Snoop's log, plot date 10.5.2021

Had a very productive morning and a third of the plot is now looking ready for action, as opposed to covered in wild grasses. Now just need to get no-dig depths of compost down and plants in. The likelihood of us staying no-dig is not high. So many weed seeds around about us. But the soil will be glad of large amounts of organic matter, so no problem if it gets worked in at the end of the year and I start afresh every spring. The big thing is not to keep changing my mind about where the beds are to go...

The rest of the plot is mostly scythed. Not much more to go and then I'll have to see about clearing some more space down in the fields.

Where do pests come from? I've not been able to grow anything to speak of for two years and nothing at all last year. But the beetroot, with just two real leaves each, have leaf miners and white fly. The brassicas are just at the three-leaf stage and have black fly, grey fly and cabbage white eggs. It's a full time job going out and dealing with them.

Had hoped to start getting plants in the ground this evening, but the rain has started. Plus a new kitten is arriving this evening. Going to be interesting. Donkey's years since we last had a kitten (our youngest cat is 14 1/2 years old). And we have three large dogs who are used to cats but have never seen a kitten. She's black and just a couple of months old. We already have a name for her, Frankie, after 'old blue eyes' because she's still got her kitten blue eyes.