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EGirl · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 37 Location: Dublin, Ireland

I've been lurking for a while and thought I'd make myself visible.

I'm Elaine, I live in South Dublin and keep a few hens in the back garden and I'm trying to grow an edible garden. I am interested primarily in reconnecting with the food I eat and the environment I live in (the natural though, not the M50, which is painfully close!) Confused

I'm also a Mum, Office Manager and a few other things besides. Ideally we would up sticks and move to the country but life won't allow that so I'm doing what I can where I can.

I have 7 hens at present, with 12 about to go in the incubator. One large cat and increasingly, the care of the neighbourhood animals! Everyone thinks I'm nuts but I'm not bothered but sometimes a little bereft of like-minded company.

I hope we can share info and offer support, thanks for having me.

Elaine Wink

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

You are very welcome Elaine. You are probably one of the few Dubs that know life exists outside the M50 Wink

blowin · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:19 am Post subject:

Hi Egirl and welcome to the forum Very Happy

You are certainly in like-minded company . The members range from those who are just trying their first tomato on a window sill thru to very competant smallholders but we all had to start somewhere so please don't feel shy to ask questions on any level . Wink

Someone on here was recently the subject of a nice article in the Irish Times , I think it was , ...... because he is raising both chooks and pigs in his back yard in Dublin ! So you have at least one kindred spirit as a near neighbour Wink

.

How would you like to be Social Secretary ?

Calli · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 34 Location: Galway

Hello and welcome Very Happy

Once you start with the chooks the only limiting factor is how many eggs you can give away Laughing

What are the eggs you have in the incubator? Very Happy

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tringle · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

Hi egirl, Im originally fro Dublin, inner city and then north county. Now Im settled in Tippand love it.

Well done on keeping chicks in Dublin, do any of your neighbours have problems with it?
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Moonwaves · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 80 Location: Dusseldorf

More Dubs, yay! Smile

I'd wondered what the situation was with keeping hens. Then on Friday met a neighbour for the first time (although we both moved to the street three years ago) who has just gotten some bees and hopes to get chickens next year. Seems like lots of people are getting interested in it.
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EGirl · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 37 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Thanks for the lovely welome guys. Very Happy

None of my neighbours have a problem with my keeping hens, though I did check with them first and promised not to keep cockerals. In fact they seem to think it's a good reason to ask me to feed and look after their dogs, rabbits, cats et al, while they are away.

I sell my eggs at work and can't keep up with demand, I save the proceeds for bigger garden projects, my next will be an arch to support a gate to the run and to grow something edible over it. Might take a while...

I'm just getting into this growing lark and I love it. I would be of the opinion that there is little life inside the M50, it only gets interesting once you're out of it's stranglehold! Anyway, I am where I am and it'll have to do.

The eggs are going into the Hovabator tomorrow, it seems to be holding it's temp, though the turner is a bit dodgy, might stick to hand turning this time. They are Light Sussex LF, 11 eggs courtesy of Greentree, also a member here. It's my first attempt so I'll be happy with a couple to be honest.

Don't worry, I'll have plenty of questions. I got a number of nice plants down in Ashford today, I got a gooseberry bush, broccolli plants and fennell plants - all I have to do now is find a suitable spot for them... Wink

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

Watch the Fennel, they will self seed everywhere, so when they do, pot them on and sell them at work.

Good luck with the growing.

blowin · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:09 am Post subject:

EGirl · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 37 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Thanks Guys. Very Happy

I'll put the Fennell in pots so. Not too sure about kiwi, not gone on them to be honest, Blowin. I was thinking of Morello cherries, but the birds will probably have a field day! I believe they do well on shady walls and have just the place and I can net them off.

Have decided to put the Brocolli in the front garden, they are purple sprouting so will look nice too. Crushed eggshells & slug pellets will hopefully keep them safe.

Wish the blo*dy weather would clear up a bit so I can get this stuff done! Cool