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Handmade pin cushion without a lathe...
Another pin cushion I made recently, this one was made without using a lathe, and it's made from a piece of spalted birch with a tie dyed pink cushion, and in a droplet style shape.It's something that...
View ArticleAllotment update - Leek scapes, rhubarb and bean frames...
Work is progressing on the plot, more prep work done, this time I have to deal with the rhubarb flowers, and the weeds, it does feel as though we're getting somewhere with things now, just waiting for...
View ArticleHow to remove rhubarb flowers and why...
Growing rhubarb? has it started to flower? have no fear, it's easy to remove the flowers, all you need is a sharp knife, trace the flower stalk down to the base of the plant and cut it off as close to...
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How to build a bean frame...
A quick guide on building a bean frame for climbing beans, I've used normal bamboo canes for this frame (I've been using them for years) but any straight stick would do, like hazel, or even lengths of...
View ArticlePropagating goosberry plants...
A quick how to guide on layering gooseberry plants for propagation, it's probably the easiest way to get new plants, simply pin a low stem to the ground and leave it to form roots, this works for many...
View ArticleAllotment update - Beans, beans and brassicas
Another trip to the plot, this time it's bean planting, I've put in two types of beans, borlotti and dwarf beans along with some russian kale, sprouts and one lonely spinach plant.Things are doing...
View ArticleAllotment update - Squash, Snake beans and Kohlrabi
The trips to the plot are getting more frequent now that there's more growing, this visit is mainly for getting some of the squash plants in the ground, but I also planted out the snake beans and some...
View ArticleHow to make a simple trellis for a plant pot...
A quick how to for making simple trellis for plant pots, this can easily be adapted for smaller or larger pots, and is great for climbing plants or just as a plant support, all you need is some garden...
View ArticleAllotment update - Beetroot, Salsify and Red chard...
Just a quick trip to the plot this time, planted out some beetroot plants in between the borlotti beans, which is a good use of bare space that might have not been used otherwise, also planted six...
View ArticleHow to make a trug (video version)
We're getting ready for harvesting some of our crops and what better to carry things in than a trug, this is a simple thing to make and it can be made out of scrap wood or even a pallet.This isn't the...
View ArticleAllotment update - More squash, Beans and Prep work...
This is a little behind where things are at on the plot, this was just a quick visit to the plot to get the other bed ready and to plant some more plants (squash) out, also planted some bean plants and...
View ArticleHomemade wire string holder...
How to easily make a string holder from garden wire (other wire could be used) this has come in quite handy because you can hang it up in the shed or greenhouse, or on a fence or even from a tree...
View ArticleHomemade bobbins...
Here I use some buddleia (buddleja) that I cut down at the start of the year to make some bobbins (also known as spools or reels) on my lathe, this wood has a very soft pith to it which is handy if you...
View ArticleTurning a spinning top...
A short video of me turning a spinning top from oak, it's a simple turning project, but the end results are always pleasing, who doesn't love a spinning top, and it's a good use for those little odd...
View ArticleAllotment Update - Harvesting potatoes...
It's been a while since I posted one of these, but here's a video of the latest visit to the plot, today I've dug up our spuds and now we have 18kg of good potatoes, not bad really.I haven't had quite...
View ArticleMaking an adapter for our vacuum cleaner...
We recently acquired a new hoover (vacuum cleaner) but it didn't have a brush attachment, we could have bought one, but it was quicker to make one of our old ones fit, all I did was use part of another...
View ArticleHomemade blackcurrant brandy...
One of the many things we do in preparation for Christmas (and winter) is to make liqueurs, we normally use our homegrown blackcurrants or blackberries (we're doing both this year) we pick from the...
View ArticleHomemade propagation station...
A lot of plants can easily be propagated using water, we usually just use jars of various sizes, but I thought I'd make a proper propagation station, you can buy ready made ones in all sorts of...
View ArticleAllotment update (a bit late posting) ...
I'm a bit behind with posting due to work and other things, so I'm combining the last two allotment visits into one post.The fist video is us harvesting our borlotti beans and some squash plants, and...
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This is not one of my better ideas, but I have always (for some reason) wanted to turn chipboard (particle board) to see what would happen, well now I know.It's not something I'll ever do again,...
View ArticleTurning Picture Frames...
This is a project I started sometime ago, but only just got round to finishing.It turns out that you can make pretty good picture frames using a lathe, although you will be restricted by the...
View ArticleGlass sphere / crystal ball stand...
My wife has a new glass sphere which she wanted for taking pictures through, it does come with a small glass holder, but she wanted something a little more sturdy so I made a stand for the sphere from...
View ArticleHarvesting Grey water...
If you want to collect waste water please do some research into it first, there are things to consider in terms of storing and preventing bacteria buildup, filtration and numerous other things, we've...
View ArticleAllotment Update...
This is the first of many visits to the allotment, I had thought I was starting later than I usual do, turns out I'm a bit earlier this year than last year, and as it happens we have started most of...
View ArticleReplacing a failed sealed unit...
This is a job I've finally got round to fixing, basically one of the double glazed units (sealed units) in our wood framed double gazed windows failed a while ago, by that I mean condensation was...
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