|
Little Green Space |
 |
|
Little Green Space |
|
|
LITTLE GREEN SPACE Originally published in the Peak Advertiser on 9 February 2009
At this time of year
we are all looking forward to Spring – and gardeners, especially, are
planning for the busy months ahead. The seed catalogues
have been landing on the doormat for a while now, and I am always tempted
by the range of fantastic vegetables I could grow on our plot. This year I
have gone a bit mad with my seed potato order: I want to grow lots of
potatoes this year, as they were one of my main successes in 2008. So a few days ago I
began weeding, digging and mulching to get the ground ready for the
potatoes. I did a bit of a measure-up too, to see how much space I had.
Allowing 12 inches between each spud, there was space for about 40 seed
potatoes. My order arrived from
the seed company yesterday: 110 seed potatoes, in five different
varieties. Where on earth am I going to plant them all? I will need to spend
a lot more time digging new areas for all those spuds. But at least I’ll
be getting plenty of exercise. Spring Cleaning It’s just as well
there’s plenty to do in the veggie patch, because I’m fighting the
urge to clear up in the “pretty” part of the garden. There are dead
stems and flower heads everywhere and it all looks a bit of a mess. I could smarten
things up by doing a bit of hacking here and pruning there but I’m going
to leave well alone. Beneficial insects such as ladybirds hibernate in the
hollow stems of perennials, and birds will feed on the seed heads of
thistles, sunflowers and teasles. It’s best to wait until the new growth
starts to show in a couple of months before giving these plants a haircut. Butterflies and
lacewings may be over-wintering in the shed or greenhouse, so I’m
leaving the big clear-out for a bit. Piles of leaves and twigs building up
in the corner of the garden might be home to a hibernating hedgehog. And
there may be a toad – or even a newt – sleeping the winter months away
under a pot or behind the compost bin. So instead of tidying
up, I think I’ll have a cup of tea – and maybe just another glance at
those seed catalogues. Good Guide to Wood February can be one
of the coldest months. We are enjoying the warmth of our wood-burning
stove – recently installed to help make our home more energy efficient
and reduce our carbon footprint. As long as trees used
for firewood are replaced, wood provides virtually carbon-neutral heating.
Basically, a tree absorbs carbon dioxide which is released when the wood
is burnt – so no additional carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere. Fossil fuels like
coal and gas, however, release carbon dioxide trapped countless millennia
ago, contributing to global warming. To keep our stove
burning at maximum efficiency, we did some research into which wood to
burn and how to store it. All wood needs to be seasoned before being
burnt. This means the wood should be left for at least six months
–preferably for at least a year – after cutting, so it can dry
out thoroughly. Burning
"green" (freshly cut) or wet wood on your stove can cause
problems, the most serious being a tarred-up chimney – which could
result in a chimney fire. Wood which has been
well-seasoned will burn better and give off more heat. If you buy your
logs in, your supplier may sell you seasoned or un-seasoned wood: always
check before you buy. To season logs, it is
best to cut them to size (they should be at least six centimetres shorter
than the width of your stove door so that they fit in easily) and split
them before stacking in a sheltered place. Splitting the logs exposes more
of the surface area to the air, helping the wood to dry more quickly. You
can tell when wood is seasoned and ready to burn: the logs feel lighter
and the ends become dark with visible cracks or splits. Seasoned firewood
will reabsorb water if exposed to rain, snow or dew, so it is important to
store it properly. You can buy a woodstore or make your own. We made ours
with four upright posts rammed into the ground and a builder’s pallet,
covered in roofing felt, set at an angle for the roof. The wood needs to be
stacked off the ground – builders' pallets are useful here too, but a
layer of gravel or a few paving slabs will also work. You can also stack
wood in a barn, garage or garden shed. As to which wood to
burn, ash is generally
considered to be the best firewood. It burns well, gives out plenty of
heat and tends to season more quickly than other woods. Oak
needs to be well-seasoned but will give off a good heat. Hawthorn
is a very dense wood which burns slowly and without much smoke. Hazel,
birch or sycamore
are also a good bet. Or follow the advice
from this old rhyme: Beechwood
fires are bright and clear
Penny at Little Green Space |
