The works begin

The project will consist of several parts; the eco-fying (yes I have made up a new word) of the modern house, the design and planting of the gardens and the refurbishment of the 'château' for want of a better word - it does have a turret after all :D
The garden is really my passion, and making the house eco-friendly thus cutting down on the bills is an absolute necessity, for the planet and the family - think globally act locally. The ruin/château/presbytère will wait until the funds are available or the universe provides.
I promised myself that for the first year I would resist making any major changes, such as planting the garden or creating the first raised beds ('yeah right' said several friends), in order to get a feel of the land, the wind, the light... That does not mean that we can't clean up. So, away with the clinging clematis - both here in the village and up at the farm thanks to Alex, down with the dreaded ivy, free the trees, the walls, the features that we discover as we rip, pull, cut and tug. So far, we have removed plants to discover pathways, a sun on a wall, a stone slab - is there treasure underneath? Pulling the ivy off the walls of the ruin was great fun, as was the fire afterwards.
Click here for a video : The pear tree freed from the clematis and ivy
Here is a picture of the completed work, you can see the piles of removed 'weeds'!
 

The clearing of the secret garden (yes I know, it is not very secret, Ivor loves showing it to people and the irony of course escapes him entirely as it is frequently the first thing he does) was begun by mum as she wielded the secateurs, defending the balcony from the honeysuckle and the turret from the ivy. The works were painstakingly completed by Hannah, who spent a few days patiently working her way round the walls, exposing them to the sun for the first time in a few years, with Hills, Fabien and Ivor removing unnecessary (imho) pines and cypress (sorry, don't really like them - at least not at this altitude) and joining in with the ubiquitous ivy removal.
Look, Alex and I found a path ;)

Hills helping Ivor - all security and safety precautions duly taken into account, of course!

The secret garden before Hannah and the secateurs and Ivor and the loppers

half way (ish)

after

yes, that is the same wall. Thank you Hannah and Hills. click here for a video :D

The front of the barn, before (spot Alex sewing):

and after - ivy on the floor now:

 

Salix dragging the ivy to the fire pit - on Moses' bike! click here for a video :D

A new project

We started our new life in a new home, a dream come true, moving in on the ninth of September this year, 2016. I still, two months and ten days later find it hard to believe that we are actually here. I really am sitting in this house, next to the fire, typing this story. I visited these gardens in the year 2000, when they were for sale, it was a farm back then, a market garden, with greenhouses, watering system and chemicals splashed and sprayed copiously. I couldn't afford to buy the place. I got to know the lucky buyers, we planted some lavender that I grew from seed in this garden! Time moved on, and so this year did Sue and Jon, who kindly accepted my offer and have allowed me the opportunity to dig in and start a new life project. And so I have become the owner (or shall be in 25 years) of an amazing piece of land, flat, walled, sandy loamy soil and untouched for 15 years so organic. A blank slate (Sue and Jon will be the first to admit that they are not gardeners), one hectare (2.2acres) on which to unleash my energy and dreams. Orchard, worm farm, herb garden, chickens, butterflies, ladybirds, hedgehogs and bees here we come, not necessarily in that order.

Why multifunctional life? I believe that is what us women are supposed to be capable of, and I guess as a single mum of 3 boys, a full time teacher (that's 20 hours a week in front of students this year) and a member of the local council with a passion for planting and global politics, any peruser of this blog may expect to read about anything and everything. #eclectic :)

Thank goodness I have help and support in the form of my ageing spinster friend Alex, (her words, not mine) my ex-neighbour Ann, and more recently Hills and Hannah, who brought their beautiful energy to park in the driveway in their spot on, kitted out van (to be proud of Hills). These four wonderful individuals remind me how empowering it can be to have people around that are easy-going, relaxed, and efficient.
So, welcome to my life, hope you enjoy the trip and let's get cracking!

Hills and Hannah with Fabien and Ivor