and their families tomorrow. Breakfast casseroles - plates of sausages and bacon - fruit salad - fruit juices and a strawberry/rhubarb pie. The pie just came out of the oven - and smells heavenly - I'm also tempted to taste a little. A strawberry/rhubarb cobbler is in the oven - double heavenly smell.

Cloudia said...

Hope you enjoy your food festival and surprising northern orchids





ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral

=^..^=

Cro Magnon said...

That rotovator looks like a pukka job; mine is pathetic, and will only turn the soil over if it is already dug and crumbly. I'm now waiting for the soil to dry out a bit to go over it again; maybe today or tomorrow.

I always cook Rhubarb with a dash of orange juice. I believe the Americans also add strawberries.

Cro Magnon said...

I did pop over to TSW's page. Nice picture, and I'm very impressed by your interesting looking barometer (if that's what it is).

Rachel Phillips said...

Definitely the best way to get the garden dug - hire a rotavator. The more I type the word the more strange it looks. Have a nice day in the Dales and I hope it is not as cold as it is here.

MorningAJ said...

Sounds like a good lunch. We had some leek and potato soup yesterday (fridge leftovers turned into something nice) and I have an orange trifle on the go at the moment.

You'll be pleased to know that you'll be receiving a book soon. I decided to send one to everyone who commented on my anniversary post.
See here: http://morningaj.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/everyones-winner.html

Elizabeth said...

Save some rhubarb crumble for me!

Pondside said...

You've had a busy weekend. I like the idea of renting a roto-tiller, and we've done so in the past - so much easier than digging for an entire day.
Rhubarb crumble sounds delicious. I need a dessert for book club tonight, so I'll have to go out and take a look at the rhubarb.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for calling. Read the next post for an update.

Unknown said...

A delightful view of your garden. You are using your garden equipments very nicely. I will suggest you to buy latest rotovators to make your garden more fruitfuller.