the growing season started

 We have been working hard in the last few weeks, especially looking after the vines. Pruning, weeding, trying to avoid the mild dew to occur again and save the production of grapes. We think we have managed this so far, but we still wait until the end of June to make sure grapes have started to develop.

As we stand, all seems going well, so, fingers crossed, this time we should make some wine. As for the vegetables, they are starting to grow well and to produce. We already had basil, courgettes, cabbages and lots of lettuces. Potatoes will be soon ready and tomatoes are already developing  on the plants.

First fruit we had is the nespola or meddler. peaches and prunes are on their way. pears are in abundance  but still long way to go. Goji berries are already starting to mature. The vineyard has taken a big chunk of time to work with, every morning for the last two weeks. Watering vegetables is an affair of the evening. Every day between 40 minute to one hour. Not all the vegetables are watered every day as there are too many and so we decided to split the lot into two sections.

Recently we had strong thunder storms with lots of rain and this has saved us time to water the plants. Heavy rain has occurred already 4 times this month. Basically we fluctuated between autumnal days to summer days in 48 hours. We had  temperatures as high as 29 already, so we do not know what the summer will bring.

The olive crop this year is not as abundant as the previous one, which was exceptional, but, we are hoping to collect some . The chickens are producing lots of eggs and although we failed to incubate successfully some ( only 3 chicks in 23  eggs ), finally one hen just went broody and she has got 10 eggs to look after. Hopefully she will be better that a incubator. Incubator was bought because chicken did not seem to have any intention to became mothers,  but now is happening.

One rebel chick has decided not to be so sociable with the others. Chickens and cockerel are not bothering her but she refuse to stay with the others and every night is a battle to catch her and put her safely into the house. But now we have built a separate chicken run for her and the ( hopefully) new chicks.

Here a few pictures to complete the description above.

  

before and after weeding

  

taking off excess young shoots and a happy caterpillar

  

after heavy rain and vegetable galore

  

cabbage and nespole

  

                                                 goji berries and pomegranate in bloom

  

collecting hay for the chicken house and fresh eggs

     

flower bed created by Lesley and " not a dandelion"

      

olive flowers before opening and after

  

sunrise and sunset in Locoe land

   

Rebel chick at dusk trying to sleep outside but it is not safe.

Wild pigeon in vineyard. not bothered by my presence and  a safer bird at night as it sleeps  very high up.

In the clip two of the new chicks happily together.

April 2024

Our journey to Sardinia started in Edinburgh airport. We left from there to Milano Malpensa to stay a night in the Hotel Villa Malpensa ( recommended). The next day we took the train to Milano Centrale and wander in the city before booking in the next hotel where we waited for Chris to turn up as he was coming from Scotland via rail through other countries.

                                              the breakfast buffet at Hotel Villa Malpensa

The following day all of us took the train to Firenze via Bologna. We spent most of the  day in Firenze and then on next train to Livorno where our boat was waiting. Trip on the night boat promised to be  a bit rough as there was a strong wind at the  start of the  journey. At the other end my brothers Tonino and Graziano were going to give us a lift. Waiting for their arrival in Golfo Aranci we had breakfast in the nearby café.

 Il Duomo di Milano  

                 Display of specialities ( cakes) from Florence; and Ponte vecchio

  

      

Some broad beans and peas. Preparing to stay in Locoe

 We spent Easter day in Oliena where the usual super meal was prepared. Easter Monday was in the countryside in Locoe...the classic Italian 'scampagnata'.

The procession in Oliena costumes on Easter day where the Christ and The Holy Mary are taken in a long walk through small streets. It starts  from two different churches and they meet up in the Piazza Santa Maria. This event is called "S'incontru" ( The meeting). As they touch each other an explosion of fire arms starts. After,some dances take place and offerings of sweets and wines for locals and tourists will last till lunch time.

         

The Church from which the effigy of Mary is taken  and the start of the procession.  Santa Croce and the representation of the empty tomb.

Work in Locoe started with the weeding of the Vermentino vineyard and Christopher give us a hand on this tedious and hard job. Other jobs included the watering of the numerous vegetable plants Tonino had prepared a couple of weeks earlier.  About 350 vegetables were planted. These included tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, courgettes, lettuces, cabbages, basil, etc etc

      

the vegetables outside and inside the greenhouse

broad beans and peas planted in the distance . Many areas are left uncultivated

for the wild flowers, herbs, grasses to grow. This is a good practice as allows insects, spiders, butterflies and bees to maintain the health of the biodiverse landscape.

Another important job was to start directing the vines' new shoots  in such a way that their growth will be straight upwards . Before that the  process called Accolage was done by my brothers. Tying vine branches to the horizontal trellising wires as shown on picture. Three new shoots per plant and a fourth on at the bottom as a reserve one, just in case. 

in the meanwhile we were weeding around the plants in the vineyard

After the weeding we sprayed a preventive medication of Bordeaux mixture,  an organic fungicide composed of copper sulphate and calcium hydroxide (lime) and water. This is a treatment against powdery and downy mildew also known as peronospora.

A job to be performed without wind and in sunny dry condition. This will be done 3 times in around 30 days

 

Spring in Sardinia is a beautiful natural garden. There are dozens of types of flowers and some wild trees like the wild pear below that  attract insects including butterflies and bees.

   

      

       

A sea of wild flowers in Marazzino

Left Locoe for the house at the seaside for a few days; the weather has turned autumnal with lower temperatures and strong winds but the sun always shines in between the clouds and it is pleasantly warm when out.

At the weekend there was an event in the town of Santa Teresa to open the tourist season. It is called P.I.G which stands for Primo Maggio In Gallura. The event is open to all and includes a display and tasting of food, wine and beers produced in Sardinia. Some events are designed for kids and demonstrations of pasta making, chocolate making are organised along side of live music and street theatre.  Setting up the stalls: