With apologies...

I'll be honest, things have been tough recently and the allotment has suffered as a result; weeds have taken over and the place is looking scruffy and unmanaged. Despite this, I have a nice crop of spuds coming up and my broad beans are looking strong and healthy! There is a bumper crop of garlic nearly ready to be pulled and last year's onions are coming along very nicely. Soft fruits are, of course, unstoppable and Helen has already made a couple of batches of jam.

On the livestock side, things really have progressed. There is now a second enclosure, currently housing ducks (Aylsbury and Indian Trout Runners), and I also have a few ducklings (mostly Muscovy). My ladies are also doing well and have been laying brilliantly - although the recent rains seem to have knocked them out of their stride, I have added a couple of Welsummers and their dark brown eggs are very tasty!

I had four broodies sitting on clutches and now have three Ko Shamo and seven American Game chicks, though not a single pheasant hatched. This appears to be my own fault, the broody I used seems to have been too large to properly turn the smaller, greenish eggs. A shame, but lesson learned.

The rabbit breeding has not gone so well and we have suffered quite a few losses, both in new litters and in the older stock, so I am considering a rethink and perhaps concentrate on one breed and one breed only (probably Belgian Hare, which is my favourite).

Finally, we have another new dog, a teacup Jack Russell, who has been mated and hopefully has a belly full of pups! With Pip, our Parsons, coming into season shortly, I am hoping for a much-needed bit of extra income.

I hope all you growers are doing better than I have managed and don't forget, tell your friends about Shandy's Dig!