I keep saying to all who'll listen, compost worms turn up eventually. Still people get their credit cards out and head to PayPal for a mailing of worms. Sometimes I feel I should offer mine on Freecycle but....maybe my worms are happy where they are.Hot on the heels of eBay tiger worms, today I discover you can purchase all kinds of beneficial critters, for instance - ladybird lavae! (that's ladybugs in the US). The importance of these is they'll eat aphids by the truckload. Aphids, left to themselves, eat through your tender green stuff. It's kind of manipulating the ecosystem but probably better than indiscriminate genocide involving chemical warfare. Oh, it's good to be green!
But listen. I wish I'd had my camera because we have several of these lavae about the place - they just turned up, uninvited. Okay, they're on the fruit when they should be on the beans but at least they're in the 'hood. So, if your rich by all means buy them, but if your hard-up, just be more patient.
I had intended to post more frequently on the allotment progress. I don't know where the time goes. A quick update: so far this season we've enjoyed eating our own asparagus, rhubarb, early potatoes (rocket), baby spinach, lettuce (mixed), sorrel, cabbage (primo), baby beets, basil, strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, and redcurrants. Soon come - the broad bean and blackcurrant!
This is wonderful Ian! i wish you did have your camera to see what you've been growing. Kris and i are just thrilled to see a few tomatoes growing from our one plant.
ReplyDeleteAs for Freecycle, we love it. Kris just got a great desk for art-making a few weeks ago - almost like new.
you have freecycle in the US too? we got a greenhouse from it, an old lady had it in her garden but couldn't use it. glass and everything! we're growing tomatoes, chillies, bell peppers, egg plant, courgettes etc. as well as using it for raising from seed.
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