The delusion of Spring

I know objectively that the beginning of March is actually Winter but the delusions that Spring is here still gets my juices flowing. It is the same every year, and I never learn, too many long dark nights has me grasping at straws. The hills are covered with Almond blossom, the Mimosa trees are in flower, the Irises are starting to flower. The snow drops have come and gone and the daffodils are on their way out.

So we have started planting, the hyssop, parsley, coriander and lemon balm went in two weeks ago, last week the first wave of tomatoes, 35 of all 13 varieties, as well as two trays of small leafed basil, the Greek and the Marseillaises. Even in my deluded state I realised it was too early for the large leafed Genovese . I have started lifting and separating the comfrey, the same for the Moroccan and Iranian mint. The Italian Oregano is starting to push up green leaves as it comes out of it’s Winter hibernation, our borrage is growing in the garden so it is time to get some seeds in.

At the same time as planting I am still clearing the forest round the Domaine, firstly for fire wood, it is still cold at night, secondly to reduce the risk of wild fire and thirdly to clean out the terrace beneath the house with the idea of erecting a small second poly tunnel, whether it actually happens or not awaits to be seen, the work load is piling on and this project could get shelved to next Autumn. We still have to fill the first poly tunnel let alone start a second one.

What we do need however is rain, it is now over a month since we have had any meaningful rain fall, and if this Summer is anything like the drought we had last year even the trees will be in danger, the garden is already starting to suffer. Also the lack of rain is driving the wild boar nearer our garden, and the village as they seek out water, and their beloved worms. The damage they are doing as they root up the sides of our road and foot paths is incredible, like the local sheep and goat herds the boar are in full reproduction mode, and with a family to feed they are constantly on the search for food. .The real problem is the cross breeding of dometic pigs with wild boar, rogue males will stop at nothing to get to a sow in heat, a friend of mine who’s pigs are behind a three line electrical fence, with a metal mesh fence as well was shocked to find her sows with deep gashes on their backs after a male had found a way to get to them. A pure wild boar sow ill have two piglets once a year, a sustainable and feed-able family, however a mixed ‘race’ sow can have a litter of 6-8 piglets twice a year to large a family to easily feed without taking huge risks. Urban bin raiding is on the rise.

So it is back into the garden for me, wood to chop, tomatoes to plant, and the van to get ready for the new organic market in Gruissan. Gruissan could turn out to be quite interesting, it’s a typical Languedoc village fishing port, surrounded by a large number of holiday apartments and lottiseements full of second homes. Gruissan has a permanent population of around 5,000, which swells to 70,000 during the Summer months. Caroline’s friend and Narbonne Organic market neighbour, Elizabeth Garrigue, was approached by the Mayor of Gruissan about launching a 100% organic market, between us we rang round all the good local organic producers we know and we now have a small team of stand holders, Will, my organic fruit and veg reseller from the Perpignan market, who is based out of Narbonne has joined us as has another regular organic reseller from the Gruissan mixed market, who sells  organic jams and honeys. At the moment it is just getting started, tomorrow will be our third week, but I think it will start to take a hold, and as Summer approaches we will get more and more sellers and producers. It usually takes a good year for a market to get establish due nature of the huge influx of holiday makers may give us a leg up and get the market productive faster than normal. You can but try.

The memory of half a meter of snow in mid May still haunts me however, Winter I am sure has not finished with us quite yet.