tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006010044183028012024-02-08T02:24:19.483+00:00Achiltibuie GardenAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-33064227121594043132011-12-14T11:41:00.007+00:002011-12-14T12:21:06.402+00:00December at The Garden<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ofFB1_Y6Lzf0AYY7nf6oOhZylZzlr3nkRh1GMOEyE6cGfxXQ2Ng2zw4WMv1bRJzOlFYBwTzMZFHOIHE7_rAYcv23s2-xKElzzgwqbMQqc0jZhiDG4wLAWbR11S-PD2gvixnXBlfBMAj/s1600/chilli+acorn+pot.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 122px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685955974491650690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ofFB1_Y6Lzf0AYY7nf6oOhZylZzlr3nkRh1GMOEyE6cGfxXQ2Ng2zw4WMv1bRJzOlFYBwTzMZFHOIHE7_rAYcv23s2-xKElzzgwqbMQqc0jZhiDG4wLAWbR11S-PD2gvixnXBlfBMAj/s200/chilli+acorn+pot.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>When I last wrote we had been enjoying wonderful, unseasonal weather but I can now report that we are very much enduring seasonal weather now! Since the latter part of November we have paid for all the good weather with unbelievable winds, snow, rain, hail... There have also been power cuts - last Thursday the power went off during the early part of the evening and didn't come back on until the early hours of Saturday morning and again during Sunday night/Monday morning. With today's winds we are checking our torch batteries - just incase! Down at the Growing house we are actually "off grid" so we were not affected by the lack of electricity and thanks to our microturbine are batteries are well and truly charged!<br /></div><br /><br /><div>The weather has restricted the amount of work we are able to do outdoors - we had started transferring soil into the ornamental garden but the ground is much too wet to continue. Our resident geese had decided that our veggie garden was just too tempting and over the course of a week they caused quite a lot of destruction - each time we caught them in there we chased them out and thought we had blocked their latest entry point (or so we thought). Under Ruth's supervision Alison "clipped their wings" and fingers crossed that has helped. I can reassure you that the geese will not be part of any of our Christmas dinners!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>This week Alison has cleared out the tomato system and I think sometime will be spent this weekend making green tomato chutney. Our chilli plants have done really well so maybe some lemon chilli jam as well?<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Alison and I had a wonderful day out to the east coast to visit one of our customers who grows microleaves for Skibo Castle. It was really interesting to see all the leaves she had "on the go" and we were also invited to Skibo Castle and received a warm Highland welcome and after coffee and croissants, Lindsey (one of the chef's who just happens to be our customer's son), showed us around the kitchen (our planters crammed with microleaves looked fantastic), the gardens and seeing the Victorian greenhouses was wonderful - our thanks to everyone for making us welcome.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>During November we held the first Achiltibuie Winter market and Alison and I were kept busy selling produce from the Garden and even took some orders for Christmas produce.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>We have been planning what we will grow in 2012 and the new strawberry plants have now been ordered and we are going to trial a few new varieties as well as continuing to grow Korona, Marshmellow and Flamenco. Due to the demand for our strawberries we are having to construct a new strawberry system!<br /></div><br /><br /><div>As long as the weather permits we will be taking part in the Christmas Zumbathon - will need to get the decorations out for our costumes!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>All the best for the festive season and 2012</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Julie</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-33724100505832143742011-11-02T13:49:00.003+00:002011-11-02T14:31:02.108+00:00November at The GardenWith the clocks having gone back at the weekend we are just getting used to it getting dark early. As October was drawing to an end it became warmer and I can't believe I spent the last day of October working outdoors in short sleeves! The temperature hasn't dropped yet so long may that continue.<br /><br />As with last year we still have lots of produce growing at The Garden: tomatoes, strawberries, chillies, courgettes, squashes, cabbages, kale, salads, herbs, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, chard...<br /><br />2011 has been a bumper year for produce sales - we sold in excess of 1200 bags of salad (100+ kilos!). We are working on plans for new systems to enable us to increase production next year so we can keep up with demand.<br /><br />The good weather just now means we can get on with the outdoor growing areas - Alison has a big sack of daffodil bulbs to plant for spring colour and Di has been working away in the fruit cage.<br /><br />We have started sowing for next year and now the seed catalogues are coming in I am enjoying spending time looking for different seeds to sow next year. This year Di had sourced some fantastic new salad leaves and they have proved to be so popular that we need to add to them next year.<br /><br />Now we are into "winter mode" The Garden is no longer open to the public every week day but we are hoping to be working down there most mornings so visitors are welcome to come down and visit.<br /><br />Our friends at <a href="http://www.summerisleshotel.co.uk/index.html">The Summer Isles Hotel</a> have been busy attending award ceremonies - winning the Highlands Restaurant of the Year to name but one! Well done to them and we look forward to continuing to supply them with our quality produce.<br /><br />During November we are giving all our customers who spend over £50 (excluding p&p) an <a href="http://www.thehydroponicum.com/product.php/27_67/Acorn_pot_£690.html://">Acorn Pot kit</a>, worth £6.90, with our compliments. These kits are so useful and make great gifts - in the growing house we are using ours for geraniums, chillies and tumbler tomatoes.<br /><br />As part of Breast Cancer Care month Alison and I took part in a Zumbathon in Ullapool - it was great fun and thanks to Fiona and Aileen for organising it and the staff at Ullapool Leisure Centre for all they did for the event.<br /><br />Don't forget we are on Facebook so why not become our friend.<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-54360006607867434442011-09-16T12:31:00.003+01:002011-09-16T13:18:11.204+01:00September at The GardenI know I am not the only person to be shocked that we are so far into September already and wonder where this year has gone?<br /><br />As always we have been kept busy both in the office and down at the Garden. In my last post I mentioned that we were having a stall at Elphin market and I have to say it was a great way to spend my day off! The market is so well organised and is held in the old school and has a great selection of stalls - between selling fresh produce to visitors and stall holders I was planning my Christmas shopping: I really love <a href="http://www.szeilerart.co.uk/index.html">Szeiler sculptures </a>and Jill's pewter brooches so think there might be a few of my family getting one; <a href="http://www.west-coast-textiles.co.uk/">Susie's handbags </a>are all original and extremely well made with such attention to detail; Sharon makes brilliant <a href="http://www.artstoer.com/index.html">buttons</a> and keep thinking of all the things I can put them onto! There was just so much that Ann-Marie and I have decided to hold a winter market in Achiltibuie - so far we have 14 stalls booked. It was good to see so many local people come along to do their shopping - as well as our fresh produce there was bread, wonderful cakes, preserves, smoked salmon & cheese as well as Sian's croft grown hogget.<br /><br />Alison went along to the market this week and so we spent Tuesday afternoon picking and digging fresh produce. I got soaked pulling carrots and digging parsnips but it was worth it as they were so good. We also had red cabbages, green cabbages, assorted kale, chard, fir apple & Charlotte potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, living lettuce, salad bags, courgettes, fresh herbs...<br /><br />When ground has been harvested of produce Di has either been sowing new crops or green manure. We have also been sowing to keep salads going over the winter as well as for 2012.<br /><br />Strawberries in September - just wish you could smell them as they are wonderful. As I spent quite a bit of time tidying up the plants etc I felt it necessary to do some quality control and the taste was every bit as good as the smell.<br /><br />Our tomato hanging baskets have been producing the most amazing amount of tasty tomatoes and our only problem is that we can't get them to ripen quickly enough to keep up with customer demand.<br /><br />We have had so many people coming down to buy fresh produce for their evening meal and what I enjoy is listening to people who are planning their evening meal around what we have available. <br /><br />On that note I think it's lunchtime and I have my own hydroponic cherry tomatoes as part of my lunch.<br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-42319635269313304582011-08-22T14:24:00.002+01:002011-08-22T15:10:57.838+01:00August news from The GardenIt's been a somewhat hectic few weeks down at the Garden with lots of visitors looking round the growing house and the outdoor garden. When it's been dry some have taken a walk around the croft and down to the shore.
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<br />The weather has not been at all good for August - don't think I need to tell you that! The rainfall has been rather amazing but with so many hydroponic systems and being reliant on rainwater harvesting we have to confess to being grateful for it! During July Allan built a new 3 tray raft system which has meant we have been able to increase our salad production but the demand for our salads is so great that we have struggled to keep up with demand!
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<br />Our everbearer strawberries (Flamenco) are on their 2nd crop of the season (one more crop to go) and the lucky guests of Norwest Seakayaking are having them for dessert tonight! Due to various setbacks with our beans, courgettes and cucumbers (some of our seeds etc were noshed by fieldmice and voles) we are delighted to now be cropping them. The cucumbers are so delicious and one family last week bought a cucumber each to snack on in the car.
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<br />Visitors are delighted to be able to come down and buy fresh produce straight from the Garden and they love being able to help pick their peas and beans. I have been giving some people a taste of the <a href="http://kitchengardeners.org/rat-tailed-radish">Rat Tailed Radish </a>(Munchen Bier) Di has grown this year. Otis, a little boy from Glasgow, absolutely loved them and I have a feeling he is going to be growing them next year.
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<br />Alison and I have been cooking again, providing a meal for a family for the first night of their holiday, evening meals for <a href="http://www.norwestseakayaking.com/">Norwest Seakayaking </a>and next week I am going to have a stall selling our fresh produce at <a href="http://www.elkcal.co.uk/Events_calendar.html">Elphin market </a>- have also been asked to make some of our savoury tartlets as well!
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<br />Following the success of last year's World's biggest coffee morning we have been asked to provide the venue again this year.
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<br />Tonight we will be watching BBC ALBA at 9pm as they have a programme about coastal rowing and the Coigach Lass, Achiltibuie's skiff who Di is the cox for, is one of the boats featured.
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<br />Di has been busy sowing our winter lettuce and parsley for next year. Some varieties of lettuce to sow now are Rougette du midi, winter density, rouge d'hiver and claytonia (also known as Miners lettuce or winter purslane). At home I have sown my spring cabbage so hopefully it will be successful as I generally buy young plants from a good garden centre (or get some from Di if we have spare ones).
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<br />Ah well must get on with making up stock.
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<br />Julie
<br />Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-88710974209399334722011-07-10T19:48:00.004+01:002011-07-10T19:58:01.738+01:00Propagation house on the moveWhat does it take to move a propagation house? 3 men and a tractor and one <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjNqNRvFs4C2AS-IEep2zLDTUVihkJ_sJC-XQYIy0TbfORfIgjNuZTJtnkLQPlZTCnloJtOG4rjqGp_CVh9wa5CNvrlkVfDNrzBys13EfLCivFguCe3SZAAk-U9CoXXeyj7xSZU3LEGvf/s1600/Assorted+June+2011+002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjNqNRvFs4C2AS-IEep2zLDTUVihkJ_sJC-XQYIy0TbfORfIgjNuZTJtnkLQPlZTCnloJtOG4rjqGp_CVh9wa5CNvrlkVfDNrzBys13EfLCivFguCe3SZAAk-U9CoXXeyj7xSZU3LEGvf/s200/Assorted+June+2011+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627798762156074674" border="0" /></a>supervisor (Elke our Norwegian Elkhound). Allan was in charge of the tractor so Stuart, Matthew and Rhuaraidh carefully manouvered the small Keder house from the front of the growing house, down the track and into position alongside the shed. The photos show some of the men at work!<br />Julie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheChA76nBtsL3csjp4KVSzsfHdFjlqdPq_zBmTTuAWVV13ABLetV1KM6CPiMLlDJbzMn8j541jnY4EFb1HZtnc8q2pDXmcT8rYevxqw_NAh4UtitRBHmTqBxuYzzs9yxHmIARC5EN6ClwH/s1600/Assorted+June+2011+012.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheChA76nBtsL3csjp4KVSzsfHdFjlqdPq_zBmTTuAWVV13ABLetV1KM6CPiMLlDJbzMn8j541jnY4EFb1HZtnc8q2pDXmcT8rYevxqw_NAh4UtitRBHmTqBxuYzzs9yxHmIARC5EN6ClwH/s200/Assorted+June+2011+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627799673445453666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHuZfnOSBd2NdyZDqrzOTMWDf7vz8N-6Is67SaU_UWTQ_NS3WJrW9kufjiNwJO1xoxP-j_iLnTw9zwyFK7Iwo5autR-N384G7L8HmTX2MAX0pFRmMNDOlWGJbV89sYxqh8-uDtfxrEktQ/s1600/Assorted+June+2011+008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHuZfnOSBd2NdyZDqrzOTMWDf7vz8N-6Is67SaU_UWTQ_NS3WJrW9kufjiNwJO1xoxP-j_iLnTw9zwyFK7Iwo5autR-N384G7L8HmTX2MAX0pFRmMNDOlWGJbV89sYxqh8-uDtfxrEktQ/s200/Assorted+June+2011+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627799207608360434" border="0" /></a>Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-75407550962363307262011-07-10T19:44:00.003+01:002011-07-10T19:48:42.104+01:00Hanging baskets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2V_h4SOSKtOfkRk_Y18HOU2xW_vaRY7nUYzFZVlg3KjQOUy2nfhQqHBloR8Odckubp3EjJqCFN7R-Hu_e6rp_yMmHGbKh-RAL6Jh8G_AnLe4mwRLTB8-zLSPTMC8zbwNbiGo_alfl3n1/s1600/Plants%252C+pipers+and+Clive+021.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2V_h4SOSKtOfkRk_Y18HOU2xW_vaRY7nUYzFZVlg3KjQOUy2nfhQqHBloR8Odckubp3EjJqCFN7R-Hu_e6rp_yMmHGbKh-RAL6Jh8G_AnLe4mwRLTB8-zLSPTMC8zbwNbiGo_alfl3n1/s200/Plants%252C+pipers+and+Clive+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627797459124364770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD68TO9c4DsJhutpL8slj9pXezSP1foQjNYVkPG_jZxBSZQpkqFtMbzoWK0BS3mCQQfLZueM5O3AAz4kxQkrg7Rhe5eyg__tJSsuMbx-4hxbZFd0qpa6kHxJATzxY3gnJBbSaWVbLddfvd/s1600/Plants%252C+pipers+and+Clive+017.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD68TO9c4DsJhutpL8slj9pXezSP1foQjNYVkPG_jZxBSZQpkqFtMbzoWK0BS3mCQQfLZueM5O3AAz4kxQkrg7Rhe5eyg__tJSsuMbx-4hxbZFd0qpa6kHxJATzxY3gnJBbSaWVbLddfvd/s200/Plants%252C+pipers+and+Clive+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627797269874188114" border="0" /></a><br />Our hanging baskets are looking great down at the growing house. This year we have lavender, salads, flowers and tomatoes all growing in our fantastic baskets. I love the lavender ones - they really look stunning!<br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-37101610054559410532011-07-06T12:08:00.003+01:002011-07-10T19:44:27.050+01:00Salads are us!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFkDaZHzPIzfFmJE-Nrvh5XXSWn2TBcAeirRnIYw0x_dZA0f65kWFz5NWu8bX_xR8Vv_cgyErSS8Rtmh_2pyiL1SmavZv6BKVwgeTg4m3G6UddokSmTQO9DuQqb2FXzH0RE0japhmIqxq/s1600/Plants%252C+pipers+and+Clive+030.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFkDaZHzPIzfFmJE-Nrvh5XXSWn2TBcAeirRnIYw0x_dZA0f65kWFz5NWu8bX_xR8Vv_cgyErSS8Rtmh_2pyiL1SmavZv6BKVwgeTg4m3G6UddokSmTQO9DuQqb2FXzH0RE0japhmIqxq/s200/Plants%252C+pipers+and+Clive+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627796332729960818" border="0" /></a><br />At the weekend it was the annual Coigach Gathering and what wonderful weather we had - absolutely perfect for The Achiltibuie Garden Pick n Mix salad boxes. Alison and I had people queueing as we were setting up our stall!<br /><br />Customers were able to fill a box with salads of their choice and almost every customer had our mixed salad leaves, cous cous, pasta, carrot, coleslaws and tomatoes with cucumber, peppers & spring onions. We also made delicious tarlets which proved to be extremely popular. It was great to have people come back to buy salad boxes and tartlets to take home for their supper as well!<br /><br />We also used some of my <a href="http://www.highlandstoneware.com/">Highland Stoneware</a> pottery bowls for the salads and the tartlets looked great on their <a href="http://www.highlandstoneware.com/category.php/38/offset/10/Rectangle-dish.html">rectangular dishes</a>.<br /><br />Back at the Growing house Di is picking salads constantly due to the demand which is great but has meant that I have had to take some of own <a href="http://www.thehydroponicum.com/product.php/18_67/Salad_raft_%C2%A33780.html">raft grown </a>lettuces to help out.<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-57966414280597208362011-06-24T11:24:00.002+01:002011-06-24T11:29:56.619+01:00Summer is hereFinally today feels as if summer might be here! The sun is shining, birds singing and the smell of delicious strawberries fills the growing house! Whilst working in there yesterday morning I have to confess I did have to "sample" the strawberries as I was picking them to order for customers who called into the Garden to buy fresh produce. I wonder if the couple who bought strawberries to take back to Glasgow today were able to save them? If they did they have immense will power!Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-27691037092231977482011-02-22T16:06:00.002+00:002011-02-22T16:31:02.984+00:00Down at the GardenDespite a poor start February has been great weather wise which has meant that Di has been kept busy with the outdoor garden - preparing the ground for the growing season has been one of her major tasks. With all the high tides it has made it easier for her to gather seaweed from the shore - an incredible source of nutrients for the soil. Along with Ruth she has started to create a willow screen to protect the apple orchard.<br /><br />Following the planting by the moon calendar sowing has been quite hectic - the cats were particularly happy when propagating light! Alison found one of them sleeping quite happily alongside the germinated tomatoes. Today is a "root" day so the season's beetroots have been sown.<br /><br />Great news for the residents of Coigach - we have a fantastic crop of purple-sprouting broccoli! The severe frosts of the winter has resulted in many supermarkets supplies having either failed or been reduced drastically.<br /><br />I am now spending increasing amounts of time in the "mail order department" - our shipping container - as our customers, old and new, are getting ready for growing in 2011. <br /><br />On a totally different subject, on the 10th March there is to be a special preview of Eagle - the film starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell - which was has part of the storyline filmed here in Coigach. Tickets for the screening are by application only for those who were extras or involved in some way. (Hopefully I have been successful).<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-84687412080821060282011-02-01T11:21:00.001+00:002011-02-01T11:31:27.634+00:00<strong>Getting ready for growing</strong><br />Although the weather is still pretty cold, Di is starting to get sowing. She has already germinated the first batch of flat leaf parsley, and the 'Tumbler' tomatoes are through as well. We've also been getting the fruit cage ready, knocking in some posts to train our new 'Glen Fyne' and 'Valentina' raspberries against. We took delivery of lots of soft fruit plants just before Christmas, including strawberries 'Korona', 'Marshmello' and 'Flamenco' for the hydroponics systems. For outdoors, blueberries, redcurrants and gooseberries will join our existing blackcurrants in the fruit cage.<br /><br />If you read 'Scotland on Sunday' you may have seen the article about us on 30 January. To read it, click <a href="http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=cF18N07j13mL&PBID=0e6f3167-a6fa-468b-857b-40902bce8a7a&skip=">here</a> (it's on page 26).<br /><br />We'll be updating the info about opening hours in the next few weeks, so keep watching the website if you'd like to visit us!<br /><br />Alison, 01 February 2011Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-77656710507878203202010-12-15T14:59:00.002+00:002010-12-15T15:14:57.773+00:00Christmas is almost here.December has been a busy time for us with work down at the Garden, planning for 2011 and packing mail orders. I have to say that there are times when having an industrial unit would be appealing as Di and I have had all weathers thrown at us as we get orders ready to send out to customers. We have been delighted at the number of new customers who have placed orders for our growing kits - the salad and herb planters continue to be our most popular products with an increase in the number of chilli growing kits, salad hanging basket kits and tomato hanging basket kits ordered this year.<br /><br />The snow hasn't caused too many problems for us although it has meant that I haven't been able to get into work everyday (I have been able to work from home instead so that wasn't so bad). <br /><br />Despite all that we have been able to send our orders out on time and hope everyone finds the chocolate santas that have been hidden in the parcels!<br /><br />Di spent a few hours down in the vegetable garden, on Saturday, and harvested more potatoes, carrots and beetroot which went to the local shops for sale - they were hardly on the shelves when customers were snapping them up.<br /><br />Best go now as I have to pack an order to ship to Alabama!<br /><br />With best wishes to everyone for the festive season and 2011.<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-66533829581699106452010-11-16T14:39:00.003+00:002010-11-16T15:05:56.362+00:00November news<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeuQdgLKz7VgzYcO0DeIGwOxRORF3K-y_TAsNRJa9hYY21g8Sjft9nJGAz7Eeg1KStfNRblFqOdwdXF-O3vE7m1KPkpm-gsZ3JMf11t8mnknZQhjACxH9biry_ec3JsvGzx0xYyd9bCyd/s1600/assorted+leaves.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540163964102097490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeuQdgLKz7VgzYcO0DeIGwOxRORF3K-y_TAsNRJa9hYY21g8Sjft9nJGAz7Eeg1KStfNRblFqOdwdXF-O3vE7m1KPkpm-gsZ3JMf11t8mnknZQhjACxH9biry_ec3JsvGzx0xYyd9bCyd/s200/assorted+leaves.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Here we are half way through November and busy with outdoor gardening whilst the weather is dry (cold, but dry!). There is just so much to do - spring bulbs to plant, produce to harvest, ground in the fruit cage to be dug over for all the new fruit bushes, trees to be checked... the list goes on. Inside the growing house there is lots to do with tidying out raised beds and hydroponic systems. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We still have lots and lots growing - including tomatoes, wonderful salads, chillies, herbs, beans, strawberries and potatoes. There is still fresh produce for sale and our bags of kale are becoming popular - Alison has popped some suggestions for cooking on the reverse of the bags.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Di gave the children in Mrs Muir's class, at Achiltibuie Primary School, our largest pumpkin for Halloween. They had lots of fun carving it and sent us drawings of pumpkins - we were so impressed by their wonderful handwriting and in particular the children in Primary 1.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>At the end of October we stopped opening at set times but Di is up most week days so visitors are always welcomed.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Not much to report on the progress of the new visitor centre - waiting for groundworks to commence so hopefully not too long to wait.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Achiltibuie Garden now has a "loyalty scheme" for mail order customers - everytime they spend £10 in a singel transaction we send them a leaf and once they have collected 10 leaves the completed card entitles them to £5 discount off their next order. We will also have a similar scheme for our cafe customers next year.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We are now on Facebook so why not look for Achiltibuie Garden and become a friend - another way of keeping up to date with what's happening here in Coigach.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Julie</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-77901563790787782672010-10-12T11:41:00.003+01:002010-10-26T15:17:03.468+01:00Straw bales and sunshine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VYOgrdOK0Q4sDrG-DFIZEZWQ_FuIpCRz2jQBI_iDrDCutIDgV32E2Tc-b-ov-V-zX89RCsnOJ7CJrIkXCG9W28vwT5wIT-A7gSOVwNninc-DoFpfrWnAriHtVv67k8mTZtvtKW73ktBH/s1600/_DSC0291.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532358270312072930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VYOgrdOK0Q4sDrG-DFIZEZWQ_FuIpCRz2jQBI_iDrDCutIDgV32E2Tc-b-ov-V-zX89RCsnOJ7CJrIkXCG9W28vwT5wIT-A7gSOVwNninc-DoFpfrWnAriHtVv67k8mTZtvtKW73ktBH/s200/_DSC0291.jpg" /></a><br /><div>We've recently collected 260 straw bales from a farm in Muir of Ord which we'll be using as insulation for our new visitor centre. They are all stacked up in the growing house to keep them dry till we need them. We hope that this will be sometime over the winter, but construction is dependent on several issues such as when we get our building warrant and how busy our tradesmen are!<br /><br />The weather at the moment is great - we've had several days of blue skies and sunshine, although the clear nights are cold and autumnal. The Keder growing house gets lovely and warm during the day, so we still have lots of tomatoes ripening. It's also ideal weather for harvesting some of our outdoor onions and Arran Victory tatties.<br /><br />Alison</div>Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-4331809616635299812010-09-29T14:03:00.005+01:002010-10-12T11:41:24.813+01:00Busy time at the GardenIt has been quite a busy time for us with lots of visitors to the garden - we have noticed that most are stocking up on fresh produce before they leave the growing house!<br /><br />We were an unusual venue for the Macmillan Cancer Support world's largest coffee morning. As our community enjoy events which include all ages it was decided the best time would be on Saturday afternoon, rather than the Friday morning. Due to our limited seating area, it was advertised as a "picnic" and people were encouraged to bring their own cups and chairs.<br /><br />The afternoon was a great success with people wandering around the growing house and outdoor garden whilst enjoying coffee, delicious home baking and good company. Di decided to have a competition to guess the number of tomatoes in the jar. The winner was guessed 88 - there were 87. Lots of photos were taken and we hope to upload them soon. At the last count there was a fantastic £250 raised.<br /><br />Yesterday we welcomed the children from the primary 1, 2 and 3 and pre school who came along to see what we grow and to sow some seeds in hanging baskets. They had great fun and are looking forward to watching their seeds grow into edible plants.<br /><br />We are still open for visitors - from the 5th October we will open until the end of the month on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm - 4pm.<br /><br />During October we are offering a discount of 10% on all orders by using the discount code 1010 - this can be done in the discount box of the online shopping bag or by quoting it to us when placing an order.<br /><br /><br />Another film crew are due to arrive in Coigach in a few weeks time - small scale compared to the Eagle of the Ninth but still exciting.<br /><br />I am heading away on holiday for a few weeks and I'm sure there will be quite a change in the garden by the time I get back.<br /><br />Julie<br />29th SeptemberAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-36431601727618518252010-09-13T12:01:00.005+01:002010-09-13T12:33:10.631+01:00It's raining again!What a miserable, wet day it is here in Coigach - although we had gales last week we had some lovely days but today, it feels as if winter isn't that far away. On a more positive note, it means our rain water butts will be full!<br /><br />With winter in mind, Di has gone up to the garden to start sowing seeds for the winter including varieties of winter lettuce and short day length spinach. It is also an ideal opportunity to get 2011 growing started with spring onions and spring cabbage. During August, like many gardeners, we had problems with small caterpillars and slugs chomping away on our delicious salads so it's time to sow more Chinese mustard, mizuna and pak choi.<br /><br />On Friday Alison, Di and I were speakers at the National Trust for Scotland's annual conference for head and first gardeners. We were asked to speak about Achiltibuie Garden - a sustainable business. This was the first time we have given such a presentation and we were happy with how it all went. Those present made us most welcome - certainly helped the nerves! The NTS are trying to find alternatives to using peat and our Gold growing medium certainly fits the bill.<br /><br />We were followed by <a href="http://rcoxgardenphotos.co.uk/">Ray Cox</a>, who is a full-time professional photographer, specialising in photographing the gardens and plants of Scotland. The previous evening he had come along to the garden to take photos - we are really looking forward to seeing them as his work is absolutely stunning.<br /><br />Yesterday Di and I were delighted to welcome a group of Belgians to the Garden. They enjoyed learning about hydroponics, how we use renewable energy, seeing the amazing squashes in our raised beds, the outdoor garden - not to mention tasting tomatoes, herbs and strawberries.<br /><br />I am working on our Facebook page - a few teething troubles but hopefully getting that sorted out. Are you on Facebook? If so why not become a friend of Achiltibuie Garden.<br /><br />Happy gardening<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-59526095574876702302010-09-03T12:10:00.005+01:002010-09-03T15:23:02.749+01:00September sunshineI don't think I have ever written a blog on such a beautiful day and on my way to work this morning I wished I had had more time to stop and enjoy the scenery. The Summer Isles have as much "wow" factor as Halong Bay, in Vietnam, and this morning <a href="http://www.norwestseakaying.com/">Jules</a> had a group of sea kayakers paddling in the bay in Altandhu. Oh how lovely it would have been to be with them!<br /><br />We are absolutely delighted that we finally received planning consent for our new visitor centre. By mid October the diggers will arrive on site - we will need to get some hard hats and hi-vis jackets! Mmm, wonder if we can get Alison's mum to put logos on them?<br /><br />Margaret has been busy designing aprons and bags for us - Di has been using her bag and has had a few order enquiries. Once happy with sizes etc I think she plans to go into production!<br /><br />Our summer hasn't been great at all and at one point it felt as if we should get some more water butts connected to harvest all that rain! Wish we had as they are almost empty due to a combination of heat and the plants being so huge and thirsty! Despite the weather we have welcomed lots of visitors to the growing house. With so much growing in hydroponics and soil there has been lots to see. Many are amazed at how we manage to grow so much without being connected to mains electricity and water.<br /><br />Di has done us proud with providing fantastic produce for selling to the local shops, hotel, cafe and to visitors to the growing house. This summer Lizzie and Richard, on <a href="http://www.summer-isles.com/">Tanera</a>, have been using our produce for Tanera nights restaurant evenings, guests on residential courses and during the day in the cafe. Alison and I have been catering for Jules's guests and they have loved the range of produce, including the Arran Victory potatoes - a fantastic potato that makes wonderful mash (and chips!). As well as our tasty salads and herbs our produce has included peas, potatoes, beans, courgettes, cucumbers, cabbage, kale, strawberries and flavour packed tomatoes.<br /><br />Next Friday we are guest speakers at the National Trust of Scotland's Head Gardeners Conference. We have been invited to make a presentation about the Sustainability of Achiltibuie Garden. It will be a new experience for us and will have to have a crash course in powerpoint I think! On the Sunday we have a group of Belgian visitors coming to look round the growing house - they wanted to come despite there being no visitor centre.<br /><br />We are introducing a Loyalty Scheme for our customers - collect one leaf everytime you spend £10 in a single transaction (excluding P&P). Once you have ten leaves we will treat the Loyalty card as a £5 voucher redeemable against your next purchase.<br /><br />Achiltibuie Garden is to be one of the venues for Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Largest Coffee Morning - a day late due to give more people the chance to come along. Collette (one of my fellow charity walkers) is organising it and needed an alternative venue as our community hall is not available that day. It will be a challenge as we have no mains electricity, so camping stoves to ready I think.<br /><br />On that note, I think it's time for a cuppa!<br /><br />Bye from sunny Coigach.<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-87469421756212730202010-07-28T11:14:00.006+01:002010-07-28T14:09:35.537+01:00July is almost overIt's a cool, breezy, overcast and wet day here in Coigach - I am having to constantly remind myself that it is officially summer! During the long spells of hard frost and snow earlier in the year I foolishly believed predictions of a good summer - ah well won't make that mistake again. On a positive note it means our water butts are not getting a chance to empty!<br /><br />This has been a busy month for Alison, Di and I with the growing at the Garden, visitors, mail order, general day to day running of the business, various meetings and for Alison and I we were catering for guests of Norwestseakayaking who were staying locally. I had time off for my eldest son's graduation from Strathclyde University - it was definately one of the proudest moments I have experienced as a mum! <br /><br /><strong>The Garden</strong><br />Our Keder growing house is now in full production. We've had a great crop of strawberries from the hydroponics system at roof level and we are just about to start picking courgettes from plants in the raised beds. The recently installed two floor-level hydroponics systems, one for tomatoes and the other for cucumbers are doing really well. Each of these is supplied by its own tank, sunk into a sump in the floor at the lower end of the growing house - thanks again to Allan and Christie for their hard work. Allan has also finished putting in some water storage tanks at roof level which greatly increases the amount of rainwater we can store. These also provide a drip feed system for the raised beds which reduces the amount of time spent watering them.<br /><br />All of the raised beds look fantastic but the bean bed is definately the most eyecatching - Di recycled some of the drying frames from the Eagle of the Ninth to use as supports for the beans. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Fresh Produce</strong><br />The outdoor garden continues to thrive and Di has been harvesting produce from it - the peas are so tasty, I even had to buy them from Achiltibuie Stores when I saw them! The demand for our salad bags continues to increase and the shops are taking as much fresh produce as we are able to give them. We supply decorative leaves to the Summer Isles Hotel and world famous Michelin starred chef Albert Roux was another of their guests to be served them.<br /><br /><strong>Flora and Fauna</strong><br />Outside, we've been delighted to discover how many different wild flowers grow on the croft, including common orchids, yellow rattle, eyebright, marsh cinquefoil and red clover. We've heard a number of different birds, amongst them willow warbler, grasshopper warbler (we think) and twite. There are still stoats on the croft which is good news in our bid to keep rabbits out. Our older domestic geese have taken up summer residence at Alison's and the flock of domestic geese that Di has introduced are definately thriving on the croft.<br /><br /><strong>Visiting</strong><br />We're so pleased that many of you have been able to visit us this year. Our visitors all comment on how much we've managed to do since the Keder house was put up at the end of 2008 and are very interested to see the plans for our visitor centre which are now on display. We hope to have a decision soon from our Planning Officer, when we will be better able to plan the building programme. <br /><br />The growing house is now open from 12pm - 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons until the end of September. I enlisted the help of my youngest to assemble some shelves so we have created more of a shop/display area within the growing house. <br /><br />We have now introduced "You buy - we ship!" at the growing house as visitors have told us they have limited space to carry goods home. Visitors place an order at the growing house and we send it out at a reduced delivery rate (exclusive to personal customers at the growing house) and purchases will be sent to arrive on the customer's preferred delivery date.<br /><br />Bye from Coigach<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-23036533261166709382010-06-16T11:59:00.010+01:002010-06-23T11:49:23.122+01:00June at The Garden<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV0uLoVAH9Kb_v5q5Ol4g92AjgxP4iQiK1WA1FUSv01tFkYk1XFYtsAVtr_hd5bwNqBdI-16EJKZvsGjOEU8J-i4VsBMmIKbWdp9TNnE84TXefLJwm2exvws0dVqQiWBtVvSkYhBPXtNF/s1600/Strawberries+1.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV0uLoVAH9Kb_v5q5Ol4g92AjgxP4iQiK1WA1FUSv01tFkYk1XFYtsAVtr_hd5bwNqBdI-16EJKZvsGjOEU8J-i4VsBMmIKbWdp9TNnE84TXefLJwm2exvws0dVqQiWBtVvSkYhBPXtNF/s200/Strawberries+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485918404426600530" /></a><br />Here we are in the middle of June and we have been experiencing quite a variety of weather - some of the evenings have been so cold that I have had to turn the central heating on! Others have been so warm - if we are confused how must all the plants feel?<br /><br />As always we are all kept extremely busy but I am delighted to report that we finally got our new colour catalogue and it has been well received. We wanted it to be more than just a product catalogue and people have enjoyed the looking at the beautiful photos which we included (here's hoping it helps increase visitors to the area), the inclusion of useful tips and information has been appreciated - we even included a recipe! <br /><br /><strong>Online shop/mail order </strong><br />With The Garden placing greater demands on Di's time I have now taken on the challenge of being responsible for this area of the business. I have settled into this new role and continue to follow on from Di who worked hard to ensure customers orders were delivered as quickly as possible. I do enjoy seeing the whole order through - from taking the initial order, packing it and handing it over to the Ali the Post or Dave from AJG Parcels.<br /><br /><strong>The Garden</strong><br />Phew - where to start! We now have 5 raised beds - Di planted bed 5 with beans and flowers and yesterday Alison planted up bed 4 with courgettes, pumpkins and squashes.<br />Bed 1 is filled with early varieties of potatoes including Nadine, Pentland Javellin, Wilja and Foremost. I have to say I am looking forward to tasting them!<br />Beds 2 & 3 have assorted planting with lots of salad leaves, spring greens, flowers and herbs. Will put some photos onto into our Gallery.<br /><br />The vegetable garden outside has been laid out in 4 quarters - one area dedicated to 13 rows of Arran Victory tatties (they are so delicious!), one area has brassicas, another is filled with root vegetables and the final one is the nursery for our ornamental shrubs. The fruit cage has some raspberries planted but such has been the demands on time that we will concentrate on it over the winter.<br /><br /><strong>Fresh produce</strong><br />The demand for our bags of mixed salad leaves have grown this year (sorry no pun intended). We are supplying fresh produce to Achiltibuie Stores, The Arch Inn (Ullapool),Piping School Cafe, Polbain Stores, Summer Isles Foods, Summer Isles Hotel, Tanera Mhor and people popping into The Garden. We are even getting email requests from people coming to stay in Coigach to have salad ready for them to pick up on their arrival! I have to say that when I was down at The Garden yesterday I had to excerise great self control and not eat any of the strawberries - the smell alone...<br /><br />All this demand has meant an increase in growing systems. Allan and Christie have built a sunken area for storing the supply tanks for our tomato and cucumber systems. This will give us the capacity to grow in excess of 100 plants in our pyramid pots which will be used with our fibreglass channels.<br /><br />The new high systems are a step closer - the supports have been concreted in along the middle of the growing house and when time allows the system will be completed.<br /><br /><strong>Wildlife</strong><br />We are delighted that stoats have taken up residence, in an old rabbit burrow, on the croft and there now seems to be no sign of rabbits. The rabbits have caused a lot of damage over the last year or so and fingers crossed that all the new rabbit netting prevents anymore returning.<br /><br />Lots of birds have been seen on the croft and last week Marius and Amelia have been joined by 17 more geese.<br /><br /><strong>Visitor centre</strong><br />We are hoping to hear from the planning office soon and we that it won't be too long before we can start building.<br /><br />On a personal note I set myself the challenge of taking part in a charity walk in Inverness to raise money for cancer charities in the Highlands. A team of 6 from Coigach - Alice, Collette, Heather, Karen, Linda, myself and my friend Deirdre from Inverness all set out at 10pm on the 5th June, in the pouring rain to walk 13 miles, and had a great time. With all the donations we received we have raised almost £1000! I am thinking of the next challenge but in the meantime will keep walking!<br /><br />Bye from a not so warm Coigach.<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-48791041775160236182010-04-14T12:11:00.003+01:002010-04-14T12:51:04.433+01:00April news from The GardenLast time I wrote I was stuck at home due to snow and as I write this I wonder if I should put my sunglasses on! The weather has been fantastic since the end of last week and has made outdoor gardening a pleasure. Unfortunately I did hear snow was due at the weekend but I will wait and see...<br /><br />March and April have been rather hectic here - Di and Allan worked hard to get the growing house ready for opening to visitors at Easter. Stuart was enlisted to help Allan build the 5th raised bed and Di hasn't made her final decision on whether it will be used for flowers or courgettes.<br /><br />The hydroponic systems are up and running and producing lots of salads. As well as supplying Achiltibuie Stores, Polbain Stores, our local Michellin star restaurant at Summer Isles Hotel with our produce we are now delighted to be supplying the Arch Inn Restaurant, in Ullapool. We will also be providing fresh produce for the cafe on Tanera Mhor, one of the Summer Isles.<br /><br />With thanks to Peter and Marilyn, our vegetable garden now has rabbit netting on it, so hopefully this season's crops will be safe! <br /><br />Alison has taken up an area within the vegetable garden as a nursery for our shrubs until such times as we can layout our ornamental garden. Unfortunately quite a few of the shrubs have been victim to the harsh winter we experienced.<br /><br />In March, Alison and I travelled down to Argyll to attend a seminar hosted by the Moidart Trust, who had given us funding to establish an outdoor garden. There was such a diversity of people there who have businesses in remote locations - some more remote than ours!<br /><br />In my last post I mentioned our new colour catalogue - great news, we hope to sign it off at the beginning of next week. Although we had quite a few product photos we needed to take more, thanks to Peter for helping out! As we hadn't had a get together over dinner for a long time I decided to host the meal. No problems there -until we had problems with our gas hob and it was disconnected! Having lived on the west coast for almost 25 years I was not going to be beaten so my double oven was put to the test - even for making gravy! It had been our intention to use some of the photos in our catalogue but we were all too busy eating to remember to take any! Peter did manage one of Di though.<br /><br />With the country enjoying better weather people are now getting growing so we have been busy with mail order. Our local postie and delivery driver are kept busy as well!<br /><br />Still no further on with our new building - hopefully it won't be much longer before we receive the consents. I think a wee celebration will be in order when we get the digger on site!<br /><br />Bye from a sunny Coigach.<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-77143690444043884132010-03-01T10:27:00.006+00:002010-03-01T11:13:31.426+00:00March has arrived<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwGPBF8rXwg97S025lDu3bn6YtcPdTcRTPN_K9mZFzJFrK5nNWY5LEgr9IYopm-k9QXxxwgyfeNpj3GHhgWxGWFV4CR6px0JA4bzTzBmsquiy8mFRQ-0i-SygR3PYomE6FAbJXSuVBHzH/s1600-h/Web+Stac+Polly+180210.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwGPBF8rXwg97S025lDu3bn6YtcPdTcRTPN_K9mZFzJFrK5nNWY5LEgr9IYopm-k9QXxxwgyfeNpj3GHhgWxGWFV4CR6px0JA4bzTzBmsquiy8mFRQ-0i-SygR3PYomE6FAbJXSuVBHzH/s200/Web+Stac+Polly+180210.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443621229772731490" /></a><br />Who would have thought that there was any more snow left to fall in the highlands? After a few beautiful days snow has returned to Coigach and for the second time in a week I am working from home. <br /><br />Regardless of the snow and frozen ground Di has been busy preparing for the 2010 growing season. By the way she has fully recovered from her October "break" and her wrist is becoming stronger and stronger. Seed catalogues have been studied and orders have been placed to grow old favourites and new varieties. We have sourced lots of manure from a local crofter so after quite a few trips to his croft Di has been digging it into the vegetable garden as she prepares it for planting. <br /><br />With the funding we received from the Moidart Trust we were able to have our vegetable garden fenced and a fruit cage added. Iain and Christie have made a great job of this and once delivered, we will be able to attach the windbreak netting to finish it off.<br /><br />Our fruit orchard is being expanded with the addition of more apple trees and damsons - unfortunately the weather has meant we have had to delay planting them.<br /><br />Last week saw the return of geese to the Garden. After wintering in Blair, Marius has returned to his summer residence with a new partner named Lavinia. They are geting used to their new surroundings and being visited by Lucky and Kai, Di's puppies.<br /><br />Allan has been busy with all the consents required for our new visitor centre and once these have been received work will commence on the new build. The design is fantastic and we are really looking forward to seeing the "real thing".<br /><br />Developing the interior of the growing house continues - Di and Allan have been busy and have built a 4th raised bed and will make one more. Alison, Di and I have made a planting plan for them and will expand on the range of produce we grew in 2009.<br /><br />The hydroponic systems are to be extended with further high systems and more at ground level. We are so grateful to Allan for his involvement in the design, planning and installation of all these systems as it's not like a conventional growing house where there is mains electricity and water as are dependent of renewable energy and rain water harvesting.<br /><br />So lots going on along at the Garden but back in the office Alison and I have been doing all our usual day to day work PLUS working on our new A5 catalogue. Late in January we had a meeting with Jonathan Scott, our designer, about the concept and layout of the catalogue. We thought there was a lot of work involved with our website but this... The beauty of the web is that we have unlimited space for text but with such versatile products as ours, how can you fit all that info into a small text space? Anyway the good news is that we are getting close to having a catalogue we are happy with and once it goes to print we will let people know so they can request a catalogue.<br /><br />We have been working with our friends at Kitchen Garden magazine and there will be some of our kits included in their Reader Giveaways in the April issue.<br /><br />From Easter onwards we will be opening our gate to the Garden and visitors are welcome to come along and see how we are getting on. Full details of this will appear on the website.<br /><br />Bye from a snowy Inverpolly<br /><br />JulieAchiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-43896605118484573072010-01-13T10:37:00.002+00:002010-01-21T12:31:18.119+00:00Press Release<a href="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/Directors-with-sign-760602.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/Directors-with-sign-760599.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Tourism in the North-West Highlands has been given a boost this week with the awarding of £66000 to The Achiltibuie Garden to help build its new visitor centre in Achiltibuie, Wester Ross. The award has been made by the Scottish Government as part of the latest round of funding from the Rural Priorities scheme within the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The new single-storey timber building, designed by local architect Allan Graham, includes a café and shop and will provide a much-needed boost to tourism in this remote area when it opens later this year, as well as safeguarding three existing jobs and creating several more over the next few years. Julie Edwards, marketing director of the business said: ‘We’re delighted to have been awarded this grant. The economy of Achiltibuie, Coigach and the Ullapool area depends very much on attracting tourists and our new visitor centre will make a significant contribution to this. We are also very grateful for all the help and support given to us by our local community and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their messages of congratulation.’<br /><br />The building is part of a larger project which started in 2008 with the construction of a custom-made Keder greenhouse. This is powered using micro-renewables and includes a rainwater collection system to provide water for a range of plants grown in both hydroponic and soil-based systems. The new building will also use rainwater harvesting and wind-generated electricity and will feature a range of measures aimed at contributing to the company’s ethos of minimising its environmental impact as much as possible.<br /><br />Other rural businesses will also benefit from this award as local materials will be used in its construction, including straw bale insulation, and the work will be carried out by local tradesmen. An application for detailed planning consent has recently been submitted to Highland Council and it is hoped that construction can begin as soon as all the necessary consents have been obtained.<br /><br />Background notes:<br />The Achiltibuie Garden is based in Achiltibuie, Wester Ross, part of the North-West Highlands Geopark. There are several strands to the business which at the moment concentrates on its mail order element, supplying a range of hydroponics growing kits. These range from those suitable for growing herbs on a windowsill to custom-designed systems for domestic greenhouses. There is a loyal and well-established customer base from when the business of The Achiltibuie Hydroponicum was taken over in early 2007 by three of its employees: Julie Edwards, Alison Graham and Diana Wilding. They then chose the name The Achiltibuie Garden to reflect a wider range of activities from those carried out by the old Hydroponicum. In addition to the mail order, The Achiltibuie Garden grows and sells a range of fresh produce and is currently developing outdoor growing spaces on its site in Achiltibuie. The visitor centre is the next stage in the company’s development and it is hoped that it will be ready to welcome visitors later this year.Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-19793632693135683222010-01-08T14:33:00.004+00:002010-01-08T15:00:34.188+00:00Achiltibuie Garden visitor centre<a href="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/2009-Kederhouse-location-788859.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 80px;" src="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/2009-Kederhouse-location-788692.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Alison, Di and Julie are delighted to share the great news that The Achiltibuie Garden has been awarded £66,000 towards the cost of building the new visitor centre, from the Rural Priorities area of the Scottish Rural Development Programme. <br /><br />The announcement was made on Thursday 7th January and was covered by the Scotsman newspaper:<br /><strong>Who will get the cash in conservation giveaway</strong><br /><em>THE Achiltibuie Garden in Wester Ross will receive £66,000, half the cost of building a new visitor centre which will increase employment from three to five full-time equivalents by 2012.<br /><br />The firm sells kits to grow vegetables, salad plants, herbs and fruit and has a mail order arm supplying a range of hydroponics growing kits, from those suitable for growing herbs on a windowsill to custom-designed systems for domestic greenhouses.</em>Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-90382146699673517442009-11-04T10:55:00.005+00:002009-11-04T15:42:06.365+00:00November news from The Garden<a href="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/Oct-09-shed-788910.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px" alt="" src="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/Oct-09-shed-788862.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/Oct-09-salad-bench-730200.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" alt="" src="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/Oct-09-salad-bench-730129.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Today the sun is shining in Coigach which makes a welcomed change from all the rain we have had over the last month or so. October felt like the wettest month ever and thought we would be wearing wellies until Easter!<br /><br />I mentioned in my last blog that there was great buzz in the community with filming for Eagle of The Ninth happening here. I have to say I greatly admire all those who were involved as they remained upbeat throughout despite the horrendous rain and cold they all endured.<br /><br />In true west coast tradition we decided to throw a ceilidh for all those involved with the film and it was truly one of the best nights we have enjoyed in our community hall since it was built 10 years ago. A great mix of people from the local community and EO9 enjoyed good music, singing and dancing - even the stars of the film, Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell (famous for his role as Billy Elliot) joined in the Eightsome Reels and Strip the Willows.<br /><br />We welcomed a group of visitors, from Denmark, to the Garden at the beginning of October and they thoroughly enjoyed seeing so much produce being grown in hydroponics, using renewable energy to power the pumps. Infact the tour guide has decided to include us in their new tours for 2010, even though we cannot guarantee when the visitor centre will be open.<br /><br />At the end of October we felt it was time to close the growing houses on a regular basis as the daylight hours have reduced and by the nature of growing many of the plants have come to their natural end. (Not quite as they will all be added to our compost bin). The number of visitors to the area has dropped off but we are happy to show people around by prior arrangement.<br /><br />This season has seen a big increase in the amount of fresh produce we have supplied to our local shops - Achiltibuie and Polbain Stores. Chris Firth-Bernard, Michelin star chef, delighted diners at The Summer Isles Hotel with the inclusion of fresh, locally grown hydroponic produce in his menues.<br /><br />Di managed to have a break in October - no, not a well earned holiday but an injury to her left wrist. This has not deterred her at all and although we knew about the benefits of using hydroponic growing, for people with mobility problems, it was re-inforced by first "hand" experience. All the winter lettuces she had sown needed to be transplanted from our <em>Gold </em>growing medium into net pots filled with hydroton.<br /><br />At home I failed to sow any winter lettuce but continued to harvest my tomatoes and made lots of tomato sauce, using my hydroponic grown chillies, and garlic and onions from the Garden. Now I have lots of handy little tubs filled with the sauce, in my deep freeze, and they are so useful as bases for quick meals and homemade pizzas!<br /><br />The fencing of our vegetable garden and fruit cage will start shortly -and more apple trees have been ordered. The next area to be planned will be the ornamental garden so I feel a trip to some good garden centres coming on! We already had some shrubs, from Cottage Garden Nursery, but need so many more... As we cannot plant them yet Di has built a little turf walled garden to protect them. A grant from The Moidart Trust has made it possible for us to establish our outdoor gardens and fruit orchard. The grant also funded our bespoke shed, from Dundonnel Timber.</div><br /><br /><div><br />The Achiltibuie Garden will soon have their first mail order catalogue. Alison and I have relooked at our products and should have the first design ideas to look at next week.</div></div>Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-75259223144211654682009-09-23T11:10:00.007+01:002009-11-04T15:39:08.548+00:00September update<a href="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/2009-raised-beds-726307.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://www.blog.achiltibuiegarden.co.uk/uploaded_images/2009-raised-beds-726258.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It's been a rather busy summer and now I have time to catch my breath thought it was time to sit down with a cup of tea and fill you in on what's been happening at The Garden and in my own tunnel at home.<br /><br />During July we finally managed to get the growing houses open to the public 3 afternoons a week. With 3 raised growing beds, growing benches filled with hydroponics, hanging baskets with tomatoes and salads we weren't sure if there would be enough in the growing house for visitors to see. As summer progressed further hydroponic growing systems were added - 3 floating rafts for lettuce production and our ground level system for tomatoes and cucumbers. Visitors have been so impressed by what we have achieved in such a short time and are looking forward to following developments at The Garden.<br /><br />An outdoor vegetable growing area was laid out but the temporary fencing has meant that the geese have managed to get in a few times. Never mind we are soon to get our permanent fencing erected - including a fruit cage.<br /><br />Sales of our fresh produce have gone from strength to strength, with visitors being able to buy produce picked freshly for them. People love being able to choose their own produce instead of having to buy prepacked items.<br /><br />Our 2 local shops - Achiltibuie and Polbain Stores have kept Di sowing as the demand for our fresh salad bags have increased in 2009. In addition they are also taking our seasonal produce which has proved to be popular with their customers.<br /><br />Alison and I have been catering - for a kayaking holiday group and a local wedding. We have enjoyed sourcing and using local produce in our menues to show just what is available locally.<br /><br />We have found out we were successful in our application to the Scottish Rural Development Programme for our marketing programme. The next stage of this will be the design, print and distribution of our new colour catalogue.<br /><br />Allan has been working on the designs for the new visitor centre and with thanks to Iain and Peter we should be ready to submit our application for funding to the SRDP by the end of the month.<br /><br />At home I have continued to grow some salads for The Garden and have had the best crop of tomatoes ever. This morning I headed out to the tunnel and picked a large bowlful before breakfast! (see photo in the gallery). Stuart's tomatoes in the barrel worked but weren't quite as successful as they might have been. We think there wasn't enough oxygen in the water and they did not put on the same growth as their fellow Alicantes in <em>Gold </em>in pyramid pots. I think there should have been more nutrients as well but I don't have a EC meter and just put in feed as and when.<br /><br />The "supermarket" chilli plants have done really well in the system and we are about to take them indoors as the night time temperatures have dropped and we don't want to loose them.<br /><br />The next job will be to clear out the bean and cucumber plants and sow some winter lettuce seeds. Di has already started to sow along at The Garden.<br /><br />The Eagle of the Ninth, a major blockbuster based on the novel by Rosemary Suttcliffe is being filmed here and quite a few local people have been cast as extras, with filming starting next week.<br /><br />Sadly we lost one of our geese, Aelia, passed away on the 5th September but Marius has not been on his own as Di had taken this year's goslings up to The Garden early in the summer and he has them for company.</div>Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500601004418302801.post-80645615183620630002009-07-10T12:28:00.006+01:002009-07-10T14:28:38.813+01:00Julie gets growingFrom chatting to me on the phone some of you may already know that I am prone to "cheating" when it comes to growing herbs. I am never organised enough to sow my seeds at the correct times (Stuart, my poor husband, tries to motivate me but without a great deal of success) but from mid March onwards I buy a few basil plants from the supermarket (preferably when they are on offer!) and take them home, remove them from the plastic pot they are in and if there is any loose compost I shake it off and then put them into either our seul eau pots or pyramid pots and put into my hydroponic trough system in the polytunnel. These 2 plants usually keep me going until October, depending on the temperature, or if kept indoors a bit longer.<br /><br /><br />This year I actually spent too much time on the outdoor areas of my garden so the polytunnel wasn't up and running as early as it should have been. We needed to make new supports for our 3 metre double channel system, where we grow our tomatoes and cucumbers, and once this was done we paid a visit to an excellent garden centre in Dingwall, where I stocked up on ready established plants: tomatoes (Gardeners Delight), cucumbers, peppers, dwarf french beans and strawberries. A visit to the supermarket added 2 great chilli plants to the collection.<br /><br /><br />Once home I decided to transplant them into pyramid pots - like with the basil, I just removed the loose compost and put them into <em>Gold</em> growing medium. I have to admit the plants weren't on a hydroponic feeding system straight away but we are delighted at how well they have grown. The chillies have flowered and now growing lots of chillies, we have had the first picking of french beans, the cucumbers and tomatoes are doing really well. I don't think it was a good idea to buy pepper plants with peppers on them as they have not grown much and one hasn't made any progress although the fruit is still growing. As for the strawberries - it seems raids are made on the tunnel at various times of the day so not sure what the production has been like! I have personally enjoyed several large and delicious strawberries.<br /><br /><br />I was given some Alicante tomato plants and ran out of space in my hydroponic channel system so decided to recycle a container that I found to make a system for 2 of the plants. Stuart cut out a polystyrene raft to take 2 plastic plant pots. We transplanted the tomatoes into them and used Hydroton (expanded clay granules) as the inert growing medium. We got a new air pump and airstone, added our hydroponic tomato feed and we have fruit!<br /><br /><br />Having run out of space in our raft system, which we use for growing salads for The Achiltibuie Garden, I decided to take out some of the Little Gem lettuce and planted them into our newly built raised beds. I just left them in their net pots, filled with hydroton, and they have grown well.<br /><br /><br />Will get some photos of our progress onto the blog soon!Achiltibuie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213363467728745715noreply@blogger.com0