July 26, 2025

It’s been a low-key few weeks again. I’m not in a particularly creative phase. Since the big fleece-to-jumper project has finished, I’ve not started a new knitting project, mainly because I don’t have any yarn. I’ve been spinning the 500g of merino wool I bought on Etsy. It’s super soft and will make a really nice garment. My plan is to dye a portion of the finished yarn, with some natural dye, maybe a grey or brownish colour. Then use the white and grey/brown yarn together to make something - potentially a cap-sleeved top instead of another jumper, since it’s such soft material and I’ve been spinning it quite fine. The goal is to spin all 500g before I move onto the dye process and choose a pattern. That’s taking some time, but I’m almost there! It will be good to have a knitting project again soon, especially a smaller, lighter garment that can be more portable. 

Other than that… not much has been going on. I’ve done a few visits to the field. Continued laying paths with cardboard and woodchips. Am starting to make a dent in trimming the long grass, uncovering the planted trees and bushes that got slightly drowned in weeds. It’ll take a few more sessions to uncover everything. The big next phase is getting the well installed, which is finally happening next week! I have a company coming to drill a hole, potentially to 30 metres depth, and installing a water pump. I just need to supply a generator to pump it up.

Once I have a water supply, I think I’ll unlock a bunch of new tasks. First, set up a good watering system. I’m putting the well about 20 metres down the field, in the middle, so relatively centred to the trees that are currently planted. I think I’ll install large bucket containers or “mini-reservoirs” in several localised areas, so I can keep them filled up and just use a bucket to dip in and water each tree by hand. Meaning less back and forth and waiting for a hose to water an individual plant. I have a basic plan; let’s hope it functions. Currently, my trees are just surviving, so hoping to bring them back to good health with regular watering for the rest of the summer.

The other unlock is being able to drench the soil to make it soft enough to dig mini ponds and the water trough I’ve been wanting to soak the willow in. Currently, the ground is too hard to get a fork in. I also want to reset the garlic and onion beds, which are now fully harvested. If I can soak the soil, and rake it smooth, my plan is to sow a few winter crops like beetroot, turnips, carrots, spinach etc, and put over a netted cover to stop rabbits and stuff getting to it. Water is the key. Those vegetables will definitely need regular irrigation. I’ve been watching YouTube videos on making ponds, which I think could be a great winter project this year, to have some aquatic plants and wildlife to bring more vibes to the field.

All the garlic I harvested from the field. A bit smaller than I wanted, probably lack of water.

I’m honestly not doing much else. I’m hoping to restart some basket making once I have a water trough to soak the willow properly. My back garden is growing some large tomato plants, which will be a main harvest for the year.

biggest yellow courgette yet

blackberries starting to come out

best cookies I've made so far - oat digestive biscuit with chocolate

mini baguette still going strong

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