October 2025
Autumn deliciousness
I have to say, Autumn is not my favourite time of the year. I know that things have to wind down and go to sleep for the winter but I’m more of a Spring lover.
Some good things though - after a summer of sleeping outside and perching on the compost bins, the cats have come inside. Warm for them and cuddles for us. And sometimes they will scoot along on the couch to leave room for us.
Lots to harvest - Tomatoes, tomatillos, aubergines, courgettes, beans, chillies, apples, raspberries - harvested, and mostly processed or eaten. Have been making lots of chilli jam - adding a small amount of raspberries or figs or both to add to the flavour.
Went to Athone for an Agriculture & Forestry Stakeholder consultation for the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, in my Talamh Beo role (and check out the TB website, which now mentions flowers!)
Also went to the Offline Film festival in Offaly, where a film that I participated in picked up a few awards. I’ll tell you more next month about this project.
Also got my flu and covid vaccination, no ill effects. Good to have that out of the way.
Coole Meadow
For the first time, a great year for squash. The yellow courgettes kept on producing till mid October, and Rolet and Tromboncino will definitely be on the list for growing next year. Roles in particular is prolific, and one fruit is perfect for one person - open a lid, quickly cook in the microwave, and add butter or sauce after scooping out the seeds. The big squash are great, but a production to cut up, and then you have to make a huge amount of food. Tromboncino were working like a courgette in the summer, and some of them developed a nice firm outer skin for storage. Subtle delicate flavour. I cut rounds, grilled them in a little oil, and topped them with pecorino at the end for a delicious starter.
We are still mowing - the grass has not stopped growing yet - but it has slowed down. The willow that we planted in spring has been coppiced, and will be used by Karen to make wreath bases for Christmas wreaths, here’s one of her workshops if you’d like to book in.
We have planted lots of yellow rattle, though I suppose that we could rely on the seed falling down and growing itself - but we don’t have much ground disturbance, so I feel compelled to help things along. I have been giving away fresh seed at my seed saving events - I still have some left - get in touch if you’d like some - it needs to be used up this year.
And yes, the weeds are still growing, I have been doing my best, and hoping that when I get back to Coole in January/Spring, that it will be in reasonable shape.
I got my garlic in, and covered with comfrey leaves on October 1st- they have rotted down quickly and some of the garlic (Primor, true to it’s name) has sprouted already!
Workshops
Lots of fun workshops this month. I was back with the Women’s Community Project for two - we began the month with Mindfullness and Nourishment and Michaela joined me to lead some chair yoga, and finished up with a sound bath which was very well received. The following week, we talked about food waste and made a vegetable soup. A very democratic soup - with some parameters in place, we voted on the veg, and made something that catered to the food sensitivities of the group. Always a pleasure, and hope to be back in the Spring. The students surprised me with a card and gifts to wish me well for my operation, I was very touched by their thoughtfulness and kindness.
The Crafty Yellowship has come to an end - for now. We ran our ‘Get the Flax’ in Bertilles beautiful Studio Bleu in Castlepollard. A beautifully lit, warm, mindful evening, with loads of creativity, and lots of clothes given a new lease of life. And new skills shared!
I visited the new renovated and lovely Ballyconnell Market House for a seed saving workshop, which was great fun - lots of hands on learning and socialising - and I still have lots of seeds left. So hopefully there will be some opportunities to give those seeds away next spring. It will certainly be part of my offering.
And last but definitely not least, we had an exhibition to mark the end of the Crafty Yellowship project in Cuige. Bertille and Martina did an amazing and efficient job getting the Cuige room set up, and we had a great turnout. Delighted to have Cathal Flood , Cavan Biodiversity officer, give a few remarks, and recite one of his beautiful poems. I was delighted to provide some refreshments, which seemed to go down well.
Flower Farming
All the biennials are planted out - and I hope, forming deep roots to help them last the winter. It’s always amazing how much growth happens for these, especially if you can get them in before the equinox.
I have not planted any cold weather annuals, and it’s too late for that now. So I will rely on self seeding - sometimes it good to be a messy gardener.
I’m filling up the tunnel with Ranunculus and Anemone, I’m not doing the normal process of soaking and pre sprouting - time just doesn’t allow - fingers crossed all will be well. I’m also planting lots in big pots, I seem to have way too many corms, but they are such beauties, you cant really have too many.
I was part of a group order for some tissue culture Campanula - that’s mostly gone in outside, I’ll try some in the tunnel too. Tissue culture is not something I’d normally do, but great to be experimenting.
Learning
I had hoped to get to a soil event run by NOTS, and to Riot Rye bakery for a sourdough course, and to the Burren Winterage - none of that happened. Maybe just as well.
I’m back in Athlone LWETB doing a level 5 qualification in pottery/ceramics. I don’t know if I’ll succeed with the qualification, given that I have only one more class left pre op, I’m hoping that I’ll make it back for a few classes in December. Enjoying the craic and the creativity.
Flower Farmers of Ireland sponsored another seed saving workshop, this time with Debbie Gilles of True Harvest seeds- great learning!
Spent a weekend in Kells Bay with Horticulturalists that were way nerdier then I! Highlight for me was a talk by Oliver Schurman of Mount Venus nursery and an opportunity to buy their new book. I’m looking forward to a day out in their new space in 2026.
Our local library hosted an inventive workshop called ‘Soil your scarf’ where we knit a tiny scarf with Irish wool to go into the ground and be eaten by the underground life. they healthier your soil, the faster that the scarf will disappear, but in the meantime lots of creatures can be seen enjoying their woollen home.
Finally, I was at an amazing event - a local food symposium in Trinity college on October 30th. Stand out moments for me were Fergal Anderson talking about the love that farmers have for their work, and how that’s not part of (extractive) Big Ag. The head of the School of Medicine closed the event with his full support for healthy food and healthy soils (for healthy people). Of course Rupa Marya was amazing, and is now part of Trinity, and Sean McCabe from Bohs was inspirational in his work there for community wealth building. There’s definitely room for optimism - lots of work to be done, but moving in the right direction.
Upcoming events
Soapmaking in Coolamber on November 1st - my last workshop for this year - it will be a beautiful day in a gorgeous venue with delicious food.
And that’s it for me for this year – my hip operation is Nov 8th, I don’t know what I’ll be writing about in a month’s time.
Links
Have always loved Bette - and even more after reading this.
Some birds are coming back from the brink read it here
Don’t know if I shared this before , but never bad to repeat…Fungi
Might be of interest - building resilient local economies.
Music
Beautiful video and music - and Mullingar talent.
Creative direction @andrea.cullen - and director of photography @tanyacullen_tantan@bronte_photography_projects - both great friends of Big Sky Flowers. And filmed on the bog near Coole - a beautiful place that we pass on our way out there.
fantastic altogether Anna
Lovely update Anna ! Trinity event sounds great.