Smallholderific
@smallholderific.bsky.social
Our cottage smallholding. Fruit and veg, orchard, Light Sussex & hybrid chickens, Buff Orpington ducks, beekeeping, cats, foraging, home brewing, country wine, cider and juice making, preserving & cooking. Plan: + geese/pigs.
Not homegrown, because, as looking out of the window at the wet sludge will demonstrate, here is not Seville. But, tis the season, so time to do a bit of marmalade, perhaps even some honey marmalade, given that is one homegrown ingredient we do have. 🐝🍯🍊
February 7, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Not homegrown, because, as looking out of the window at the wet sludge will demonstrate, here is not Seville. But, tis the season, so time to do a bit of marmalade, perhaps even some honey marmalade, given that is one homegrown ingredient we do have. 🐝🍯🍊
Advice sought from fellow veg growers: looking for a truly excellent standard-sized (i.e. closer to golf ball than tennis ball) red tomato variety to grow this year. Flavour more important than yield. Suggestions welcome!
February 6, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Advice sought from fellow veg growers: looking for a truly excellent standard-sized (i.e. closer to golf ball than tennis ball) red tomato variety to grow this year. Flavour more important than yield. Suggestions welcome!
Foul dampness today, so purchased some more onion sets (not confident I have bed space, but hey ho...) and sowed Delikett sugar snap peas. Heat mat on order to get my polytunnel crops off to a reasonable start.
February 5, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Foul dampness today, so purchased some more onion sets (not confident I have bed space, but hey ho...) and sowed Delikett sugar snap peas. Heat mat on order to get my polytunnel crops off to a reasonable start.
However, I am once again being hindered in my smallholding objectives, albeit by a different cat. Sitting down to have a coffee is a risky business...
January 22, 2026 at 2:45 PM
However, I am once again being hindered in my smallholding objectives, albeit by a different cat. Sitting down to have a coffee is a risky business...
Plum tree to plant this afternoon, Laxton's Delight, a big yellow dessert plum. Replacement for Laxton's Jubilee which failed this year. Am taking a risk that there are no soil-borne issues and planting on same spot, but will chuck some microrhizal fungi in to try and give it a good start. 🤞
January 22, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Plum tree to plant this afternoon, Laxton's Delight, a big yellow dessert plum. Replacement for Laxton's Jubilee which failed this year. Am taking a risk that there are no soil-borne issues and planting on same spot, but will chuck some microrhizal fungi in to try and give it a good start. 🤞
Cat off lap, remains of ton 1 of mushroom compost barrowed and spread. Quick coffee then onwards: just need to think of this as a free gym class rather than as a massive and backbreaking chore...
January 20, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Cat off lap, remains of ton 1 of mushroom compost barrowed and spread. Quick coffee then onwards: just need to think of this as a free gym class rather than as a massive and backbreaking chore...
I am being somewhat hindered in my smallholding objectives today.
January 20, 2026 at 9:52 AM
I am being somewhat hindered in my smallholding objectives today.
Squash soup, saag paneer and dal made this morning.
Started to shift logs out of the way for fencing project in a few weeks' time but rain stopped play. Tomorrow looks better for that job. Next up: Coffee and plotting.
Started to shift logs out of the way for fencing project in a few weeks' time but rain stopped play. Tomorrow looks better for that job. Next up: Coffee and plotting.
January 19, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Squash soup, saag paneer and dal made this morning.
Started to shift logs out of the way for fencing project in a few weeks' time but rain stopped play. Tomorrow looks better for that job. Next up: Coffee and plotting.
Started to shift logs out of the way for fencing project in a few weeks' time but rain stopped play. Tomorrow looks better for that job. Next up: Coffee and plotting.
Third life for our old polytunnel cover. After giving up the ghost as a tunnel cover, it has been covering a turf stac for the last few years, which I'm now using, so makeshift tarpaulin for a log pile it is!
January 16, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Third life for our old polytunnel cover. After giving up the ghost as a tunnel cover, it has been covering a turf stac for the last few years, which I'm now using, so makeshift tarpaulin for a log pile it is!
The finest crystal-clear rainwater for the pleasure of our ducks. It will not look like this by lunchtime.
January 15, 2026 at 9:15 AM
The finest crystal-clear rainwater for the pleasure of our ducks. It will not look like this by lunchtime.
3 tons of mushroom compost has just arrived. That's today's job then.
January 14, 2026 at 10:15 AM
3 tons of mushroom compost has just arrived. That's today's job then.
Cherry plum already budding up for its February show.
January 14, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Cherry plum already budding up for its February show.
Bee suit on today to get some packs of fondant onto the hives, to insure against starvation. Waited for a warmer day: opening hives in freezing temps doesn't do the bees any good.
11c today, and a few workers out and about. Possibly on mortuary duty, as a few dead bees outside the entrances.
11c today, and a few workers out and about. Possibly on mortuary duty, as a few dead bees outside the entrances.
January 12, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Bee suit on today to get some packs of fondant onto the hives, to insure against starvation. Waited for a warmer day: opening hives in freezing temps doesn't do the bees any good.
11c today, and a few workers out and about. Possibly on mortuary duty, as a few dead bees outside the entrances.
11c today, and a few workers out and about. Possibly on mortuary duty, as a few dead bees outside the entrances.
Kicking off some sauerkraut. 1 red cabbage, peeled and grated horseradish root from the garden tub, caraway and mustard seeds and ground black pepper. 3% of the weight in salt. Once packed into jars always fun to note it slowly get redder as the lacto ferment progresses & acidity increases. 🧑🔬🧑🍳🧑🌾
January 12, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Kicking off some sauerkraut. 1 red cabbage, peeled and grated horseradish root from the garden tub, caraway and mustard seeds and ground black pepper. 3% of the weight in salt. Once packed into jars always fun to note it slowly get redder as the lacto ferment progresses & acidity increases. 🧑🔬🧑🍳🧑🌾
Incubator unboxing today! 🤩 And, in a happy coincidence, just spotted that the growers pellets and chick crumb in the same range as the layers pellets we feed our adult chooks is also now soy-free! Pleased, as chickens and ducks provide enough worries: who wants to worry about deforestation too?!
January 9, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Incubator unboxing today! 🤩 And, in a happy coincidence, just spotted that the growers pellets and chick crumb in the same range as the layers pellets we feed our adult chooks is also now soy-free! Pleased, as chickens and ducks provide enough worries: who wants to worry about deforestation too?!
Lots of standing water and general squelchiness in the duck area this morning. Ducks beyond excited.
January 9, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Lots of standing water and general squelchiness in the duck area this morning. Ducks beyond excited.
Feel like I say this every year, but squash is such a handy vegetable to grow. Minimal effort, massive amount of food, stored by leaving them sitting around inside somewhere. This Guatemalan Blue Banana will make a mega-batch of delicous soup. 😋
January 8, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Feel like I say this every year, but squash is such a handy vegetable to grow. Minimal effort, massive amount of food, stored by leaving them sitting around inside somewhere. This Guatemalan Blue Banana will make a mega-batch of delicous soup. 😋
Sadly, last year's russet cider, although palatable and v v strong, got too much oxygen as didn't get it from the bucket into demijohns in time, so is reddy-brown. Considering deploying the gin-soaked sloes from the sloe gin to convert it to "slider", which should at least solve the colour issue.
January 5, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Sadly, last year's russet cider, although palatable and v v strong, got too much oxygen as didn't get it from the bucket into demijohns in time, so is reddy-brown. Considering deploying the gin-soaked sloes from the sloe gin to convert it to "slider", which should at least solve the colour issue.
Utterly freezing today, so, having ensured ducks and chickens have water and food, am hiding inside for a bit, knocking up some hopefully delicious shredded mushroom and bean chilli.
January 5, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Utterly freezing today, so, having ensured ducks and chickens have water and food, am hiding inside for a bit, knocking up some hopefully delicious shredded mushroom and bean chilli.
Happy 2026 everyone.
It was worth sowing before Christmas to have a tray full of hopeful green shoots at the start of the new year.
It was worth sowing before Christmas to have a tray full of hopeful green shoots at the start of the new year.
January 1, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Happy 2026 everyone.
It was worth sowing before Christmas to have a tray full of hopeful green shoots at the start of the new year.
It was worth sowing before Christmas to have a tray full of hopeful green shoots at the start of the new year.
New Year chez Casa Smallholderific will be seen in with this pumpkin fondue recipe. Lighter on the cheese than a "proper" fondue and booze-free, so will pretend this is the healthy option while devouring mushroomy, chestnutty, herby cheese-gloop with crusty bread later on. 😋
Cheesy heaven: Meera Sodha’s recipe for pumpkin fondue | Meera Sodha recipes
A decadent, cheesy centrepiece to steal the attention at any party, and built for comfort and joy
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:36 PM
New Year chez Casa Smallholderific will be seen in with this pumpkin fondue recipe. Lighter on the cheese than a "proper" fondue and booze-free, so will pretend this is the healthy option while devouring mushroomy, chestnutty, herby cheese-gloop with crusty bread later on. 😋
Have never tried Woodfordes' Nog in bottle or pub, but the beer kit version is very presentable. And as with most complete kits, ridiculously low effort to create and store 40 pints in the pressure barrel.
December 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Have never tried Woodfordes' Nog in bottle or pub, but the beer kit version is very presentable. And as with most complete kits, ridiculously low effort to create and store 40 pints in the pressure barrel.
I am here for this story.
Police use riot shields to help recapture runaway Wiltshire goat
Escapee was seen chasing a woman around Upper Seagry and trying to eat fruit on a festive wreath
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I am here for this story.
Hoiking bulrush out of pond this morning. Am now updating Christmas list to include "new lower back".
December 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Hoiking bulrush out of pond this morning. Am now updating Christmas list to include "new lower back".
December? What sort of reckless gardener sows their chilli and aubergine seeds as early as December? 👋
Not tried before, but reckon it's worth a shot at the earlier crop for the sake of a few seeds.
Not tried before, but reckon it's worth a shot at the earlier crop for the sake of a few seeds.
December 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
December? What sort of reckless gardener sows their chilli and aubergine seeds as early as December? 👋
Not tried before, but reckon it's worth a shot at the earlier crop for the sake of a few seeds.
Not tried before, but reckon it's worth a shot at the earlier crop for the sake of a few seeds.