Twitch

This little lot is just the final gathering of twitch roots dug out of the raised bed which I had "thoroughly" emptied of roots a few days ago. Hopefully my thoroughness was better today.

It is impossible to adopt a no-dig approach to gardening when there are pernicious weeds like this which can easily outcompete the veggies if not properly controlled. 

A couple of barrows of homemade compost went onto the top of the soil and the weedmat was re-laid, so that it is ready for sowing next month, when the garlic, multiplying onions and broad beans go in. There are two more beds to prepare...

As I was toiling on this job I mulled over the fact that while I regret the passing of summer and the approaching winter, I am nevertheless happy to be tidying the garden and preparing it for a bit of hibernation. It starts to look decidedly tatty at this time of year and I get some satisfaction from making it look gradually neater. Bit by bit I regain some sense of control.

Whilst eating my bannock and cheese breakfast (extra) and reading The Guardian this morning, I found this article about, and brief video of, Barack Obama speaking about the challenges for America. As usual his words make great sense to me. I hope he still has influence and can inspire even more Americans to stand up and be counted. 

In the near future the opponents of the current US administration are going to need a person behind whom they can rally. Is there anybody looking as though they can be (or want to be) that leader? It will take great courage...