A Cottage in Clarkville

Chicken plans

clarkvillecottage — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:29:32 +0000

I hae just realised that I had this post written back in November but I hadn’t published it! Read on and I will give an update at the bottom…..
I had a cunning plan for our chickens, but the girls were having none of it. I decided that we could make use of them to help weed out parts of our vegetable garden. I thought that they would be excited about this, as although they have a very large run, they have scratched it bare and don’t often get out for a run around the garden, and when they do they make a mess in areas we don’t want them.
I found on Trade Me a lovely little portable coop suitable for 6 chooks, and then got some netting that can be hooked up to an electric fence unit. I set it up in the area of the vege garden closest to the house where we want to plant the pumpkins. I moved the chickens in one evening, but by 9am the next morning they had all got out and gone to lay their eggs in their old house. I hadn’t been able to hook up the electric fence unit because the grass was too long and would have shorted it out.
I will have to mow a strip around the edge before starting again, but I think my best bet will be to get some new chickens in for the new coop, and leave the others where they are.
I am still keen to get the system going, as there will always be somewhere to set them up, I have plans for them around the fejoas, and then in the orchard when there is excess fruit dropping on the ground.
Will keep you posted!

Latest news….. As I said I would I cleared around the edge of the garden and set up the electric netting. I then purchased 4 nine week old brown shaver chickens and put them into the moveable coop (the other chickens are still in their original coop). The man I bought them off said I should leave them in their coop for 5 days before letting them out into the garden.

After 3 days (yesterday) I thought they would like a run around so I let them out in the evening. I kept an eye on them but when I went to lock them away there was only 3 in their house! I had a big look around the garden with a torch but no sign. Luckily this morning she was found in a nearby bush. I have done the same again tonight, hopefully they are all safe in bed, I will go and check soon. Here is a picture of the area I want them to clear, they have their work cut out!

Building projects

clarkvillecottage — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:21:31 +0000

We got a couple of building projects achieved late last year, one of them was done by me, the other we got a real builder in to do.
We are so happy with our new veranda over the back door. It has made life so much easier when it rains, trying to get inside with groceries and Noah is no longer a mad scramble with the keys while you get soaked. Toby likes it too.

Cheese

clarkvillecottage — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:25:21 +0000

I finally made some cheese using the equipment my family kindly got me for my birthday. I had made a couple of batches of yoghurt but I got organised and made some feta. The milk came from the farmer down the road, I used 4l. All went well, it tastes like feta and several people have eaten and all have lived to tell about it. Obviously it isn’t all in perfect blocks, I will work on that.

Sadness

clarkvillecottage — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:23:08 +0000

We were just beginning to get used to life with a crazy Bengal cat. The terrorising of the other cats, splashing his drinking water everywhere, the loud miaow and screaming at us for jellymeat, jumping on the bench, TV, bookshelf and mantlepiece, and flopping down in front of us for tummy rubs. I was driving out the gate and saw a dead cat on the side of the road. ‘Oh no’, I thought, ‘someone’s cat has been run over’. When I realised it was Bishop I was hysterical. How could my beautiful boy be dead? My heart aches for Bish and every day I wish he was still with us – there’s so much I would give to have him back but sadly life doesn’t work like that. Bishop was a magnificent creature and I will miss him forever. Rest in peace my wee Bishy.

Elderflowers

clarkvillecottage — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:47:35 +0000

It has only taken me three seasons, but I have finally managed to make some use of the elderflowers that grow here. I have made 3 bottles of cordial which should last for ages as it is very sweet and will be mixed with soda or water. I also made 12 750ml bottles of Elderflower Champagne. Hopefully it will go bubbly but not too much as I don’t want the bottles to explode! The recipe says to leave it for 6 months but I don’t know if we will wait that long.

Roses Spring 2011

clarkvillecottage — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:52:15 +0000

Chris did a great job pruning the roses this year and they are all blooming and looking good.

Spring 2011

clarkvillecottage — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:47:05 +0000

Another long break between posts I’m sorry. Spring 2011 has nearly finished, and it’s been a good one at the Cottage, except for the bees. The big excitement is the news of a new arrival due next April, Noah will have himself a partner in crime to run around with.
The vegetable garden is in its normal state of being behind where it should be. I have just finished doing the first mounding up of the Jersey Benny potatoes, not sure if they will be ready for Christmas, but will be close. Will be planting a main crop of Ilam Hardies soon. Have got some seeds in, but the ones I have been raising in the egg trays don’t seem to be going so well. We have got plans of growing pumpkins, squash and watermelons in the part of the garden closest to the house. It’s the part that is more often than not overrun by weeds, and that is how it is at the moment. I did have plans of getting the chickens to clear it out for me, more on that in my next post! I have planted some corn, bean and pea seeds directly into the garden today, and we purchased some plants from the local Ohoka Farmers Market that are now in as well. We have got Lebanese cucumbers, tomatoes (Cherry, Roma and Russian Red), Black Zucchini, and celery. The rocket and mesculin lettuce is doing well.
The garlic is looking good and probably isn’t far off being ready, and we still have a few things to get onto.
The sheep are doing well, the lambs are getting big, and there is heaps of grass around for them, have just trimmed their feet and cleaned a couple of bums.
I have been on a basic cheesemaking course so will be making my first feta soon, and have finally had success with making yogurt.

A bad day at the Cottage

clarkvillecottage — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:44:32 +0000

We don’t have many bad days here but today was one of them. I had it confirmed today that my bee hive had a disease called American Foulbrood (AFB). There is no treatment for this disease and I was required by law to destroy the entire hive by burning it, which I did this morning. Before burning it I had to block the entrance and pour some petrol over the top to kill all of the bees first.
I discovered I had the disease during a normal hive inspection just over a week ago. It is suspected that my bees picked it up from a nearby apiary whose owner has a history of having the disease in his hives.
So that was a stink thing to do. I am not sure if I will start-up again, I have been offered some more bees but I don’t feel like it at the moment as I don’t want to lose everything again. Will have a think about it. The agency that controls AFB is going to inspect the nearby apiary.

Daffodil Time

clarkvillecottage — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:26:02 +0000

The ‘Camelia’ Daffodil bulbs that my Mum gave us are now into their 2nd year. The bulbs have divided up and it is looking like a great crop. The first ones were ready for sale on the first day of daylight savings.

The end of a (short) era

clarkvillecottage — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:29:54 +0000

There has been a change of utes at the cottage. Unfortunately the Austin A60 has been sold to make way for a more family friendly double cab Toyota Hilux. We had a great run with the Austin but we couldn’t justify holding onto it so it has gone to a new home in the North Island.
Although we spent a bit of money on it getting the tourneau cover and such luxuries like a radio and heater it never let us down, and it was definitely a fun vehicle to own and a real attention getter. I haven’t told the Austin Club yet, will get onto that soon!