Foot Warmers During the cold spell we took positive action to keep warm. I got a bit fed up of looking at the oil level in the tank going down like the barometer mercury and layered up. I have a thick cardigan with a fluffy hood which I have worn since before December last and will probably be with me for some time yet (I do wash it occasionally). Another measure I took to keep my feet warm in bed was to fill old socks up with barley, we have plenty of odd ones so it gives them a use… Read More »

I thought this might be of interest to any budding garden designers…… NEW SERIES OF ‘SUPER GARDEN’ COULD YOU BE A SUPER GARDENER? Are you passionate about gardening? Is it your ambition to be a garden designer? Do you dream of winning a Gold Medal at Chelsea? ‘Super Garden’ is seeking 5 amateur garden designers to compete for the title of ‘Super Gardener’  in the new RTÉ  series, to be broadcast in May 2011. A passion for gardening is a must, as is creative flair, and the ability to design a garden to a budget and deadline. So if you… Read More »

When I was younger, I was told that pine cones could forecast the weather as they change shape according to whether it is wet or dry. In dry weather, pine cones open out as the scales shrivel up and stand out stiffly. When it is damp, they absorb moisture and as the scales become flexible again, the cone returns to its normal shape. I used to keep a fir cone near my back door and they were pretty reliable.  Nature is good like that and can give us far more indications of the weather, not only for that day, but… Read More »

Keep out the colds I think that getting a cold is nature’s way of telling you to slow down and look after yourself.  Some might even say that we need a cold every year to clean out our systems, a human oil change if you like, and to build up our immune system.  Billions of euro are spent every year, giving big pharmaceutical companies our money in the hope of alleviating the discomfort or with a promise of avoiding the colds altogether.  I’m not saying that colds, and especially flu isn’t dangerous, far from it, medical intervention is probably needed… Read More »

MEETING YOUR NEEDS I never noticed, or remember bad weather days when I was a child. I also can’t imagine being hot when my toes feel like icicles. It’s no doubt a safety feature we have built into us so we don’t suffer unnecessarily. Imagine being able to feel toothache when you don’t have it…not nice at all. There must have been days when I just couldn’t go out though and I also must have found things to do to occupy myself. I remember having a day off school because of an illness when I was about six. This must… Read More »

COPING WITH A FLOODED GARDEN More and more people are getting concerned about flooding and the damage it causes. No house is really safe, although the severity of the floodwater will differ depending on where you are.  Although we escaped the severity and distress of the damage, there have been floods in Inishowen with Greencastle being the worst hit.  The issues of why this is happening are open to debate…Global Warming and the fact that we have been building on flood plains are just two theories.  Whatever the reasons our hearts go out to the families who have been so… Read More »

I’m walking into Harry’s Bar in Bridgend.  It’s not often I venture out into  bars,  but tonight is something a bit special. It’s the first meeting of the new Inishowen GIY (Grow It Yourself) group.  The GIY movement was  started in 2008 by Irish Times Journalist and author Michael Kelly as a non profit making venture in Waterford. The idea is help people find out more about growing their own produce and has quickly spread nationwide with over 80 groups forming around the country. Link to this post!

I am sitting at the computer finding inspiration for this week’s article when there is a thud at the window. The kids are off school with the snow so we all go over and open the window. A wee bird is lying looking a bit dazed in the snow. One of the lads goes out and comes back in, hands cupped and a wee pair of eyes looks up. The bird is popped into a furry slipper and left there to recover. This isn’t the first time this has happened. A few wee chirps emanate from the wee thing. We… Read More »

We ran out of room in the veggie patch this year. I’m not sure why really as we more or less grew the same things as the previous years. Maybe it was the extra large pumpkins that took up the room, or the weeds. Whatever the reason for the lack of space, I have decided to expand. Acting impulsively I sift through this week’s edition of the Dealer to see who is selling topsoil, a vital commodity in my expansion plans as we really don’t have a surplus in our own garden. The collapse of the building industry in this… Read More »

Late summer can be a bit of a glut time for fruit and vegetables. In the days before food miles people would have had many ingenious ways of preserving their produce for use in the bleaker winter months. Pickling, drying and dousing everything in salt as the sailors would have done are a few widely used methods of storing food, especially in the days when there were no fridges. Another method of preserving is to add sugar. Link to this post!

Vegetables for the Irish Garden At long last, a vegetable growing guide book just for us in the North West of Ireland. “Vegetables for the Irish Garden” by Klaus Laitenberger has just been released and is getting rave reviews around the country. This glossy 288 page book has all the tips and advice for growing a successful bumper crop of fine organic vegetables. Klaus moved to Leitrim back in 1999 and quickly established himself as a trainer, becoming the head gardener at Rossinver Organic Centre. He also co-ordinated the restoration of the Victorian gardens at Lissadell House Co. Sligo. Klaus… Read More »

I’m working for the council in Nottingham. “Here take this”. Jim, the foreman of the local parks gardening team throws me something shiny. “It’s a golden key”. He says with a smile. “With this key you can get access to any padlocked council owned area in the town, look after it well”. This was a big responsibility for me. From my first days there the foreman dished out responsibilities, some of which I rose to, others made me crumble. Link to this post!

I was wandering around a local DIY shop this week having a look to see what new innovations have appeared recently. I’m always amazed at the ingenuity of people when it comes to making our lives that little bit easier in the garden. Of course a majority of things are pointless or you could make your own, and probably already do, for less. Recycled rubber on the other hand might be a bit fiddly to produce as you would need a shredder a little bit bigger than the ones used for chopping your twigs into compostable bits. Or would you?… Read More »

I’m driving along the road listening on a beautiful Sunday morning listening to Sunday Miscellany on RTE Radio 1. Usually I just let the voices drift over me but today I’m taking notice as a woman reminisces about how their parents used to grow vegetables. She was pondering on how they managed to find the time to garden without having two cars, a dishwasher, microwave and other modern day devices to save precious time, as she can barely have time to cut her grass. Link to this post!

Yea Butt No Butt yea Butt…. “It’s nothing really, just an old wheelie bin and a downpipe”. I’m talking to Mickey Donaghay from Carry Garden Sheds in Fallask on the outskirts of Buncrana and he’s being very modest about his inventive water butt design.  The idea is simple enough. When he needs water from the butt, he lowers a six-foot long pipe from the top of the bin to the floor and “gravity does the rest” Mickey says, demonstrating how the flow of water starts when the pipe gets lower. It’s so practical, why didn’t I think of that? Link… Read More »

Two Acupressure Mats worth €35*to be won Gardening.ie have joined up with Shakti.ie and have two Acupressure Mats to win. What are Acupressure Mats? Acupressure Mats have thousands of tiny spikes on a soft cotton base that release endorphins in your body when you lie on them. They are a great way to relax and ease the muscles (especially after a hard day in the garden) Are they just for Gardening? The mats can be beneficial when you feel low in energy, experience high stress levels, suffer from insomnia, have muscular tension, lumbago, sciatica, migraine, digestive problems, and depression. Research… Read More »

“If you like I could drop them off at your house”. I’m in town and a friendly shopper has asked if I want some old neglected shrubs to look after as they are clearing out a few old borders. “I’ll think about it”, I say cautiously. I’ve been stung before by people offloading unwanted items onto me, and I am thinking back to the times when I have been unexpectedly left holding old rubbish. Maybe if I recall my past experiences I can make an informed decision. Link to this post!

DAY 1 Day 1- Sunday –8pm Bit grumpy, so Julie suggests I go away for a bit. I ask her how long I should go away for. Tells me to come back when in good mood. Might be gone some time. Day 1 Sunday 10pm Found great looking hostel in County Sligo called the Gyreum Ecolodge in Castlebaldwin. Looks like a spaceship built from wood and bitumen sheets. Was voted the country’s most unusual hostel. Just the ticket. Bags packed and ready to go. Link to this post!

I have a few images from the Bloom Show  in Phoenix Park and the North West Show in Castlefinn.  More Bloom pics here More Castlefinn pics here Link to this post!

Is there anyone in Ireland that has a perfect lawn? I doubt it. It would take hours to create the perfect green space without rushes, moss, thatch or weeds. My step dad tried for years to get a grass sward in his back garden so smooth that you could play snooker on it. He would be out there everyday with his penknife taking out weed seedlings and threatening earthworms for making casts. He was very particular in general. He once took the whole car to bits because of a rogue squeaking noise coming from the dashboard. He never found the… Read More »