Hedgerow Wonders

I grew up in the countryside, 2 miles (3 & a bit km) from the nearest town.
Our nearest neighbour, a bachelor, lived just far enough away that he might be able to make out when my mother was shouting for one of us to come in from the yard/garden, so not that far away but far enough.

I loved living in the solitude of the countryside, I loved wandering up the fields and up the small river that runs at the back of my families dairy farm. Being the eldest of 7 children I kept my sanity by going for these solitary walks.

It gave me time to think, breath and escape the madness of a busy household and most of the time stressed-out mother. It also gave me the time to appreciate the wonderfulness of Mother Nature.

In those days cameras were a luxury, and sure the mobile phone was something we only saw Americans having on the telly! (they had EVERYthing) So the only records are in my memories.

Nowadays we never leave home without the auld mobile, and they all have cameras on them so when we see something that Mother Nature has to offer we can snap it up and like me now, share it with the world.

Myself and my offspring went for a walk down our neighbouring lane (which we have found out is nicknamed the Bog Road) yesterday; I am trying to share my love of the solitude of the countryside with them, and point out all of Mother natures wonders too..

Our love of the humble Potato

If I was to name one vegetable that I remember being planted every year as a child growing up in rural Ireland it would have to be the Potato.

Every farmer I knew had a field of spuds growing;  no such thing as first or second earlies or main crop in our house, it was one type of potato and that was it. No such thing as chitting either! the seed potatos that were planted were kept from the previous years crop to use.

It wasnt some small raised bed for the crop either but a half an acre, at least!
My father would have the field ploughed and the drills made using his tractor and plough. Then my mother would have the boxes of seed potatos placed at intervals along the drills.

With a bit of instruction myself and my siblings would follow our parents lead to plant our main veg. Its wasnt easy, I have memories of my back being very sore by the time those boxes were emptied and the day was over.
Its a bit different for our kids......(a few less spuds to plant too!)

 We (sorry the boys) planted our First Earlies the other day, Home Guards.
Now that they are down it is time to make another raised bed, for our main crop, which are still chitting on the bedroom windowsill!

Oh and heres a picture of a very welcome friend in our garden, hopefully one of many.