Tropical Heritage Garden Diary:
December 2016:
December
01:
Rain followed by Sun
December
02:
Area for new pig pen being cleared of
crops and fodder
Area cleared of Ginger, Turmeric, Sinkemas and Herbs
Work starting on New Pig Pen
Hen still Sitting on Balcony
Rain Again!
December
03:
....and again....
...with no Electricity
December
04:
More Sinkemas harvested from proposed pig
pen area
Hose damaged by pig -now repaired -but needs new nozzle
December
05:
One piglet is sick -but the other seems
healthy -in a very wet and muddy pen
December
06:
Giant Patola, Bagio Beans, Sinkemas and
other seeds collected from, or for, the garden
December
07:
Pig pen still very muddy -but sick piglet
seems to be improving
Unwanted tree cut down and fed to goats
Hose damaged by pig finally repaired
Brooding Hen starts to hatch her Chicks
...and rain again in the evening
December
08:
Early Morning.....
....but by early Afternoon
December
09:
After yesterday's rains, Pig Pens remain a
quagmire
Sick Piglet allowed to explore the Garden
before being given a harness
and tied to a tree
The new Chicks are enjoying the Garden too
December
10:
After a night under the stairs, the sick
piglet is returned to his tree
Where he seems to be improving
December
11:
A Night-time Visitor
A healthier Pinkie enjoys another day in the sun
Pig Pens drying out after rain a few days ago
Perhaps a full roof is better....
Mother hen profits from the pig under the tree
...and Another House Guest
December
12:
Collected
Materials for the pig pen Roofing
Project
Work Starts
Piglet and Chicks enjoy another day together in the Garden
December
13:
Rain in the Night
Run-off from Dirty Kitchen floods one Pen
Drainage Channel dug around Pen
plus a tarpaulin to protect helpers from rain
when farrowing starts
This Pen is starting to drain itself as mud becomes very fluid
Run-off from Path
floods the other Pen
and Work Continues with the
roofing
With stones used to level floor
Pinkie goes back home under the stairs -after a hard
days digging
December
14:
Making a more level playing field for
Farrowing
December
15:
Garden Borders damaged by escaped Piglet
finally repaired
Dead Gmelina branch cut down
The Two Pregnant Pigs are led out by food bowl and given
a Bath
December
16:
Work starts on a Roof for the Piglets -but
is abandoned because of Rain
Pinkie brought home for lunch because of Rain
New Roofs cause some flooding -but Drainage seems
to be working well
Fallen Coconut branches collected and left to dry under
house -in case needed for bedding at Farrowing
Time
December
17:
Pinkie Escapes -so is lured back to his
Brother's Pen
The Piglets' Pen is still very Muddy
But Flooded Area outside has already Dried Out
Then Auntie Brownie escapes -but is returned and the gate
fixed
Area of Devastation resulting from Pinkies short stay in
the garden
More Fallen Coconut Tree Branches
Grey Hen has found a Great Treasure
Lunch with Cats
Drainage improved around Pig Pens
Piglets' Roof finally Completed
December
18:
Evening Rain: Overflow from Fish Pond causes
flooding -but Drainage works well
No Overflow from Reservoir -less strain on Drainage
December
19:
Hopefully, all Preparations now Complete
-Ready for Farrowing
December
20:
Stones dumped by Piglet Pen gate -to try
to create stable feeding area, with less mud
Brownie seems ok with mud -but Pinkie getting thin again
-so given new harness and tied to another tree
No.One seems to prefer wet mud to dry stones
December
21:
More Rain -but Farrowing Service Areas
remain dry
Garden still Productive
Mother Hen still visits Pinkie at his new address
Ashitaba seeds planted
Rain in the Evening too
December
22:
A Sunny Morning
Stones still seem to be effective in Piglet Pen
...but other parts of pen remain extremely muddy
Area behind Piglet Pen also becoming muddy from run-off
...but main pens are remaining dry
No.Three hopefully nearly ready to Farrow
Some December Flowers
...with Rain in the Evening
December
23:
Rain in the Morning
But Sun in the Evening
December
24:
Another Sunny Morning
No.Three apparently still more interested in eating than
nesting
December
25:
Pinkie is happy to continue his work
devastating the garden
Hen gets into fight with a duck -over food for
chicks
More
Piglets
December
27:
Heavy Rain
Sun
...and a beautiful evening
New Mommy and Kids seem contented
December
30:
Some vegetables flowering
Chicken put on a string to stop it bullying other chickens
Celebrating the Birthday of a neighbour's Daughter
A fascinating Spider's web
Even
More Piglets
December
31:
And Evening brings an Impressive End to
a Difficult but Worthwhile Year
2016
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
2017
January
Trevor Batten
<trevor at
tebatt dot net>
Baclayon 2016
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