Gardd Darna

14/01/2025

We are expanding the food growing area in the Philippines. They have small grass cutter and portable rotovator to help the job.

14/01/2025

Pressure canned 2 batches of Chicken Phò yesterday and 2 jars in the front didn't sealed. Some jars got shredded chicken breast meat, some dont...
Don't be disheartened if this happened, only 2 out of 24jars...
It means, I will eat chicken phò today instead of few weeks or few months lol
Just need to add glass noodles and fresh coriander and mint herbs...perfect for cold weather when you I feel lazy to cook...

12/01/2025

I processed 6 chicken males yesterday, loads of boiling water needed from wood burner.
12 huge legs will be in freezer today (overnight in fridge to make the meat softer). All bones including neck, backbones, feet, head is simmering with cinnamon, star anis, cardamon, coriander and other herbs to make Pho broth (Vietnamese soup) then pressure can.
I still have 13males to processed, enough meat chickens for the next few months...

12/01/2025

Gardening tips too early 🫣

We all can't wait to propagate even at this freezing temperature! I've seen a lot of gardeners with heated house or heated box, propagating tomatoes from not so good quality fruits... but... remember propagate from your best quality fruits.
This was the mistake of Russian few years ago, they ate the best quality of produced like tomatoes, potatoes, etc..etc.. and leave the not so good quality to collect the seeds for planting. The results? Small yield and declined of harvest...
Remember also when you propagate early to prevent your seedlings to become leggy and weak plants.
Yes, when we are in normal house with electric, I propagated early but it's hardwork to keep turning trays from window sills.
I'm well adjusted in Welsh weather, I dont compete in the marathon of propagating even I sell plants. I often refused to sell early to customers as frost is lurking in our areas.
Don't worry so much about being late, when we have longer sunlight - let the plants do the growing marathon even we are asleep..

I always chose the biggest and good quality tomatoes, riped from the vine to collect my seeds and this applies to sweetcorns, beans and anything that I collect seeds for next season.

11/01/2025

Freezing for a couple of days now and let's bring back some summer photos.

Ain't too bad in Wales during summer...

10/01/2025

Went to M&S, saw these beautiful bottles I could use for Vanilla extract so I rang Dave if he can drink the liquer😅
It has Christmas light too when you touch each side lol
From £20 refuced to £7.. that's the cost of bottle plus postage...

09/01/2025

I learnt this from friends recently as I unconsciously mirroring someone.
"Mirroring"
The unconscious imitation of another person's actions. It can help establish rapport and make people feel more connected.

I just realised that I been doing this to Dave in our 21 years of marriage. I always insist to helped him, no matter what he is doing and I always insist him to teach me from operating power tools, to gardening and building.

Now, it explained that's why we are so connected to what we want in life...and achieved many things because we "dance in the same rhythm"....

08/01/2025

I'm quite often fully awake just before 4am and I already had 10hours sleep by then so I checking updates from the Philippine farm.
I doubted myself few months ago if I can teach them from Wales...

Tomatoes from seedlings have fruits after 2months!
I'm quite gentle to the staff/family, no seeds germination yet as it can be frustrating as a new gardener for the seeds to germinate or not germinate.
So I ordered ready to plant seedlings and seeing fruits or growing plants very well in just few weeks, boosts their confidence.
Now they we're asking what they are going to do when there's so much harvest, I said No Selling of produced 🤫
We will do Preserving... they asked, what it is, I said I talk to you when you have a lot of harvest🫣

06/01/2025

Is anyone interested in Apple tree grafting?

We are planning 2 dates in February *8th and 22nd*
Time: 12:00 - 16:00
Location: Gardd Darna Barn

Each session will cover practical grafting techniques, tools, history and uses.
(Limited to 8 people)
£50
Price will include 1 bare root rootstock mm106
(Grafted by you under Bryan’s guidance)

All materials including various scions for you to choose to graft, materials and tools needed will be provided.
(Please bring along your own tools or scions you would may like to graft them if preferred)
Scions have to be a fresh twig from adult tree from this seasons growth.

06/01/2025

We are upgrading our solar set-up to Lithium batteries.

So we have spare Inverters (2pcs), 1 inverter is 5kw Voltacon fully refurbished by Voltacon and we have it as reserved, just in case current inverter have some problem which we never had. and 8 led acid batteries..

This is ideal for anyone who is starting a small Solar set-up and who's budget is limited.

You can contact Mark on the fb page below if you require a set up with the 2nd hand inverters and batteries and he can provide you with other solar materials, first class service and great prices.
Frankly, Mark is the best person when it comes to Solar with reasonable prices and most of all - He turns up when he said he will... and small jobs or big jobs, he will be on your doorstep.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554802452585

For all Solar repairs, on grid, off grid and mobile . No jobs too big or small.

06/01/2025

When the sun is out, I want to start the washing machine, charge all powerbanks, laptops, powertools batteries...

And Dave's personal fridge for maggots in the barn is on too..

05/01/2025

Old barn is ready for lambing season, we lamb very early so we are expecting lambs in the next few days...
We also have the new barn to prepare hurdles for other ewes to give birth...
Colostrums and feeding bottles are ready but I just hope we don't need them...
I really hope we will have a good lambing season, no sleepless nights for me...

05/01/2025

I stopped Preserving any form of cakes as Dave said - waste of canning time...
Because we ate them all in 3days😅

04/01/2025

Another great course hosted by our fellow OPD friend, Peni Ediker .
Peni's OPD vegetable garden is one of the best we seen.
I am keen to learn biochar from herself...
Contact Peni in the email address provided below...

04/01/2025

I have so much gardening memories with my father and I hope my nephews and nieces will do the same...

03/01/2025

Nothing can come between me & Dave.....except cat 😼

31/12/2024

I'm excited to what 2025 brings to me & Dave .. More than anything, I wish for our good health and peace of mind, including my family in the Philippines.

2024 has been good to us, healthy and happy. The biggest lesson I learnt is To Be Content and Happy with what we have.

And most of all, we had a beautiful addition to our family, her name is Elizabeth, nickname Lizzie...
Her nursing uncles wants to finance her education to become a nurse 😅
I ordered a crib with a wheel so she can watch our farm staff while planting, she will become a Farmer - to feed the nurses😅