Log bed, chickens and more...

Since the last post we have had a few exciting developments here at the Mount of Oaks. This post will give news about the new log bed in the kitchen garden, the arrival of our new beloved chickens...



 

At New Year we posted about our 'vision for improving our soil quality' - and we wrote about our desire to buy a shredder to transform the waste wood here into mulch. Well, since then, we received good advice from some folk and did more research into the practice of 'hugelkultur' as developed by a famous permaculturist, Sepp Holzer. We have decided NOT to go ahead with buying the shredder - mostly because it is super expensive - but also as there are other options available for improving our soil. Here is a link to a great blog that talks about hugelkultur- the ultimate raise garden beds. Another link cleverly refers to this process as the ability to 'compost whole trees with ease' - click here to read more.'

OUR FIRST LOG BED

......not exactly hugelkultur - but our own version for our own needs.... 

what specific needs you might ask...well - our need of creating a living fence between us and the neighbour, a wind break/protection from the northwest  and  a sun trap for the veg beds below it. 




We asked some of our neighbours to help us (Paul and Martine, plus Hans - TEAM Dutch) - and we began on a bright morning with our own version of hugelkultur - a raised log bed. Here are some pictures of how the day went......





This is how the space looked before......stakes in the ground mark the boundaries of the bed.

No good working day can begin without some strong coffee and a chat........

When work began, the first thing was to remove the top soil. Mimosa stakes were put in the ground to provide the edge of the bed.

Then we began the mission of transporting woody materials to the sight of the bed.....first the huge logs to go into the bottom of the bed - this is in order for these to decompose slowly - releasing nitrogen as it does so...even though we know that it will consume some nitrogen on the decomposition process specially the first year...

 In the picture above you can see how the large mimosa logs were laid inside the trench.

 There were a lot of posts to cut from the mimosa forest - and here is Hans sharpening the chainsaw......

  

After the large logs were inside -  it was time to transport mulch and bring the poles of different sizes.

We did some of the work by hand - then enlisted the help of Xico for taking logs from the forest below up to the kitchen area......

 

     It was the first time that I (emma) had prepared Xico for action - attaching his harness and cart - and also the first time I drove the cart alone! big achievements - no?!

Donkey bodies....... helping Xico up the hill.....PUSH!!!!

Then we needed to fill in the spaces between the logs with broom....

...so Xico was in use again to bring the broom up the hill.....















Throughout the process we watered the bed - wood acts as a sponge and retains the water to release slowly. 

We replaced the soil we had removed from the trench in the morning, with the roots facing up. Then a mission to the oak forest, at the top of the land, to collect fertile top soil full of humus - which we put on top of the bed, after a layer of oak leaves.

the final touch was a layer of broom to cover the leaves and beautiful soil.....

....all that was left to do was to water the bed again.......

  .......and celebrate!

Our big thanks to Martine, Paul, Hans and of course Xico! Well done - now we would like to do more - but with a different technique - more like the original hugelkultur idea.

THE LONG-AWAITED ARRIVAL OF CHICKENS.........

It seems that Barbara and people who pass-by here have talked about the delight of having chickens at the Mount of Oaks for YEARS - and now, it is with great pleasure that we introduce you to our darlings.......

We were given these chickens as a gift from a neighbour, Maria - she obviously cared for them very much, so they have moved from one happy home to another - this one is a MOBILE house. 

Here is the home that Barbara made for them. 

We can lift from place to place for them to 'work' the land - scratching, eating undesirable bugs, and obviously fertilizing it with their poop.

The crew is so full of character. Let's introduce them....

 Maria (brown with a bald neck - a specific Portuguese variety) has the reputation of giving huge eggs - not seen one as yet - but she is such a funny one - when she runs she looks like a clown. She is the biggest hen and seems to be the highest in the pecking order (oops - poor pun!)

Our rooster, Oscar - pictured here in the middle of singing his tune, is an early riser! He starts singing these days about 6am. It seems like he is a good guard for his ladies. 

This is Laurinha - she and Fleaky are a small variety - they have been laying faithfully at least one a day for over a week now! They love their house and have made a nest for themselves in the corner. 

It is hard to get pictures of them - they move so quickly.  Fleaky is the darker of the two wee birds.

Last, but not least is Valentina - our black chicken. She is quiet, kind and a little afraid of Maria. She and Oscar seem to be developing a love relationship.

Thus far things have been going well. They are laying, they are scratching, they seem happy. 
 

I have discovered them in the garden a few times - which is not great - but we do allow them out of their pen for a few hours a day and if you don't keep a careful watch they can get anywhere!

Sleeping habits have become funny - Oscar has only slept in the house twice. He sleeps in the olive tree. 

After a few days, Valentina joined him there! 

The other night we even had Laurinha in the tree too - but the thunder and lightning  encouraged her back into the house. 

this was the first egg! we have enjoyed plenty more since. DELICIOUS!

WEATHER REPORT

The last weeks have been crazy in terms of the weather - we have had snow on the mountain.....

thunder and lightning and LOTS of rain.......good for the land - we will never complain about the 'sky juice' - but it has meant that we are doing bits of work - then run to take shelter from the pouring rain! Thankfully no more of that strong wind !!!

On the positive side we have had some LOVELY rainbows to enjoy....

 

 All the rain has meant that the garden is looking well - here are a few snaps.....

 

MANY THANKS 

We would like to thank you for those of you who got in touch after the last post offering us support - we are really grateful and look forward in the coming months with your ongoing help to get ourselves a living income. Knowing that you are out there following us, willing us forward and holding us in your heart makes SUCH A DIFFERENCE to our daily lives. THANK YOU!

AND FINALLY......

......some words from 
the mighty Nelson Mandela to consider....

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward.



There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lay defeat and death.”
from "Long Walk to Freedom"

MUCH LOVE AND PEACE,

emma and barbara 

and the animals, plants and the trees.......