Good news and bad news. The sun is out (so too the first sunflower, three sorts of tagetes, and the red lobelia). Almost as good, our Red Riding Hood scarecrow appears to be working. Had trimmed back the beak-blasted leaves last week to make it easier to spot the pigeon-damage, and for perhaps the first time this year our cabbages and kales appear happy. So pick Siberian and Carole's kale mix, some perpetual spinach, ruby chard and the last of the Florence fennel for weekend suppers (the spinach and fennel to accompany sea trout; the kales with a paprika- and saffron-spiked stew). But now for the bad news...
Where to begin: well perhaps with the stink! Have been making comfrey 'tea' as a fertilizer (fill a barrel with comfrey, top it up with rainwater and leave it covered for a fortnight). The cloud of blowflies trying to break into the barrel should have been the first clue. The milky sludge of decomposing comfrey corpses should also have been warning enough. But no, this is organic growing, this is natural, and we are only talking herbs and rainwater, after all? So nothing for it but to dip the watering can into the barrel (trying not to retch), top up from the tap and sprinkle (splash!) it around.
Now, agreed, I could have worn long gloves, and perhaps been a bit more careful about spilling it on shirt sleeves, jeans and boots (though a bio hazard suit would have failed to stem the stench!). So by the time I pick up the crops and head home, I am smelling like a wet dog that's rolled in something dead (try hosing it off with laughable lack of success). Really hits home when I am on the bus and a group of ten-year-olds get on, do a comic double-take and started screaming about stink bombs (I am pretending to be invisible and convince myself no one could imagine the stench of rotting road kill is coming off me).
So anyway, stripped, scrubbed, and freshly laundered later (all clothes in hot wash; to hell with the environment ), I steam the spinach for our sea trout supper.... it tastes of stinking comfrey tea... At least the pigeons could have eaten it! Hope the nettle tea is easier...
So how was your weekend, any horror stories to share?
