Merry Cans...

Galloping down the final furlong* And into the home straight...

The very last few; of many a thousand leeks are skillfully inserted by this 'filly (not) so fickle; planter extraordinaire...

"Team Fresh and Green" has indeed surpassed itself this year... All these tasty winter alliums ;safely bedded in; the whole shebang taking less than two days...

And only three of us on the job.

Must have been the same following wind; such that helped industrious 'Man Friday' swiftly across the pond; as hastened this task to it's completion..

Merry celebratory libations called for; methinks....

Moreover; more than happy for those lowering clouds in the background, to actually fulfil, some of their soggy promise..

It's as if they're just teasing... Some rain please, weather pixies...

Girl Monday who happens to be in the 'Land of the Free' (refill)  right now; spreading the joys of fancy string; would approve our labours; I'm sure...

http://broadviewfromasmallfarm.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/its-complicated.html

For sure; a taut string is an underappreciated tool in itself; gardenwise...
Get the veg planted alongside straight; hoeing for weed control becomes a pleasure...

I often consider that anyone working here; should first have a go at hoeing; before being allowed to plant anything...

Only then; can you appreciate just how important it is; to get things lined up, in their proper place; so as to make culivations that much easier.

Been appreciating aswell, our innovative friends Stateside; and how helpful their intermediate scale, tool designing skills have been to me.

A lot of my most useful kit here originates either in design, or actuality from there.

It's almost too 'shootin fish in a barrel' easy to lampoon some of the goings on in the good ol' US of A.

As if we; over here; don't get up to almost equal levels of tomfoolery?

But I have to say I've got a soft spot for their attitude of "Go on; have a go; lets see what we can make best to fit the situation".

 Its lazily easy to carp, and criticise, from the lofty heights of 'why bother'.
 It's never that difficult to find some fault or other..

 But the harder thing; is to get off ones fallen onto backside; and have another go.

Lets see if this works instead?

Mistakes; or having to cope somehow, with the unexpected; are often the breeding ground of innovations and adaptations in my experience...

Hmmnn?

 But; enough; of all that motivational nonsense...
Back to the important business of booking train tickets; and organising other 'educational excursions' ..

I am actually quite excited to be going to this event...

http://www.commongoodfood.org/whats-on/farm-hack-scotland

 *A furlong; most usually employed nowadays on the horse racing track; was originally used to denote the length of a furrow that could be ploughed by a horse before needing a rest....  220 yds.. These leeks are planted 4 rows to a 50 yd bed. so by that measure we award ourselves at least one cup of tea per bed planted... That's one of the upsides of self employment... You can create your own rules around standard tea break directives..

Plenty of food for thought on offer; and tasty edibles offered too..

If a method works on hard ground in Scotshire; it should make things a breeze on the Southern Softie lowlands...

For example, the tridents pictured here, crafted by a metal working friend, might present a fairly primitive looking method of forming planting holes...

 But they do the job, need no maintenance, cost very little to make, and will, most likely, outlast the operatives.

And seeing as the meeting venue is a fair way distant Northwards from here, it would seem almost unthinkable; to the point of madness; not to take the velocipede and excurse further for a fews days; or more through the Glens, and who knows; perhaps the Isles; after?

Apparently 'The Team' can just about cope without me then.
Especially if I promise to return with some crafty ideas for improving efficiency.

After all; I hear that's what 'business trips' are all about.