Oh I see, so you will be able to fill your butts with a hose pipe then? Is there a charge for water or is it all in with the rent?
Yes to first question, Barry, and all included. Once I cobble together a suitable stand for the bought w/butt, I can tie it to a metal rod that someone has kindly put by the boundary fence (stop it toppling over). It will be within reach of the tap via the hose.
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Barry, that is brilliant.
Thanks @swimfeeders , not having a bad year at the moment apart from those bloody pigeons, looks like I’ll be erecting a walk in fruit cage next year…
How’s your gardening year going in the polytunnel?
Seem to have lost or mislaid most of my seedlings, in amongst all the weeds. A couple I did spot look like they have been nibbled, but I did find a cloche in my spare room so will take over one day when weeded around the plants.
Chap on my other half offered me a couple of courgettes. I said yes please to them, so they are in and watered.
Did about an hour of weeding, on hands and knees, watered a few places.
Too hot to stay longer. Home, showered, and sitting in bedroom with dog and a cuppa. She couldn’t be bothered to come down and say hello.
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Very slow as I have had medical problems.
I haven’t managed to get down to it for a while, but hoping to soon.
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I was working on the plot and a lady walking past helped me move the water butt onto the stand. Actually she carried it. She then helped tie it to the metal rod already there.
Should be secure now when full.
Did weeding, strimming, found a few veg plants and covered with net or cloche.
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Good to see you’ve got the butt sorted Jan, and that you’ve got a decent stand for it. 
Sounds like you’ve had a busy day, but it’s not been that fit to do much here with a cold wind and showers, although I did manage to pull the shallots and lay them out to dry for a few days on the greenhouse staging before pickling them next week.
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Excellent work there, Barry.
As for the stand, it’s the £11 one I had bought for the bigger butt, the one that leaks.
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As it turned into a wet afternoon I decided to pickle my shallots using jam jars that we’ve saved.
Quite a bit of prep though and stinging eyes come as standard… 
Six jars exactly, now all I have to do is wait a couple of months, which, for me, is the hardest job of all. 
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This is really organized and impressive gardening. What a lot of work you’ve put into it with great results. It’s clearly a labour of love.
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Adorable! 
lol
Thanks Chelsea, I have always enjoyed vegetable growing but now that I’m retired it’s not only a labour of love, but just as importantly a way of keeping me busy and exercised. It certainly beats going to the gym!
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This is true. We find that between walking the dogs, gardening and cutting down trees for firewood, we get all the exercise we need without going to an overcrowded stinky sweaty gym.
I would much rather stay home any day.
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You’ve got that right, Barry! 
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Very little happening in the garden at the moment other than the occasional watering and harvesting.
The mangetout peas have now finished and were very nice, as are the broad beans which will be finished next week sometime, although we do have some cabbage and baby carrots to keep us going before we start using the French beans in a couple of week’s time, when the runner beans will also be starting by the looks of things.
In the meantime I’ll be making beetroot soup on Sunday, and next week we’ll have a salad incorporating the first of the kohlrabi, which I’ve neither grown nor eaten before, so looking forward to trying that. 
Well my water collection system worked! Popped over there this morning before heading into town, and they were all almost half full. Had to make numerous trips to the water butt to decant. The butt has a lid with the hose in the hole so fingers crossed no danger of the water spoiling or evaporating. If no more rain before or on Sunday, I will most likely be using it.
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A little progress report on the garden, which is doing a little better now that it’s rained.
The first of the cherry plum tomatoes are now ripening…
The Aisla Craig Tom’s are swelling well and should be taking on some colour soon.
The sweet peppers are forming well, and I will take off many of the flowers later to allow more room on the plant.
Veg for lunch today, some baby carrot thinnings and the first of the runner and French beans.
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We had the first of the kohlrabi today grated on a salad. I was gifted some heritage seeds last Christmas so thought that I would give them a try. I’ve neither grown nor eaten them before and I must say that I was quite underwhelmed by the experience, but as I have another half dozen growing on the veg patch we will try some roasted next week to see if that improves our impression of it.
These are the last of the broad beans as the blackfly have finally beaten me, but no matter there are plenty of runner and french beans that will be ready for next week onwards for a week or two.
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I love roasted kohl rabi, but never tried the purple variety.