Hello from France

[datz]

Hi
I've been lurking for a bit and have found this forum really useful so I thought it was time to introduce myself.
I'm gardening in the Auvergne, France fairly high up on the edge of the Massif central.

I'm blogging about the advantages and difficulties of gardening at altitude at 750 metres we are at 750 metres (roughly 2500ft).

Its been a fairly hard snowy winter compared to Leeds from which we moved in September.

The winters are colder, drier and summers hotter and drier. So its all a bit experimental at the moment! Also warm weather can hit at any time it seems, if the sun is out the temperature climbs very quickly.



So hello again and thanks already for lots of good advice!
David

[Tripmeup]

Hello and welcome to the Vine..Loads of really helpful people here

[Nicos]

Hi there- and welcome to the Vine!

...wot???...no chooks yet???

We've been in France for about 5 yrs now- and still working on the garden/potagers.
You've done well in such a short time.

[BertieFox]

Hello from Pays de la Loire. I think you are very courageous gardening where you are, as I remember well camping in August in the Auvergne and waking to find frost on the tent! (Admittedly we were quite high up but maybe only 700 metres too.)
I'd suggest you erect a polytunnel somewhere if you can do so without spoiling the view or the look of your garden in such a beautiful place.

[veggiechicken]

Hello David and welcome. Your garden looks very beautiful with blue sky - I'm not too sure about the snowy scene
Look forward to reading more about your adventures

[PyreneesPlot]

Hello again!

A sun that feels warm all year round (despite the snow) is one of the advantages of coming south.

[bearded bloke]

Hello & welcome

[scarey55]

Hello from a fellow Auvergnate I am just the other side of Clermont Ferrand from you (40 minutes south of Montluçon) and I know exactly what you mean about the weather. We are "only" 600 metres up and, whilst it presents a few challenges, the air up here is very clean and the sky is very blue (when it isn't raining) The hardest thing about living here, gardening wise, is that there is virtually no flat land and everything has to be grown on a slope.

Looking forward to seeing your progress, welcome to the Vine.

[Jardiniere]

hi and welcome to the vine....whereabouts are you in the Auvergne?We are almost neighbours!

[shepp726]

welcome to the vine, enjoy.

[datz]

hi and welcome to the vine....whereabouts are you in the Auvergne?We are almost neighbours!

Hi Jardiniere we are in Haute Loire north of Le Puy south of Issoire.

[datz]

Hello from a fellow Auvergnate The hardest thing about living here, gardening wise, is that there is virtually no flat land and everything has to be grown on a slope.

Yep we have a grand slope to the garden and have had great fun 'terracing' raised beds in!

[datz]

Hello from Pays de la Loire.
I'd suggest you erect a polytunnel somewhere if you can do so without spoiling the view or the look of your garden in such a beautiful place.

Been thinking about a poly tunnel. Lots of the locals use them. Just have to find some flat space for one!

[Bigmallly]

Bonjour David from another Leeds lad.

[datz]

Bonjour David from another Leeds lad.

Only Leeds by adoption ..... I'm from South Wales originally.