.jpg)
If any of you remembers the 1960s TV Programme Green Acres well the Eva Gabor character was me down to a tee. I was always a city slicker. As far as I know I was born in the city, though I was never able to prise the location out of my parents, I lived in central Dublin all of my life and thought I’d die there. I loved the bustle, the mochas on tap, the theatre, being able to cycle everywhere, and generally just being in the centre of things.
.jpg)
.jpg)
I didn’t visit the countryside, there were far too many flies and such vast distances between coffee shops, and if I thought about country folk at all, or culchies as we Dubs call them, it was as poor buggers who’d move to Dublin given half the chance.
.jpg)
But then the fickle hand of fate took this smug little townie by the scruff of the neck and gave her a jolly good shaking, when about 9 months before the covid nonsense hit, my brother, who keeps a close eye on the financial markets and capital movement, announced that it was time to get out of dodge. There was talk ‘on the wires’ of some big event, happening soon in a town near you, which would close down our business, we were in the travel trade, and make life in a 2-bedroom apartment in town less than desirable.
.jpg)
.jpg)
So off we trotted to the edge of nowhere and acquired a house with 14-acres of quarry and scrub land, where we settled down to engage in a spot of agriculture.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Now bear in mind I’d never had my hands in soil, watched a gardening programme or even owned a North Face jacket, but by necessity, I’ve always been pretty adaptable, so 200 tonnes of topsoil, a greenhouse, and 16 hens later I realised that I"d found my calling.
.jpg)
.jpg)
What I lacked in expertise I made up for in determination and when I set my mind to something I won’t listen to the word ‘can’t’. I dug and I sieved until my back ached, my fingers bled and I had callouses on my callouses. Each morning I was up at dawn racing down the garden to exclaim over each seedling that had popped its little head through the muck. I was fascinated.
.jpg)
.jpg)
I’ve been juicing daily for over ten years and must have gone through tonnes of vegetables with little idea how they were grown. I couldn’t have told you if cucumbers grew on bushes or peas on trees. When my first radish arrived I called all my friends and by June when I picked the first cucumber they’d all been so inundated with veggie pics that I was warned under pain of immediate and terrible death not to send them any more.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Last year was my second year growing and I produced enough to keep us in food and juice for six months. We don’t eat much!;) I still have garlic, leeks, potatoes, carrots, and spinach left as well as a few month's supply of frozen peas.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Of course, I’ve had some failures and setbacks, but as the saying goes ‘If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried,’ so I just covered my mistakes in compost and started again.
.jpg)
.jpg)
In the last few weeks, I’ve started this year's seedlings and I don’t think I’ll ever lose the amazement at how a few small seeds can produce such bounty.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Ive found nothing more satisfying than picking your dinner from the garden, all grown organically by the sweat of your brow. At least you know it doesn't come with added crickets!
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Posted in response to @galenkp's weekend experience challenge to describe your passion.
The photos are my own and taken today, other than the cover image which is also mine but taken from my Dublin flat 4 years ago.
Welcome to the green side. 🍀
This made me chuckle, I'm the same whenever I grow anything. 😂
Oh goodie! it's not just me then. All my friends think I'm mad growing things they can get for a few cents in Aldi or Lidl.
I haven't seen the movie you are talking about but the way you are saying I will definitely watch it and I am also very interested that I am also going to the village one day and there will be a similar movie. Village life is much better than city life because one can stay there for a long time and pure black things which are very important for one's health.
Thanks for your visit.
Thank you for holding virtualgrowth token. You have been included in today's post.
Spectacular garden! It's only year three just starting? I'm year five coming up, and you put me to shame! You have beautiful fences and raised beds and it's all so very neat and well tended! I very much agree that eating from one's own garden is satisfying. And that's quite a brother you have. What is he saying to do now? Buy precious metals and crypto?
We moved in 3 years ago the day before the lockdown was imposed. The previous owners had an immaculate lawn which was known in the area as 'the golf course.' My brother put up the fences and made the beds. I do all the rest.
As to the financials we're in for a bumpy ride now it looks like there'll be no bail-out for the banks. Crypto and metals seem the only way to go.
Wow, oh wow. I was wondering where you got to. What a wonderful story. In the last year my wife and myself also got some green fingers. She is much better than I and we had many salads last year from our little green house.
This year I want to go a bit and start tilling some land in the garden. Maybe some spuds and carrots. I think I better get a move on.
You still have some time, and considering all this talk of food shortages you might be glad of a few carrots and spuds. Of course you can always make a trip to Tipp. I'll have more than enough to share:)
It must be very satisfying to be able to eat from your own garden.
Best of luck, and may your garden grow more every day.
Thank you kindly and may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead:)
Happy St. Patrick's day @deirdyweirdy . I remember my NYC days and the city coloured in green. I can only imagine Ireland!!
Same to you! Though I am a day late but I'm sure you won't hold that against me.
Lol no- not at all😀
Wow - that is fabulous - you have quite a garden/farm. I am truly impress and wonder if I would dare to jump from the city to such a huge undertaking. However, I will never say never. I would love to have a larger space than a terrace and for 2 years I delighted in planting so many veggies and also shared and maybe annoyed some of my friends with my numerous photos. I love forward to seeing blogs of your garden as the season progresses.
You might be sorry you said that!:)
lol no I won't - I laughed when I read your post not only because of your humour but because of similar sentiments about every minute detail about our gardens. I am always amazed that a small seed can provide so much as well. I am looking forward to this season - and your posts. 🤣
You may have created a monster...and when I bore the ass off everyone with pictures of my cucumbers, I'll blame YOU!
Finally I read your post, and I am greatly rewarded. I can never figure out which I like more--your photos or your text. You are a brilliant writer. The charm of it is you don't ever seem to be 'writing'. The secret of your craft, is there is no evidence of 'craft'. You talk straight to us. And your humor--sharp and self-deprecating.
One of the most enjoyable posts I've read in a long time.
What can I say to such an endorsement other than you are obviously a lady of taste and discernment:)
But seriously, thanks!
That's class, I knew you were into growing a few veggies, but not to this level and the hens too. Mighty stuff.
Given the chance now would you move back to Dublin? Or are you converted to country living?
Got a good laugh out of this...
Ah sure I'm a culchie now and there's no way back:) Besides, hard to keep chickens in an apartment.
Wouldn't be fair to them, they'd feel Cooped up. Ill get my coat 🏃♂️
Hahahahah, I should have thought of that one!