Gardening in a polytunnel in Ireland ... The beginning

Gardening in any weather!

After last years very poor yield in my garden in south east Ireland I decided to order a polytunnel in January, so hopefully this year I shall have vegetables and herbs in abundance.
I decided to get a 10' x 16' from Colin Warren polytunnels
The first job was to level the site...part of which was my original vegetable garden.

The site which I had covered with plastic to kill back some of the grass.

The site then had to be levelled with extra room at the front so that the door could open outwards.

The van arrived with all the kit and two men to construct my tunnel. The hoops and the door frames were inserted into holes and concreted in place. 

The cross braces were put into position and the frames for the doors. Heavy wood battens were fixed all around the base.

Next  the plastic went on over the frame and was stretched taut and fixed around wood battens at the base, which were then secured to the wood already in place. It was then pleated and fixed around the door frames front and back

A stout door was fixed in place.

And a net screen on the back, which also had a roll down plastic door inside for the colder weather.


Watch out for the next part where I shall be planning and building the raised beds inside!

Wearable Art from Mouflon 2015

IMBOLC ....Celebrate the coming of Spring 

 

In Ireland, January 31^st. is  the festival of Imbolc, which begins the season of Spring.

This festival marks the releasing of winter’s grip on the land.

The name Imbolc is derived from the lactating of the ewes which begin lambing at the end of January.

The ancient peoples celebrated this festival as it was the first dairy produce they had after a long dark winter.

Honoring of the goddess Brigit, daughter of the god Dagda, fell on the first day of February, now also called St. Brigit's Day, after she was adopted as a Christian saint.

Woven crosses are still made to celebrate this day.

'IMBOLC'  Wearable Art from Mouflon

Imbolc Necklace

Imbolc Earring

Details: The necklace is made from natural silk yarn wrapped on cotton jersey material.Artificial fabric flowers and leaves, wood beads, coloured wire spirals and closed with silver plated hook and ring.

Length end to end: 23.5 cms.

Earrings: Natural silk yarn wrapped on aluminum wire, artificial fabric flowers and leaves, with silver plated hooks.

Length from hook: 4 cms.

For more information about Imbolc....go to.....

http://culturalheritageireland.ie/index.php/irish-history-from-the-annals/80-irish-history-from-the-annals/174-the-festival-of-imbolc-and-st-brigit

 

http://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolclore.htm