As Autumn makes it’s presence felt we await the ripening of Mother Nature’s offerings. A little more sunshine is needed to sweeten and ripen these Blackberries in the hedgerow. The shorter mornings and darker evenings seem to have descended quickly from the long days of the Summer that was barely evident. Maybe an Indian Summer is around the corner!!
In the garden there is an abundance of produce right now. The freezers are filled with fruits and vegetables which will be used to feed us and make preserves through the Winter. Onions and Garlic are drying in the polytunnel. I feel priviliged to have land that we use to produce so much of our food. Last week I read that Ireland imported 324million euros worth of fruit and veg from Britain last year. Sad that a country which proclaims independence is so dependent on imports from other countries to feed it’s people. True independence, in my opinion, is only plausible when a country can sustain it’s own food supply. With rising fuel prices affecting the price of groceries worldwide it would seem wise for us to grow, grow, grow.
Regardless of weather there is so much that grows well in Ireland. We had fantastic crops this year from berried fruits, alliums did great and beans were incredibly productive. These beans above are being left to produce seed for next year. So easy, just leave some large pods at the end of the season, don’t be too quick to tidy up, and in a few weeks they will have dried out and be ready for harvesting. Remove from pods and store in a dry place and you have next years crop ready to be germinated . With 10 companies now controlling up to 70% of the world’s seed supply I think seed saving is a sensible step to take.
“To see things in the seed, that is genius.–Lao Tzu
Tomatoes are another crop from which seeds can be easily saved. Just soak the seeds to wash off the jelly like coating then dry them out on a piece of kitchen paper and viola! you have next years seeds. Do save from plants of organic origin.
“Abundance is not something we acquire, it is something we tune into.–Wayne Dyer
I shall be away from here for awhile as I am having a break from blogging and visiting and commenting on other people’s blogs. Happy Autumn days to you all. I will be back in the not too distant future. Bridget xx.
arignagardener 
You will be missed. Take care!
You seem well on your way to self-sufficiency. What a lovely harvest! I think that those who can grow their own veggies should at least give it a try. The rewards are great!
Seeing your blackberries brings back memories of the hedgerow behind our beach house. It was SO thick with berries some years they obscured the foliage! wow! I’d totally forgotten about them!
You’re the second blogger I’ve read today who’s taking a break! I don’t comment too often but DO read your stuff…. alot! Enjoy your time away and know we’ll all look forward to your posts when you get back!
🙂
Enjoy your break. Waiting patiently for your return.
Lovely blackberries (to-be)! And yes, with the rising grocery prices, grow, grow, grow would make a lot of sense.
lol I’ve found if I’m lazy nature will handle all the prep for tomato seed saving. A fruit left to ripen …er…. I mean rot, on a shelf under the cover of a shed roof produces reliably viable seeds since the fermentation occurs naturally and out of sight/smell from mrs cohutt.
I usually stumble across the dried carcass sometime in the fall and collect the seed at that point.
I’ll miss your posts as well, but enjoy the break. I take them too from time to time – it helps re-charge things.
Michael
Snap with the blackberries! I wish I had a vegetable harvest. Have a good break and come back refreshed.
My blackberries were a bit tart but came surprisingly early. I hope you enjoy yours when they are ready.
It hasn’t been the best of years for growing but every little helps. I am off on holiday too for a welcome break. Enjoy your time off.
Grow, grow, grow – my thoughts too! Enjoy your break & look forward to your posts on return 🙂
Thanks Dee!
Enjoy! I’ll be offline most of next week too.
Enjoy your break Diana!
Hope you get the sunshine needed to ripen those blackberries. Don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to apple and blackberry crumbles in the autumn. Enjoy your break Bridget.
Apple and blackberry jam is lovely too.
Your potatoes look great. I’ve missed having a veggy patch this year,next year we are going to grow just a few big producers then hopefully we’ll be back into full patches next year.
Our light has changed to autumnal light already,and some of the leaves are changing…sigh.
Jane x
Great seed tips. Happy time away 🙂
Bridget,
You’ve done so well with your vegetables considering what a wet and cool year you’ve had. Mine was hot and dry and I don’t know that my tomatoes look as good as yours. A lot of the plants themselves just withered before they could produce any fruit. More compose in the bed this fall-that’s the answer for me I think.
Enjoy your blogging break.
Karla
Will miss your blogs,Bridget. But we all need a break, I’ll be gone at the end of Sept. for a week’s holidays too. See ya later.!
what a lovely crop of potatoes! And beans .. I’m looking forward to next year, I’ll try using a small poly tunnel to keep the veggies warm at night. Enjoy your time away. 🙂