Tag Archives: Dalek bin

Wade in the water

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We hope you had a good Easter and all is well in the garden now that the good weather is upon us. We’d still advise to take it easy putting tender plants outdoors as you never know what the weather will be like and it’s still only April. We’ve been hardening off the veg plants (pic below) by sticking them outdoors for most of the day to get them used to what it’s like out there in the real world.

The pond (top pic) has really woken up now with some frolicking frogs, the odd newt and goldfish sharing the space. The Lewisham pet shop bought water lily is starting to sprout and we welcome a new addition to the pond, some bare rooted stuck Watermint procured off ebay in an old chimney pot which was elsewhere and now submerged in its rightful place (above).

And we’ve gone right off the idea of the Dalek type compost bin as the old fashioned wood version is doing well and giving off some warmth from the grass clippings after a good old weekly mix using a garden fork.

And while we were writing this post we’ve been listening to the latest This is a music show as recorded by @DazDude4000. It’s a lot better quality this week. Enjoy the Bank Holiday!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Autumn

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There’s been a right change of weather over the last few days. The sunflower (above) next to the garage has taken a tumble a few times because of the wind and is back up supported by some garden wire connected to various old nails in the wall. There’s been some damage to the main stalk so if we can get another couple of weeks out of it before the frost or parakeets get to it that’ll be something, finger crossed.

We’re also seeing some progress with the semi-open compost heap (above). We give it a weekly turn and there is heat in there and lots of brandling worms and the old bath mat does its job of keeping it covered. As for the dalek bin (below), the compost is now ready and it’s being used. It isn’t a short process but one well worth doing for some great soil improver for next to nothing.

And we’ve been doing a bit of “little and often” gardening at the side of the pond which can get a bit neglected at times but with a help of a brown Lewisham garden refuse bin (which is a boon, it really is. We pack it to its gills then leave it out in the sun for a couple of days for the stuff to dry out a bit and then add “just one bit more”) and regular watering we are getting somewhere.

For the bed in the front of the picture below we’ve just split the odd plant and found some self seeded volunteers and stuck them there. It’s mainly mint and it will go a bit wild but it better than just weeds. Any chance of a last bit of sunshine please?

While we’ve been writing this we’ve had this on in the background, another show worth listening to!

The day the worm(s were) turned

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We spent an enjoyable hour out the back this afternoon just before the light began to fade and the air got colder. We did have plans of what we were actually going to do beforehand but an unknown force (guilt perhaps?) made us get a garden fork and head down the Dalek bin and give the heap one last turn.

Things are slowing up down there and the egg boxes we didn’t rip up a few weeks ago had to be done as half an large egg box don’t break down half as well as tiny pieces of egg box especially now that winter is nearly upon us.

Whilst turning with the fork using an ungloved hand our knuckles were grazed on the side as usual. When will we ever learn that those Daleks are okay but nothing beats your wooden made square bin with some carpet thrown on the top as a lid.

Compost ingredients in the picture above includes (fact fans): guinea pig straw (plus waste), egg boxes and a couple of sprouting onions. We’ll lift the lid off in the spring to see how it has progressed.

The next job if we get the time soon is to clean up the pond a bit as it’s looking a bit rough. We think it may have sprung a small leak as the brick to the bottom right of the pond has been visible for a long while now even though over the past few months we’ve had a bit of rain. The oxgenating plant that has taken over needs a clear out too. Pond life eh? It never stops!