The digging continues..

After the ash had cooled down, we moved it up to the compost area. We now have 3 composts, 1 full, 1 that we are filling and a spare. But as we are still digging new veg areas, and finding greenery - ie weeds - I'm not sure 3 will be enough. We are trying to layer the weeds with house compost and any spare goat manure and watering it as well. When J took the top (piece of carpet) off the full compost it was steaming as it was so hot in there. I did wonder whether weeds would rot down, but having felt the heat, I'm not worried any more!

Anyone who knows our land will remember that although the terraces link up, you have to walk from one end to the other to get down them, each is a bit like a tear drop shape, leading from one to the other. As part of the work this week, John has been digging steps in the ends that don't join up so as to save walking up and down and around all the time. It's especially annoying on watering day, when you can see something overflowing but can't get to it in time! We are only concentrating on the 1/2 acre that we use as a veg area at the moment, plenty more elsewhere....time permitting!

I've put the spare soil from the step digging on a yet-to-be-dug-over terrace, as a raised bed, with a view to using it for more Borlotto beans. We use a lot of dried beans, especially now as we are making our own version of baked beans. As baked beans are imported, they are not cheap, but are easy to make and we think taste better! Plus you know what has gone into them....

Found last years sweetcorn seeds today, so they will be planted tomorrow, then we will carry on expanding the vegetable areas. There is still a lot that we walk over without thinking that it could be a veg bed. And the more we dig, the more we plant, the more self-sufficient we become. Not as self sufficient as friends of ours though, who now have rabbits and chickens as well as goats, so have no need to buy eggs, milk, cheese or meat.