#growourown

[heelanhomestead]

Our first garden photo of 2025 and the first sign that Spring is finally on the way … 🌷

www.heelanhomestead.co.uk

[heelanhomestead]

A few years ago we planted 400 + daffodils … we waited and held our breath. Now every year in spring these happy little flowers pop up and bring such joy and happiness. It was a lot of work to plant them all, but worth every second … snowdrops next … 🥰😃

[heelanhomestead]

Wow, I’m so happy .. 😃

About five years ago I planted a Damson tree in our garden. Every year I’ve waited patiently to see if it would bear fruit, and every year I wait a little longer.

Roll on 2023 and we have a beautiful crop of plump, juicy Damsons and I have the biggest smile on my face. My original plan was to make some jam … but they’re so deliciously sweet, we’re eating them straight from the fridge. Yum 😋 As this tree has done so well, I think I’ll plant another.

One for eating, one for jam … 😅

[heelanhomestead]

You know you’re a homesteader, when you receive 3 tons of topsoil for your birthday and it’s the best gift EVER !!! 🎉

I am beyond excited & grateful to my wonderful husband for his kind thoughtfulness, as this means we can finally move ahead with our greenhouse. 🌱

We’re planning to put in some tall raised beds and hope to grow crops year round … 🪴

I can’t wait to get started … Thank You so much.😃🥰

On a different note …

Our apples are almost ready and the elderberries are catching up fast. I really love this time of year and can’t wait to start baking with these yummy fruits … apple & elderberry crumble comes to mind, with custard of course (I’ll share the recipe).😋🍎

[heelanhomestead]

Well ... high winds have stopped work on the Polycrub today ... 🤷‍♀️

But ... nonetheless, we’re feeling so positive and happy with our progress so far. The polycarbonate sheeting is going on and the whole thing is really starting to take shape. It was a bit frustrating at first, trying to figure out how to fit them. But with a few handmade tools and a lot of patience, we got there in the end ... 😅

[heelanhomestead]

Yikes, we finally managed to get all of the polycarbonate sheeting over the crub. We found that it really needed a minimum of three people to locate each one, 7m lengths can be tricky ... especially if the wind blows. 😅 But ... they’re on and now we’re busy putting up the ends of the structure. It was a special moment, to be able to walk through the doorway. Big grins all round ... 😃

We’re really starting to get a feel for the space and literally can’t wait to start planting and growing.

Hope you’re all having a fab weekend ... stay safe. 🥰🌱🥬

[heelanhomestead]

At last, we have our wood and materials to start the construction of the greenhouse. It’s a cold and misty day, but we’re all eager to get started ... We spent the morning checking measurements and cutting our first pieces. I’m so happy, so grateful and so excited to finally see this project coming together ... 🙃😃

[heelanhomestead]

Well our last order of greenhouse material finally arrived. I’m so happy and so grateful to the delivery drivers that come out to us. Without them, none of this project would be possible right now. 🙏

Anyway, work is underway again and the sides are on. Our vent kit also arrived, so it’s time to figure out putting the Vistalux sheeting on the ends.

Lots of tricky angles ... fingers crossed.🤞

We’re so, so eager to push on and get this finished ... but we have a week of rain and thunderstorms ahead. 🥺

Guess all we can do is hope and keep everything crossed, for a break in the weather.

One silver lining to being stuck indoors, is that I get to sew. I’ve been playing around with some new card ideas and it’s been fun to finally try them out ... 😃

Anyhow, guess that’s all for now ... hope you all have a bright and happy weekend ... 👋☀️