Wednesday 4 August 2010

Lammastide

Lammas, the third quarter day of the year, was traditionally the celebration of harvest and came under the dominion of the sun god, Lugh. So it seems appropriate to pause and count my blessings. The potager has lived up to its name and given us wonderful peas, carrots, beets, onions, shallots and leeks, with potatoes and beans still to come. The Future Jobs Scheme boys did a magnificent job of preparing the ground, trenching and barrowing in innumerable loads of manure, and the results have been impressive. A nice by-blow has been Ped's conversion to growing veg, he's planning raised beds and has meantime sown some phacelia to green manure his garden.
The hanging baskets have also been outstanding this season, Fi1 did a great job of them and she and Jesus have looked after them well. No, she's not become a Holy Roller, Jesus is our summer temp from Spain.
At home it looks as if the celery is going to be the top crop. The walnut trees in the park have set well and I hope that later on we'll be enjoying homegrown Waldorf salad.
A phrase I haven't thought of for years comes to mind, my old school motto : Ah, qui'l est bon, le bon Dieu!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Isobel, This all sounds so wonderful and is, I am sure, the well deserved results from an enormous amount of hard work.

What a very international group you have working for you and how pleasing that you have inspired some of your colleagues to take up the challenge of vegetable growing. Whatever, make sure that they steer clear of IG otherwise their new found enthusiasm may 'wither on the vine'!!

As you say, there is so much to be cheerful about and I am delighted that you are in such good spirits.

Is the Wiz said...

Thank you, Edith, I do indeed have an exceptionally talented and hardworking team. Ped is dyslexic so has remained in blissful ignorance of IG, but they are very much two of a kind.

The Idiot said...

Oi, don't talk about me as if I'm not here!

I don't think my school had a motto. I must be wrong about that; surely all schools have mottos (or did have mottos, back then).

It was probably "put that fag out".

Is the Wiz said...

Sorry Id, didn't see you there.

Bub said...

You do indeed have many blessings to count - well done! You should be very proud of yourself and your colleagues for all the hard work that's clearly been put in.

Reading all these blogs about growing food may just tempt me into branching out next year. I feel a tomato plant could make an appearance. If I cock it up (likely), at least I can say I had a go. And everyone else can tell me where I went wrong (also likely).

Oh and introduce Ped to IG - pleeeeease!!

Is the Wiz said...

Dear Bub, Once I asked Ped why he called a mate Wang. He explained it was because his surname is Kerr.
p.s. be careful about growing toms etc. it's addictive. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Bub said...

*snigger* Ped. IG. I'm thinking peas in a pod.

Thank you, I will consider myself warned. I dreamt about an enormous tomato plant last night. Am now worried what this might mean.

Britta said...

Dear Is the Wiz,
that is a beautiful school motto: it's good to say thank you and it's good to trust - and it reminds us of abundance, in garden and elsewhere.
As in homegrown Waldorf salad: what a luxury!
Enjoy it!
britta

Is the Wiz said...

Danke, Britta, with a bit of luck I'll post a picture when the walnuts and apples are ripe.