WELCOME TO MY POTTING SHED

You can't beat a dollop of mud a day to keep the Doctor at bay.

Why not follow me about as I garden for money and just for fun in beautiful Nailsworth and its' environs.

What's it all about?

My gardens, that's all and any gardening related stuff I guess you might be interested in.

Where do I garden?

My house is in the centre of Nailsworth. With the wind in the right direction, we get a strong whiff of curry as it floats out of the Passage to India and into our front garden. We never get this smell anywhere else on our premises, which is either a good thing, or a bad one, depending on your point of view. As you now know we have a garden, a small rectangle, at the front of the house, and a triangular courtyard garden at the back. Then there's the Garden Plot, right down in the heart of Nailsworth, which I rent from a local business. This is new as from Autumn 2009 and will take a lot of work to help it become productive. I try to garden for veges at my friend Debbis house and for fun with my next door neighbour.

It adds up to a lot of work. For a relaxing hobby, it's proving stressful at times, but, mostly it's heaven.

There are customers who like me to work for them right through the year, and others who I see during the summer months. This working more days a week in the summer than in the winter, of course. The way to keep the finances stable for me has been to teach on the days I don't garden. Works really well for me. The bills get paid, we haven't starved to death yet and we get to have fun ... sometimes!

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Home Made Propagator


As you may recall, my propagator conked out. I gave it some thought over a couple of weeks, whilst MeWally nurtured the poor cold seed trays on a window sill at work.

This is the solution; fish boxes! I asked WILLIAMS KITCHEN for them, and they said YES as the boxes are thrown away.
I put a hot water bottle, or two in the bottom of the fish box and then squeeze the old propagator into the fish box. The far end of the fish box has been packed out with insulation.

A thermometer is the final touch.

The old propagator has worked so well that I scrounged another couple of fish boxes and set them up like so.
Old secondary glazing panes and a thermometer finish the job. 

The one thing to watch is the temperature in there. All the boxes tend to overheat during the day - remove hot water bottles and prop open glazing and all is well.

If it gets frosty, the fish box lids can be put on at night. That and a hot water bottle will give all the protection needed.

It's been a great idea, cheap too especially if the water is heated on the wood burner.


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