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stumbling self sufficiency in a small space
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5:55 pm
3rd Grader
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Tue 21-Sep-10
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Just recently moved into our idyllic 5 acre place. Inherited many soft fruits/fruit trees/a polytunnel etc¦and hopefully will be aiming to be as self sufficient as possible.
6:38 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Welcome Nell! Sounds as though you have the ideal set up there, let us know how you use your harvest won't you? Don't be afraid to ask questions either, there are lots of people here with good knowledge on a host of subjects. 
I'll try that again!
7:30 pm
3rd Grader
New members
Tue 21-Sep-10
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Thanks, I just wish I could work out how to resurrect our apple trees, they have had quite aperiod of neglect but are still cropping quite heavily. Also have no idea as to the types either, I know we have some cookers and some eating. We have found ripe damsons and crabapples, and discovered a large clump of horseradish that I was about to pull up thinnking it was dockleaf weed...luckily my MIL recognised it before I did!
At the moment we are busy hacking back undergrowth and finding more raspberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries than we could ever imagine. Also have a huge fig tree cropping away merrily. Has been hard work so far, but loving every moment.
7:45 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Hi Nell If your apple trees are cropping quite heavily then best left alone according to one book I read recently, although you have to watch out for those that crop heavily one year and do nothing the next - no reflection on the trees vitality. The only thing to do is perhaps crop branches that are either in the way, not productive at all or making harvesting difficult. Why make work or yourself, you will have enough to do elsewhere - and that is from experience 
.
7:52 pm
3rd Grader
New members
Tue 21-Sep-10
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Thanks- have been reading up on every gardening book possible, we inherited some lovely 1980's books which make fascinating reading!
We also have a walnut tree, and got the grand total of 2 this year, apparently that was double last years, and that one the squirrel had! Also found a sad pear tree, with only one lonesome pear on it. So that needs some tlc.
Will try and post some pics, will have to see if pics are meant to go in a specific place.
8:01 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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This is the help you need for adding pictures, you can't just add photos from your own computer unfortunately but there are ways and means 
. We are just a year ahead of you on the working the land lark but our only previous experience is living in Derbyshire and gardening for 20 years. We have 33 acres in Latvia but some of that is woodland, some of it is turning into woodland and some of it is meadowland on a steep hill - it was a ski hill, that tells you how steep. We have had to build our polytunnel and only planted our apple trees and fruit bushes this year and currently in the middle of having a barn built - we are always currently in the middle of having something built as it seems to take ages here for some reason or another. 
8:02 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
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What an exciting time for you guys, Nell, hacking away and finding all that good stuff. Welcome and thanks for joining in. Looking forward to your pics. Best upload them to Photobucket and find the instructions for posting them in the Help and How-to forum.
Never knowingly underfed
8:03 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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and you posted twice, tut tut 
8:22 pm
3rd Grader
New members
Tue 21-Sep-10
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After several days work. Never remember to take before and after pics!
Husband wondering what the heck we have got ourselves into!
Wildlife pond- dogs have fell in at least twice in the first few days!
8:23 pm
3rd Grader
New members
Tue 21-Sep-10
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Ok- what I do wrong, the page has gone all wonky 
9:13 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
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Nell, you need to copy and paste the IMG code from Photobucket.
Try again and then I can delete the above post
with the too-wide photos. 
Never knowingly underfed
9:36 pm
3rd Grader
New members
Tue 21-Sep-10
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I thought I did, cripes, will never get the hang of this...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/debobrad/WA.....G_4576.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/debobrad/WA.....G_4569.jpg
9:46 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
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No worries, Nell. It's worth persevering until you get it right.
Take a look again at the instructions.
You need to copy and pasted the part that starts with [IMG]http:// . . .
Never knowingly underfed
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