Colette O'Neill… Author, Publisher, photographer. Creator of Goddess Permaculture.
The promise of peaches growing outdoors in the west of Ireland, another Bealtaine Cottage first! Blossom on these home grown trees, grown from seed, is looking good. So far, with only the first month behind us, this has been a remarkable Spring! New Bird Boxes have been added to the rich habitat, now in its […]
Read MoreRed onions and seeds dry in the heat of the afternoon sun at Bealtaine Cottage. The Permaculture harvest is on it’s way. I am saving lots of seed from the biggest, healthiest and tastiest plants! The rain came and has left a little water…not much, but enough to fill the tank in the loft! Herbs […]
Read MoreAfter a full moon last night, the morning is beautiful. As I write this the sun has illuminated the interior of the cottage and blue skies are making themselves known. I’ve just snapped this pic…it’s the view from my desk, so you can see for yourself! It’s been busy here over recent days as I […]
Read MoreHere’s a 5 minute video from Bealtaine Cottage on making and using compost on a permaculture smallholding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLkBREOi8hE&feature=plcp&context=C4035676VDvjVQa1PpcFOWi9w1WJ3Ko7EephcqjG1KM5MBe0Xa1V8%3D
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Potatoes. Last year I grew them successfully on straw and manure spread on the ground on top of cardboard. The ground was in perfect condition afterwards for digging in a new Rhubarb bed. Swiss Chard. A cut and come again crop. It just keeps on giving! Here it is growing outdoors during the winter. The […]
Read MoreOver the last few months I have been gradually clearing the compost heaps…5 in total. The ground under the heaps is in lovely condition, as you can imagine, so I decided to use this area to plant potatoes into tyres. The chitted potatoes are pushed deep into the earth and the tyre place on top, […]
Read MoreSaint Patrick’s Day! The middle of March in the West of Ireland…and there is much to celebrate! For we have enjoyed a mild winter and fast warming Spring. According to the old Irish annals, Patrick died in AD 461 on March 17. And so, it is today that we celebrate the greatest non-Irish person as […]
Read MoreA storm is making its way in from the Atlantic as I write this and a cold wind blows through the window. I took these pics earlier today when it was positively hot and humid. It’s strange how quickly the weather can change! The ground is very dry, the spring well runs low and lots […]
Read MorePotatoes growing by the east side of the shed. Did you know that there are about five thousand potato varieties worldwide? Potatoes do not keep very well in storage and are vulnerable to molds that feed on the stored tubers, quickly turning them rotten. However, I left potatoes in the ground over the course of […]
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