It has been a long and hot summer – great for growing tomatoes and basil, but hard keeping many young trees alive. We’ve spent a lot of time hand watering but have managed to keep up with it. This is a shot of part of our young orchard.

Here is the flax windbreak for the orchard that is now two and a half years old.

This blackbody peach tree had two spring flushes this year. Weird. I have never seen anything like it.

Not a lot of peaches but they are large.

A huge number of Monty’s Surprise apples came down in the wind last week. We are storing them to feed out to the birds and pigs over time.

We’ve had well over 100 muscovy ducklings hatched this year with more on the way.

Unfortunately not many hens so far.

These cockerels will be ready for processing in another 2 to 3 weeks.

Our bee guys came to harvest the honey this week. Sadly, it’s the second bad honey season in a row.

And of course it was a terrible growing season for garlic, but we have survived as one of the few organic growers in the country with a half-decent crop.

Some good news is that Rosie has had twins that are doing well.

And we’ve been potting up tagasaste in the nursery.

 

That’s all for now, Estwing.