A relatively quiet week and weekend in comparison to this time last year and all the 20 years previous to this one. At long last we have got back to concentrating on growing plants, developing our own plans for the nursery and simply doing our own thing, and it is such a relief. In all those previous years we would have been shipping plants into the DIY multiples by now with all the pressure, stress and low personal and financial reward for all the effort involved. It could easily destroy any appreciation of the real joys of spring, the warming sun, bursting buds and the patter of gardener’s feet rushing out for their annual fix of gardening retail therapy. Although there still aren’t enough hours in the day at this time of year at least we are now focussed on doing something we feel is worth the effort. Other than the odd run in with the occasional big institution, like last week’s bank fiasco, we are back dealing with human beings again which has so much more going for it. So well done all you human beings out there!

Anyway, back to this ‘quiet’ week. Lots of orders as the weather improves and a bit of potting done too. Very nearly up to date with production in the microprop lab after a period of very high workload and the first seedling and cutting plant deliveries of the year are in. I finished clearing the hedge debris created when the turbine sites were cut back a few weeks ago, so they are ready for foundation installation sometime over the next couple of months.

The nursery has been selected as a finalist in the Business of the Year section of the Winchester Business Excellence Awards, which I think means we are finalists in at least one or maybe two other sections. I know it’s only a local do but it’s still nice to be loved by someone! The awards aren’t announced until June so I suspect we will get a visit from a judge or two before then, so best behaviour all round, could be tricky.

We managed to squeeze in a concert at a pub venue in Southampton to see Ben Waters playing with Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones), a brilliant night and so bizarre to see such a famous musician in such a tiny venue. Caroline had a good day yesterday with a Cat Protection training day (some people get all the excitement) and then going to see Southampton beat Sheffield Wednesday to move closer to an automatic promotion place. Meanwhile I lost my last hockey game of the year 2-1 at Oxford which means after a few weeks of freefall we are now awaiting other results to see if we get relegated. Ooops. A team curry last night helped improve spirits in the short term.

Eco news

Electric consumption continues to fall with warmer weather than last year during February, it’s down 8.82% on last year, 25.63% down on 2009 for the year as a whole. Every little bit helps. Next Saturday at 8.30pm is the WWF’s earth hour when they are encouraging people around the world to turn off their lights for an hour. You can register to take part at http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/get_involved/signup/signup_individual.cfm

The nuclear power bubble seems to have deflated somewhat with the difficulties in Japan, perhaps it won’t be the easy answer to future energy demand after all. It does swing things a bit more back towards renewables for a bit which makes the turbine project even more exciting. This week we made our first big financial commitment to the scheme by handing over a large dollop to the National Grid chaps to put in a new sub station and some new cable. An interesting deal which demands payment up front and the possibility of the work taking 12 weeks to complete. So far I must admit they have been very helpful and I think quite excited about the first of this type of installation in the area. They certainly remembered us when I phoned to sort out the payment.

Nature ramblings

Having gone up to the hill top to clear hedge debris I couldn’t help but notice the lack of old nests in the bare hedge. In 400m I didn’t spot one. Just a few meters away, on the nursery, our hedge has loads of nests, I suppose we are talking about two different environments really, open arable fields and an insect rich, more sheltered nursery with winter feeding.

Have a good week, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries