Friday 13 July 2012

Meet the neighbours



Brassica haulm is a bit of an embarrassment for a non digger who has no compost heap, but who likes to recycle ALL his organic matter. We love brassicas as winter greens, especially brussels sprouts, broccoli and curly kale. We ‘eat them to death’. We particularly like what I call ‘sprout sprouts’! These are the green shoots that arise from unpicked sprouts. Harry eats them raw. 
By May, what is left is pretty tatty but is still producing plenty of shoots. I feed them to the neighbours! I cut the brassicas to the ground with loppers, leaving the roots undisturbed. The rheas next door love them. I divide the feast into daily offerings throughout May. They come running whenever they see me. Pure joy for them and for me. They still come running when the greens have gone. Have you ever seen a disappointed rhea? 

When we were young! Sausage and Frilly as youngsters.
It's alive! Quick, hit it with a hammer! Frilly sunbathing on the lawn last year, when we HAD some sun.
I love dandelions!
Phleas waiting for broccoli.
For those non-gardening partners of gardeners coming to our Open Days, the animals next door provide some light relief, so they certainly earn their keep!


...and don't forget the hens!!!!


13 comments:

  1. I saw them when they were only about knee high! It was an autumn open day 2 years ago. They're brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were there too. The kids thought that little orange chicken was an owl and they were able to stroke it. They've never forgotten that.

      Delete
  2. That is a real 'aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh' picture! The entwined necks one - it's beautiful. Wish I was coming to the open day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. WHAT are those chickens?!!!!! I want one!
    - Jeanette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Jeanette. I am reliably informed that they are Polands. Very friendly bantams that look very pretty but not very good layers! These two are Marmite and Dandelion.

      Delete
  4. Hi folks. I live in North Carolina and we have rheas that are bred for really lean meat. Great pictures but I'm guessing that your neighbours keep them as pets? Enjoying your no till garden blog. Kristie wants to know more about vegetables.
    Darton

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good to hear from the USA.I love your country and people. As a student I worked on a fruit farm in Washington state. We visit my aunt in Sisters and have been shown the best gardens of Seattle!
    Yes, Harry and Cathi keep the rheas as pets. As they are all males they now don't even have eggs!
    Tell Kristie we love our vegetable garden and their will be plenty of posts

    ReplyDelete
  6. You'd swear those two chickens are talking about you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Replies
    1. Probably using fowl language!!! :-)

      Delete
  8. That 'quick, hit it with a hammer' is the funniest caption I've seen in a long time!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Saw the birds yesterday - they are magnificent! And friendly.

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...