The summer solstice is here, and the land is in full summer growth. As the meadow responds to regular hay cuts, the wildflowers are returning! Red campion, buttercup, meadowsweet and hogweed flowers all seem to be loved and visited regularly by honeybees, both the native dark variety and the more common yellow-black banded honeybees.

The hay is cut with a scythe and dried before gathering into bundles for animal feed and mulch for the vegetable garden.

In the vegetable garden, the beetroot and kale are doing well despite a rough start. There were lots of slugs this spring. Which, combined with moles, badgers and my own inexperience, made for quite a harsh introduction to the world!

The beans are also growing nicely, some of which are tall enough to start removing the tips. This encourages growth at the side shoots, preventing collapse and allowing more energy for bean production.

The carrots and parsnips have struggled, beset on all sides by slugs, badgers and my own poor soil preparation! But they are starting to make headway.

Unfortunately, the onions aren't doing well, perhaps due to low fertility in the soil. I have been replacing the direct sown onions with shallot sets in order to get some kind of onion harvest later this summer.

I have lots of learning to work on; improving soil preparation, sowing techniques and sowing into compost, making compost and experimenting with mulch to improve soil fertility, and rotating in peas, beans and other legumes to improve the soil. I am looking forward to applying all that I have learned and have yet to learn next year!

Now that the seedlings are large enough, I have mulched the beds. This helps the soil retain moisture and fertility and keeps the weeds down; the first step towards a 'no dig' garden.

I’m grateful for the many creatures keeping me company on these summer days. This little wren has made her nest in the thatch underneath my porch, lined with soft feathers from her chest. At first I could see the pale curve of eggs in the nest, until I looked inside one morning to see a sleepy eyed chick, newly hatched, all pink and grey. They are growing fast, and just beginning to open their eyes fully.

While the wrens move in, the mice have moved out of the house and into the meadow, now that it is drier. Although, that still doesn’t stop them trundling out of their grassy holes to chew on toast as I eat by the campfire.

For the Anglo-Saxons, the summer solstice was a time to give thanks to the life-giving sun, for the blessings of the year, and to look forward to a plentiful harvest.

With thanks to:
Herknungr, Musician, playing 'Нови Циклус'

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