<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" media="screen" href="/~d/styles/rss2enclosuresfull.xsl"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~d/styles/itemcontent.css"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:openSearch="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:feedburner="http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:49:44 +0000</lastBuildDate><category>smells activity</category><category>Things are getteing greener...or is it just the weeds?</category><category>rhubarb patch</category><category>collecting horse manure</category><category>sweet peas and potato seed</category><category>poppy</category><category>and clock</category><category>orchard path taking shape</category><category>Pussy willow on the willow dome</category><category>Jacob sheep fleece</category><category>Me and Peter planting salad seeds in the raised beds</category><category>sun going down on the allotment</category><category>strawberries</category><category>Open day</category><category>daisies</category><category>eucalyptus</category><category>hover fly on poached egg</category><category>ash trees</category><category>Ian on his bench</category><category>view from the shed in the snow</category><category>chillies (twilight)</category><category>strawberry plants</category><category>polytunnel tomatoes and squash</category><category>five day old chicks</category><category>orchard</category><category>hollow spud</category><category>sowing seeds</category><category>David and Ian putting the finishing touches to the polytunnel in sunnier times</category><category>egg</category><category>David and Peter filling the raised bed</category><category>willow dome</category><category>crocus</category><category>willow dome covered in snow</category><category>hot bed full of squash</category><category>looking down towards the gate over the brassicas</category><category>views of allotment</category><category>lettuce flower</category><category>Using green manures in crop rotation</category><category>Tomatoes</category><category>nasturiums and Tequila Sunrise rose</category><category>snow falling</category><category>horse</category><category>willow weave fence in progress</category><category>free range chicks</category><category>xmas flower arrangement</category><category>polytunnel seeds</category><category>Paths and raised beds - February 2007</category><category>view outside the allotment</category><category>brussels sprout</category><category>BBC crew setting up</category><category>tulip</category><category>artichoke animal</category><category>Picnic time in the willow dome</category><category>brussel sprouts under snow</category><category>flowering rhubarb</category><category>brussel sprouts</category><category>damsons and blackberries</category><category>Me and Mark Denton from the BBC (courtesy Hugh Kelly)</category><category>Lavender snow bathing</category><category>ethel's hiding place</category><category>Picking the first crop of radishes</category><category>courgette</category><category>squash</category><category>native hedge</category><category>little hen</category><category>strawberry runners</category><category>blackcurrant bush</category><category>frozen water on compost bin</category><category>jersusalem artichoke flowers</category><category>soil conditioner</category><category>cape gooseberry</category><category>growing hops</category><category>living salads</category><category>wildflowers and artichokes</category><category>carton cloches</category><category>egg and mushroom pizza</category><category>three week old chicks</category><category>making a christmas wreath</category><category>Mystery Caterpillar</category><category>Harvest produce</category><category>leaf mould bin</category><category>Raindrops on the water butt lid</category><category>alpaca droppings on hops</category><category>cabbage patch</category><category>fleece on spring cabbage</category><category>willow den</category><category>spinach</category><category>view from the top corner</category><category>onions drying out</category><category>red tomatoes</category><category>apple blossom</category><category>common hemp nettle</category><category>shed floor in progress</category><category>lavender and jack</category><category>Apples</category><category>Hulme Garden Centre</category><category>sweet peas and nasturiums</category><category>the start of the native hedge</category><category>teasel</category><category>wildflowers</category><category>pea green soup</category><category>frosty bench</category><category>chicken shed</category><category>comma butterfly</category><category>David with the final fruit tree -a cherry</category><category>Alan and David dismantling the shed</category><category>phacelia green manure</category><category>David on the sofa</category><category>new flower bed</category><category>How it all began...views of the allotment autumn 2006</category><category>squash on a bench</category><category>Bradley and Si creating raised beds</category><category>attaching the chicken wire</category><category>hops</category><category>view from the corner</category><category>sunflower</category><category>sleeping hen</category><category>yellow submarine tomatoes</category><category>Emma and Ruby in the newly planted willow dome</category><category>courgettes</category><category>autumn squashes</category><category>hop garden sign</category><category>bee on wildflower meadow</category><category>Manchester</category><category>Peas lettuce and runner beans</category><category>view from the gate</category><category>Putting the final touches to the polytunnel</category><category>raspberries</category><category>chocolate eggs</category><category>garden spider</category><category>aubergine flowers</category><category>david and scythe on the meadow area</category><category>corn and beans</category><category>docks</category><category>Charlotte new potatoes</category><category>new hen house</category><category>new growth on the willow dome</category><category>rhubarb bed</category><category>Red kite</category><category>Polytunnel frame April 2007</category><category>ginger on the high raised bed</category><category>Peas ready for picking</category><title>Archived Hop Garden blog (07/08)</title><description>Keep up-to-date now at: http://www.thehopgarden.toucansurf.com/blog.html</description><link>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>82</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheHopGarden" /><feedburner:info uri="thehopgarden" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><media:copyright>All images on this site are copyright The Hop Garden 2007</media:copyright><feedburner:emailServiceId>TheHopGarden</feedburner:emailServiceId><feedburner:feedburnerHostname>http://feedburner.google.com</feedburner:feedburnerHostname><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2FTheHopGarden" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/my/addtomyyahoo4.gif">Subscribe with My Yahoo!</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://www.netvibes.com/subscribe.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2FTheHopGarden" src="http://www.netvibes.com/img/add2netvibes.gif">Subscribe with Netvibes</feedburner:feedFlare><feedburner:feedFlare href="http://fusion.google.com/add?feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2FTheHopGarden" src="http://buttons.googlesyndication.com/fusion/add.gif">Subscribe with Google</feedburner:feedFlare><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8989982228735951778</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:51:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-02-22T13:02:30.341Z</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">native hedge</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">xmas flower arrangement</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">orchard</category><title>Fayres and festive thoughts</title><atom:summary>Please note that this is an archived blog - a new blog about the Hop Garden can be found at www.thehopgarden.toucansurf.com/blog.htmlI was feeling creative, which usually results in completely trashing the kitchen and disappearing under a mound of greenery. This occasion was no different. However, it wasn't all in vain as I managed to create three festive flower arrangements for the association </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/rvFexpXtvko/fayres-and-festive-thoughts.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SUqA-BJagAI/AAAAAAAAAnA/G2pYkDQg5aU/s72-c/xmasarrangementdec08.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/rvFexpXtvko" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/12/fayres-and-festive-thoughts.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-7282124848182285458</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:53:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-12-04T11:58:30.369Z</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">willow dome covered in snow</category><title>Winter wonderland</title><atom:summary>About three inches of snow has fallen overnight and the garden looks as tidy and picture perfect as it will ever be! I love the fact that snow covers all jobs yet to be done - very relaxing.....I did get a bit done in the polytunnel though (lovely and snug in there with the snow on top), planting some ground cover plants into the border to sit tight until Spring.Amazingly, a Council truck made it</atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/Ad9hayRbhG8/winter-wonderland.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/STfE4G6OKKI/AAAAAAAAAmo/1cXqSSeAWqQ/s72-c/willowdomeinsnowdec08.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/Ad9hayRbhG8" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/12/winter-wonderland.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-3148925941969435951</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:43:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-11-30T17:53:56.806Z</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">strawberries</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">teasel</category><title>Jack Frost jumps in</title><atom:summary>There's not much to update work-wise as the ground has been rock solid for most of the week, but I did pop out with the camera one morning to capture a few frosty moments, like the teasel above, just melting in the early sunshine.These strawberries above also had their fair share of frost cover. I love cold, crisp winter mornings when the birds are singing, the sun is shining and your breath </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/i6UOxOUkw1c/jack-frost-jumps-in.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/STLRAYREgQI/AAAAAAAAAmY/fpwpmyUKYAU/s72-c/teaselnov08.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/i6UOxOUkw1c" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/jack-frost-jumps-in.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-2274578270925141746</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:45:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-11-24T21:13:32.558Z</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">daisies</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">brussels sprout</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">ginger on the high raised bed</category><title>Daisy, daisy</title><atom:summary>Despite a light dusting of snow over the past few days, these little daisies are still going strong - and I didn't even plant or sow them, so they've definitely defied the odds. It's lovely to see such bursts of colour this time of year.So much for clipping the chickens' wings: Ginger shows just how simple it is to fly 3ft off the ground and into the high raised beds. I'll forgive her for now, as</atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/ZnNHr4JEaF4/daisy-daisy.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SSbmApPL71I/AAAAAAAAAmI/7bGtE59POiU/s72-c/daisiesnov08.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/ZnNHr4JEaF4" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/daisy-daisy.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5115271658328943204</guid><pubDate>Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:49:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-11-09T22:34:42.838Z</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">autumn squashes</category><title>Time to take stock</title><atom:summary>It's been a strange growing season this year: the late frosts in Spring finished off a few of the plants which had dared to risk some new shoots and the windy/wild/wet conditions that seemed to come and go for most of this year have certainly not helped the situation. Still, a brief Indian summer did raise the spirits a little, and the late sunshine managed to ripen a few squashes and courgettes </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/dOTg2dLvhzk/time-to-take-stock.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SRdAVhfpqdI/AAAAAAAAAbA/wtjo0vf8dpo/s72-c/squashes.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/dOTg2dLvhzk" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/time-to-take-stock.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-1647113268732572543</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:16:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-10-27T20:27:21.004Z</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">chillies (twilight)</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">orchard path taking shape</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">david and scythe on the meadow area</category><title>Getting chilli</title><atom:summary>David has a new tool - a scythe - which he has been trying out this week on the orchard and the soon-to-be wildflower meadow. Very impressive results and we're looking forward to making proper hay next year, albeit on a very small scale (but then our rabbits, who will be the main beneficiaries, are quite small too so it evens out nicely). It's also a lot more environmentally sound than a strimmer</atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/Ch8K6-9A-7E/getting-chilli.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SQYjVSNtdFI/AAAAAAAAAao/sFy103NItUM/s72-c/chilliesoct08.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/Ch8K6-9A-7E" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/10/getting-chilli.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-2368666187102509548</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:09:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-10-05T14:36:19.390+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">strawberry plants</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">little hen</category><title>Fire breathing dragons</title><atom:summary>The title does not relate to the chickens  (no excuse really for a picture of our newest chicken other than she's not appeared before), although they were completely freaked out by the 'fire breathing' event. I was trying to put the chickens to bed the other night as it was getting 'dimpsy' as they say in Devon (dusk-like), but they had other ideas and seemed to think that Thursday night was </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/F1IPmXZZLdg/fire-breathing-dragons.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SOi83XgZ9DI/AAAAAAAAAaY/LDfqP-BHC-E/s72-c/Hen3.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/F1IPmXZZLdg" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/10/fire-breathing-dragons.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-7429392473143710486</guid><pubDate>Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:38:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-13T21:45:17.530+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">comma butterfly</category><title>Comma, dash</title><atom:summary>This lovely butterfly, which apparently isn't very common this far North, turned up in the polytunnel this week. It's a lovely comma, which has very distinctive jagged edging around the wings and does a very good impression of bark or a leaf on its underside. In terms of jobs, I had help this week from Maria and we got stuck into clearing a path through the orchard and putting membrane down. </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/Zj8cE--nqz4/comma-dash.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SMwlAcGS8uI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/8RWBkNSSJ5M/s72-c/commaunderside.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/Zj8cE--nqz4" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/09/comma-dash.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-2868835982589772857</guid><pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:01:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-09-07T21:15:50.878+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">strawberry runners</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">ethel's hiding place</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">eucalyptus</category><title>The plants are in, two by two...</title><atom:summary>About a year ago I had a post entitled ' Time to build an ark' so I can't use that one again, but it would be apt today when I really have trouble believing the sky can actually hold that much water. So, based on a comment one of my allotment neighbours made the other day, I'll use a Noah's ark reference instead. Luckily, the garden is located on a hill and not too near a river, so a boat is not </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/Z9z45Epa-2o/plants-are-in-two-by-two.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SMQ12rkWlsI/AAAAAAAAAaA/UBQEWb0Pb6E/s72-c/plants.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/Z9z45Epa-2o" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/09/plants-are-in-two-by-two.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8410920033828003495</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:04:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-08-25T19:42:30.917+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">sunflower</category><title>A ray of sunshine</title><atom:summary>Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work (usually weeding) that needs my immediate attention, there's always something wonderful that pops up and reminds me to take a few minutes to actually enjoy the garden rather than just work in it. This lovely sunflower (above) was one such timely reminder, one of about half a dozen planted by the Greenfingers Club way back in early summer.I </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/CdTBcxK68XE/ray-of-sunshine.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SLLmOuNY3LI/AAAAAAAAAZo/KX-AZjTmFEU/s72-c/sunfloweraug08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/CdTBcxK68XE" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/08/ray-of-sunshine.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5299991131970194024</guid><pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:29:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-08-07T15:23:32.776+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">aubergine flowers</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">yellow submarine tomatoes</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">red tomatoes</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">lettuce flower</category><title>Free flowering</title><atom:summary>I'm not feeling very talkative today so I'll wait for another time when the muse takes me and leave pictures to speak for me instead. The lovely blue flower above shows that sometimes it's actually beneficial to be a little tardy and leave your lettuces to go to seed if this is the result.I'm growing heritage varieties against non-heritage yellow tomatoes as part of a Garden Organic trial this </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/nPbiTLc8yco/free-flowering.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SJrwxpXHhlI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/RT5T4we8hzs/s72-c/lettucefloweraug08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/nPbiTLc8yco" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/08/free-flowering.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5248959686080124676</guid><pubDate>Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:42:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-08-02T12:56:28.936+01:00</atom:updated><title>Chickens into composting</title><atom:summary>I came out of the polytunnel today to find the chickens had disappeared (if I'm around they tend to roam around the allotment as well, picking off the bugs and nibbling the odd plant). It only took a few minutes to track them down - in the compost bin, happily scratching around and balancing on the edges rather precariously. They seemed a bit subdued yesterday night and off their food (I still </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/ztLqRz_7VUk/chickens-into-composting.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SJRIQ_ivSkI/AAAAAAAAAZA/PmGf4BdAl8c/s72-c/chickenscompostaug08.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/ztLqRz_7VUk" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/08/chickens-into-composting.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-49297541408106957</guid><pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:49:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-07-26T15:14:50.042+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">courgettes</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">strawberries</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">poppy</category><title>Poppy day</title><atom:summary>This is a random poppy left over from the Greenfinger Club's mini wildflower patch, which suffered a little last year when it was dug over too soon by an over-enthusiastic volunteer. But, undeterred, a few flowers have come back this year, with this beautiful poppy being the best example to date. It's been, amazingly, a little too hot to do much on the allotment lately, although before the </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/LNUtXiVXUlo/poppy-day.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SIssaZCkvXI/AAAAAAAAAYw/UbBSW-M9PZ0/s72-c/poppyjuly08.JPG" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/LNUtXiVXUlo" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/07/poppy-day.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-3462656143327125055</guid><pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:12:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-07-11T19:34:21.272+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Peas lettuce and runner beans</category><title>Raindrops keep falling on my head</title><atom:summary>I'm sure I'm not alone in being fed up with the unseasonal amount of rainfall we've being having over the past few weeks. On the plus side, I have two overflowing water butts, but the poor waterlogged plants need a little less of the wet stuff and a lot more warming sun's rays instead.Strawberries which were oozing with flavour a little while back are now decidedly watery (they actually taste </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/XtKDttyiGMc/raindrops-keep-falling-on-my-head.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SHejnYU1dSI/AAAAAAAAAYY/UGj454SyGiw/s72-c/peasjuly08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/XtKDttyiGMc" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/07/raindrops-keep-falling-on-my-head.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-307383347023661925</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:17:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-06-27T17:56:13.332+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">sleeping hen</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">views of allotment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">egg</category><title>Ethel's first egg</title><atom:summary>A very exciting day today on the allotment as Ethel laid her first egg - not her first ever, obviously, as even I, who fainted in any science lesson which dealt with reproduction, know that the egg comes before the chicken - but this was her first in my incapable hands.I was very pleased that I'd worked out her constantly clucking, worrying and weird 'looking at walls' behaviour meant she was </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/bXUbxs1ABDw/ethels-first-egg.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SGUVU61v2yI/AAAAAAAAAYE/8_6rEcAfbpk/s72-c/firstegg27june2008.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/bXUbxs1ABDw" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/ethels-first-egg.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5373302259098406404</guid><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:05:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-06-21T18:16:52.942+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">attaching the chicken wire</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">free range chicks</category><title>Bird on a wire</title><atom:summary>Far from being a balmy June here in the North East, it's a blinkin' cold one: last check on the barometer read a measly 9.4 degrees...and to add to the joy, it's tipping down, and has been pretty much solidly for about the last seven hours.So, what's a girl to do but tidy up in the polytunnel? The sweet peas are now in a container (not going to risk them outside, they'd probably curl up and die) </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/HVdH1EZDEiw/bird-on-wire.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SF0yRBDbLGI/AAAAAAAAAXc/dVwTxlpjHBk/s72-c/chickenrun.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/HVdH1EZDEiw" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/bird-on-wire.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-139736962243048137</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:58:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-06-15T21:34:15.759+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">new hen house</category><title>There's no place like home</title><atom:summary>The chickens now have a new, spacious home - complete with a rather fetching perch. Now the hard work has begun making the permanent pen (they're in a temporary one attached to the hen house for the time being).It's getting a bit chilly out now, but it's my favourite time to be on the allotment; just before the sun sets the light is beautiful, the birds are singing and somehow a rosy glow </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/jevxVlFKFhQ/theres-no-place-like-home.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SFJhUsDQA2I/AAAAAAAAAXM/Sr088x5HULI/s72-c/newhenhousejun08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/jevxVlFKFhQ" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/theres-no-place-like-home.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-3666089225076101863</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:04:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-06-06T13:21:02.792+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Charlotte new potatoes</category><title>Garden with 'great potential'</title><atom:summary>If the garden was a house for sale at the moment, it would be described as 'having great potential' due to the fact that it needs so much work. Some warm weather and a good dash of rain have proved the perfect recipe for a weed invasion, and they're taking over the paths and the beds. Me and the chickens are both doing our best to keep on top of them, but they just keep coming....The potatoes are</atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/3QLn-T-_INU/garden-for-sale-with-great-potential.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SEkoAtSa2QI/AAAAAAAAAXE/5m3e9kV3SWs/s72-c/potsjune08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/3QLn-T-_INU" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/garden-for-sale-with-great-potential.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-4856357939274109283</guid><pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 21:59:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-05-29T23:19:32.480+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">shed floor in progress</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">living salads</category><title>The secret world of sheds</title><atom:summary>The shed we 'rescued' from down the street many months back has been sitting, neglected once again, in the corner of the allotment waiting to be transformed into a chicken shed. There are always so many other more pressing things to do (like planting and weeding) that it has been put on the back burner. But with the chicks getting bigger by the day, they'll soon need a bigger night-time hideaway </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/_9jllb7IijQ/secret-world-of-sheds.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SD8nqgHNfCI/AAAAAAAAAW8/JO5-FbERwU4/s72-c/shedfloormay08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>1</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/_9jllb7IijQ" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/secret-world-of-sheds.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8175035161708017099</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 17:23:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-05-27T20:11:00.937+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">growing hops</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">three week old chicks</category><title>Hop to it</title><atom:summary>Some visitors to the site have asked for a bit more information about how to grow hops, and although I'm by no means an expert, I'll attempt to share what I've learned so far.To begin with, a strong structure which they can climb up is essential. It doesn't have to be huge pole and wire systems as seen in Kent's fields: I've got poles about 12ft high, (mine are dwarf hops which will rarely go </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/tpamrWOt7lU/willing-weeeder.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SDpv7AHNfAI/AAAAAAAAAWs/eawlIIZFrW4/s72-c/hopplantmay08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/tpamrWOt7lU" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/willing-weeeder.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-1821850847993657849</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 17:06:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-05-11T12:40:34.667+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">five day old chicks</category><title>Hippy chicks</title><atom:summary>I never really understood why the term 'chicken brain' was a derogatory one until now: these new additions to the allotment are really not the brightest light bulbs in the box, it must be said. I turn my back for a moment and find that the foster mum hen has managed to bury both the food bowl (and then looks around frantically trying to work out what just happened) and tip the water container </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/vW9CiEnOQtw/hippy-chicks.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SCSE3pgim0I/AAAAAAAAAWE/TrBGM1nMjTw/s72-c/chicks080508.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/vW9CiEnOQtw" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/hippy-chicks.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5739882474279949886</guid><pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2008 16:16:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-05-04T19:01:57.539+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">BBC crew setting up</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Me and Mark Denton from the BBC (courtesy Hugh Kelly)</category><title>Politics comes to the plot</title><atom:summary>Just a quick update today to say about the BBC Politics Show descending on the allotment, which, as is the way with the small screen, involved a lot of preparation for about four minutes' worth of viewing!The BBC team were really friendly and no trouble at all, and the big satellite truck with its huge terrestrial mast soon got the neighbours talking. Hopefully, the volunteers will be flocking in</atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/nQmXHEgvPxs/politics-comes-to-plot.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SB35rsSsrtI/AAAAAAAAAV8/qClR3U9l9GQ/s72-c/bbccrew.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/nQmXHEgvPxs" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/politics-comes-to-plot.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-377888975495528840</guid><pubDate>Fri, 02 May 2008 19:55:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-05-02T21:22:32.743+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">blackcurrant bush</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">tulip</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">apple blossom</category><title>Time to 'cast a clout'</title><atom:summary>With a distinctly warmer feel to the air, it's tempting to 'cast a clout' as the old English saying goes, but I think it may be a little premature, as the 'May' in this phrase refers to the blossom on the hawthorn, which isn't in evidence yet. Clout, I've just discovered, is an old term for clothes, but even so I have always known it means to not throw your winter woolies to the back of the </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/qlBnKo02Emk/time-to-cast-clout.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SBtx8sSsrqI/AAAAAAAAAVk/cpnYIdS_wL8/s72-c/appleblossommay08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/qlBnKo02Emk" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/time-to-cast-clout.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8781505195368514804</guid><pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:02:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-04-26T18:21:44.137+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">willow weave fence in progress</category><title>Working with willow</title><atom:summary>I like learning new skills, despite the fact that it often takes a while for my co-ordination skills to catch up with my brain, as was the case with yesterday's new challenge: creating a non-living willow weave fence. The premise was simple enough - twist two pieces of willow around each other, up then under, around each upright post. It was just that I couldn't quite 'see' it for some time. But </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/Q3PqIFMBdVs/working-with-willow.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SBLwIcSsrnI/AAAAAAAAAVM/s4k2sX6Ccx8/s72-c/willowfence1apr08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/Q3PqIFMBdVs" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/04/working-with-willow.html</feedburner:origLink></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-7218792773504236463</guid><pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:14:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2008-04-21T22:29:01.499+01:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">flowering rhubarb</category><title>Random rhubarb moments</title><atom:summary>I've grown rhubarb in my garden for many years, but never seen anything like this, which has recently appeared on the Victoria and Champagne varieties in the garden. Seems like they've decided, at a pretty young age and strange time of year, to flower and set seed. Takes all sorts I guess.Friday was another damp and miserable day weather-wise, so it was a case of braving out the elements in the </atom:summary><link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~3/YnkTZuwk-Sw/random-rhubarb-moments.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)</author><media:thumbnail url="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rHxz-r-YjaQ/SA0ENqSEhaI/AAAAAAAAAUs/whs_qQG2v1U/s72-c/rhubarbflowerapril08.jpg" height="72" width="72" /><thr:total>0</thr:total><description>&lt;img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheHopGarden/~4/YnkTZuwk-Sw" height="1" width="1"/&gt;</description><feedburner:origLink>http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/04/random-rhubarb-moments.html</feedburner:origLink></item><language>en-us</language><copyright>All images on this site are copyright The Hop Garden 2007</copyright><media:credit role="author">Sarah Cossom</media:credit><media:rating>nonadult</media:rating></channel></rss>

