November cuddles with the new kitties
Celebrating and taking it easy
Both my birthday and Brian’s are in the first part of November. Last year was a round number for me, so we had big celebrations. This year, we kept it a little more low-key, but we still marked the occasion - it’s a privilege to be alive for another year.
I don’t love this time of the year, but the Solstice is not too far away, and then we’ll be headed to Spring. I have to keep reminding myself to rest and hibernate a little - give myself permission to take it easy.
Seasonal Activities
As is usual for me, I did a dip in my birthday suit - with good company and a selection of cakes, it’s as much party as I need. As for presents - we gifted ourselves a microscope, which we have yet to try out - I’m really looking forward to finally seeing some of my ‘invisible friends’ in the soil and in the compost bins.
We also headed to the Samhain festival of food and Culture in Kells, where we picked up some (Irish made) banana ketchup and started on a filipino food journey with Bahay. If you’re in Dublin check up their popup in Harold’s Cross. Amazing food!
We also acquired two kittens from my brother . Since my last trip to Pure Camping, where there are lap kittens (provided free!), I had been hankering for a cuddly kitten. So now we have 2 - both very cuddly and cute, perfect for cold weather, and a great reason to sit and relax. So far getting on OK with Rusty. If anything he’s a bit afraid of them!
I’m still eating home grown tomatoes - I removed the plants in October, and the green tomatoes have been ripening since. There are the last few - once these are gone, I won’t have fresh tomatoes until next year (and I refuse to bay the tasteless ones), maybe July if all goes well. We have some put away in the freezer - both cooked and raw, so I’ll be using them in dinners. I will be making salsa for our Mexican dinner with canned tomatoes - I still have lots of coriander to give a flavour hit.
Coole Meadow
Scything continues and the grass is still growing! I have been propagating comfrey to grow around the compost bins - it seems to be able to compete with and suppress the scutch grass, and you can never have too much comfrey.
Earlier this spring we grafted apple and pear trees, and we have planted those into the area where we grew spuds - next year I’m hoping to grow lots of pumpkins and squash under the apples trees - to help suppress weeds (and have delicious pumpkins!)
Last thing to plant this year will be the garlic - that’s still fine to plant up until the solstice - December 21st - so if you don’t have any planted yourself, there’s still time. I’ll plant some in pots here at home also. Three cornered leeks are in full leaf, so it’s back to making some pesto with them.
With frosty nights happening now, it’s time to move tender herbs in pots into the tunnel. Rosemary and thyme are fine in the ground, but if they are in pots, it’s better to take precautions.
Workshops
I ran a Kombucha workshop in November. I made lots of different flavours in advance, so that we could sample, and while we waited for the tea to cool down sufficiently to add the SCOBY, we had crackers and cheese, and sampled the booch. One of the best ever social evenings in The Refill Mill!
I was delighted when Pure Oskar approached me to run a melt and pour soap making workshop in Dublin for some visitors. This is a lovely soap company, started during Covid, in response to the sensitive skincare needs of their son, Oskar. The workshop took place in the Gresham on the day after the dreadful riots in Dublin. Participants said that working with the scents and textures, harnessing their creativity and sense of play was a good antidote to the previous nights events.
Flower Farming
Not much happening here, just planting ranunculus and anemones in the cleared tunnel, and there are a few hardy annuals (cornflowers, ammi, variegated sage) grown in modules that should have been planted outside earlier. I’ll try them in the tunnel, and keep some for planting outside next sprint. I had one blue sage plant in the tunnel last year that was incredibly productive - hoping for more of that next year.
And as you know, I make a lot of compost - some of those bins were ready to harvest this month. I have been using that compost in crates to plant ranunculus that can move in and out of the tunnel as necessary. Last year some of my ranunculus were in crates outside for the whole winter and were very productive, and flowered later than the tunnel grown ones, so extending the season.
Learning
I’m attending the Landscaping and Horticulture Course that John Smyth is running online, it’s always good to get a fresh perspective. I’m also lucky enough to be in a pottery course in Athlone, and am making flower vases. I’m experimenting with something that will work on an altar or mantelpiece without the need for flower foam. Unfortunately, no flowers at the moment to try these out, but they will be ready for Spring 2024! I don’t spend a lot of time on the surface decoration - if they are full of flowers you won’t be able to see them. I’ve also made some sushi plates, they might be ready in time for Christmas.
Upcoming events
Putting a wreath on your front door is a brilliant way to celebrate this time of year. I’m running some workshops so that you can create your own wreath with Irish grown foliage. We always have a lovely time and plenty of tea and chat and creaftiness. If you’re not a confident crafter, I’ll jump in and help you as necessary.
Still places left at all three events, but I’ll close the bookings soon, otherwise I won’t have enough materials.
2024 workshops
We also have some workshops in the calendar for next year. If you are gifting experiences rather than stuff, here are some options for you!
Back by popular demand :
Sourdough Bread making - February 20th
Eco cleaning for beginners - February 13th
Fermented Foods - February 27th
Dried Flower Crowns - March 12th
I’ll finish with some music as always - here’s a song in keeping with my efforts to take it easy…