Before
After
Despite a cool and rain-spoiled summer, the insects in my garden have thrived apparently. And yes, not only slugs, ants and potato beetles, but luckily also pollinators like bees, moths and lacewings!
Anyway, the Wild Bee Hotel that I set up in spring attracted some customers, most of the holes are sealed shut meanwhile and there’s ample traffic in the area.
How cool is that? A neighbour gave us some stackable wooden boxes, which were previously used for transportation purposes, but were now scheduled for disposal. They’re designed to fit snugly onto a standard Euro-Pallet and are sturdy and convenient. Plus, they’re perfectly suitable to make some raised beds of them! Thanks a lot dear neighbour!
I used one of the transporting boxes my neighbour gave me to make a new mushroom patch in the backyard. It’s in a shady and usually a little damp spot and I hope it’ll provide good growing conditions for pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom).
I just officially opened my personal little mushroom growing season. I have already (even successfully, occasionally 🙂 ) made grain spawn by just propagating mycelium plugs in pasteurized grain in the past, but while this is a cheap and simple way to use up “leftover mushroom seeds”, it’s also unfortunately very prone to contamination and failure. I decided to try a more professional approach this time and got myself some liquid mycelium in a syringe and this time aimed for a sterile procedure.
Finally it’s time again to care for the garden, the various vegetables, fruit and herbs. I’m hoping bitterly that the upcoming summer will not turn out to be as much of a complete failure as last year.
Chilies and Red Bell Peppers
These are both going into pots on the patio in may. Each need a sunny spot and much light to grow. Bell peppers must be pruned for robust and bushy growth.
I learned a little about wild bee hotels the past few days and decided it would be a nice winter project to make one for later installation in spring. My personal little “green hell” is presumably already pretty suitable for bees, but I like the idea of supporting the little fellows a bit – also against the (only just a little selfish 🙂 ) background of facilitating the pollination of my veggie plants.
I made this weed killer spray in summer this year, applied it amply and didn’t have any issues with weeds anymore until now. It’s a simple mixture from household ingredients but indeed very effective and convenient. Mix in an ordinary spray bottle (though I, personally, prefer the pump type, like this):
Anyone like dried tomatoes as much as I do? They’re versatile and delicious and I like to use them mostly in pasta sauces, so it was time again for me to make some. It’s a simple process, especially with the aid of a food dehydrator, but it can also be easily done in your trusty old kitchen oven.
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