We set aside this weekend to continue work on a project that’s likely to be the longest-running project that we’ll do ourselves – replacing the gravel in the kitchen garden with reclaimed bricks. Since we moved in I’ve been desperate to get rid of the gravel that had been used for every path and throughout the kitchen garden – it’s just the right size to get stuck in our dog’s paws and get walked into the house. Not nice when it gets between your foot and a tiled floor. Plus it just looks a bit grubby and forever fills with weeds. We replaced the main path from the Farmhouse to the orchard before we started renting the Farmhouse out, and last year we replaced the sloped gravel area behind the greenhouse with a terraced layout that means our greenhouses and runner bean pyramid will be more stable.
This weekend we started on the kitchen garden itself – working up from the brick path past the front of the greenhouse. It’s a difficult job – firstly all the gravel needs to be removed and the top layer of stone dug out. As we’re on a hill with a gradient that falls in two directions, and because we’re using reclaimed bricks that are different sizes and aren’t completely flat. it’s not easy to get the levels right! This section needed to be level with the existing paving slabs outside the greenhouse – and somehow at the next stage we’ll need to link it to the section behind the greenhouse, again getting the levels all even and in line with the vegetable beds. Luckily we’re going with the aged rustic look so a few undulations will add to the charm!
Having planted the garden pots a couple of weeks ago and left them in hosepipe reach between the Old Barn and the laundry, it turns out they’re blocking access to empty our builders’ portaloo. Oops! One of our priority jobs this weekend was therefore to distribute them around the site. Rather lazily, I directed while John lifted and moved them. I need to make a bit more effort next time!
After our planters for the Cow Shed garden arrived last week, John ordered topsoil and spent Sunday filling three of the planters with the gravel from the kitchen garden and the topsoil (the final one will limit our builders’ access to the Cow Shed so we’re not putting that in position until everything has been finished). We’ve been taking jasmine cuttings for a couple of years now with the intention of using these to grow up the trellises and create privacy – it’s quite satisfying to finally plant these and clear some of the many pots we’ve been storing in the kitchen garden! We’ve kept behind a few flowers too and planted the first few out in the planters – it’s not very colourful yet but it’s a start. And hopefully the first plants will take properly before our first guests arrive and start bushing out to give them some privacy from the outset.
We spent time during the week tending to the Farmhouse gardens. First off we weeded the front garden (much needed!). All the weeds have exploded in the last couple of weeks and all the flower beds and the woodchip area under the fruit trees were looking a real mess. The beds look much emptier now without all the weeds – I’ll need to find something to fill them with before more weeds take hold. John then put grass seed down on the back lawn. Our beautiful deep purple lilac tree has a habit of growing extensively and blocking out the light and stopping the grass from growing. Hopefully our pruning efforts last year mean there’ll be more light to let the bald lawn patches grow.
And after a bad attack of aphids in our greenhouses I invested in some ladybirds to try and get the population under control. I probably chose the worst time as we’ve had to open all the windows and doors because of the heat wave. The instructions say you’re supposed to keep all vents closed for a few hours afterwards which was fine as I released the ladybirds in the evening. Every time I go in there I look for ladybirds and it’s hard to spot many – the only comfort is that our orchard has also been hit with aphids so if any ladybirds have left the greenhouse then perhaps they’re out amongst the trees enjoying a feast!
The Cow Shed is progressing well – although there’s still a lot to do before our ambitious self-set target of the end of June. This week our chimney sweep came to install the woodburner in the corner of the living area, which looks absolutely perfect tucked away in the corner. We’re so glad we found out about the cement board that you can put behind woodburners to site them closer to the wall, or we’d have lost space unnecessarily. The tiler has also finished the ensuite and again has done a fantastic job. Now the shower tray protection has been taken off you can see the whole room layout – the dark tiles leading to the dark tray makes the room feel much bigger.
Our carpenter Dave has split his time between installing more of the kitchen units and building out our laundry. As we expand we need more storage space and machines to keep on top of all the washing in a timely fashion. While the Cow Shed itself won’t add huge amounts (unless we get lots of 2-3 day bookings), we decided we may as well get it ready now rather than wait for the Old Barn (the 3-bed barn) in a few years’ time. Dave’s priority is to get all the units ready for the worktop templating this Wednesday so he’s had his hands full!
Ley Farm Cottages 