April

Lavender field as at end April 2011


Vegetable garden as at end April 2011


Autumn finally began in April with a run of cold and wet weather right at the beginning of the month, which was a real shock to the system. We lit our first fire of the season about halfway through the month, and at the end of the month I noticed snow on the Tararua Ranges one day.

Finally got the tractor going and mowed the grass. The grass around the house hadn't been done for a month and a half, the grass in the lavender field hadn't been done for two and a half months. It was almost as tall as the lavender.

P and I cleaned out the old woodshed. The previous owners of the place had kept their firewood thrown in a heap under the ramp which leads to the back door. One corner is well protected from the elements. The other corner is both exposed from the side and from gaps in the decking above. We have been slowly going through their pile of wood, until what we've been left with is the stuff from the exposed section, which is half rotten. We cleared all the wood out, kept what was good and got rid of what wasn't. Am left with a nice tidy floor, and a big pile of compost from all the dirt that was at the bottom of the woodpile.

P then used polythene to line the ceiling to prevent drips, and made walls to protect the wood from the side.

Still continue to gather heaps of walnuts. Have started getting feijoas now too. Ended up having to throw out half a dozen cucumber/zuchhini because I'd forgotten about them in the fridge and they'd gone bad. What a waste. Harvested four pumpkin.

Nothing left in the garden now. The carrots and spring onion seeds I planted never grew into anything. However the mustard seed I planted have done well. One section of the garden is growing well with mustard. I must plant more in the rest of the garden. Am also considering trying brassicas one last time, to see if they do any better in the cold weather.

The neighbours have given us a big pile of pony poo and sawdust. That's the big pile of stuff you can see in the front of the vegetable garden photo. I must get around to composting that or doing something with it.

-M