Lá Fhéile Phádraig… agus lá na gaeilge 2010

Más mian leat eolas breise feach ar an bhlog Lá na Gaeilge agus ar an website Lá Fheile Phadraig.

Ar an lá seo i 2009, scríobh mé píosa ar Lá na Gaeilge agus Lá Fheile Phádraig, as gaeilge. Cén fath? Bheul, is maith liom as gaeile a labhairt. Deacair? Beaganaí beidir. Ach le lá amháin, chun píosa beag a scríobh ar mo bhlog…. Nílim gaelgóir. Tá go lóir chun a fháil trí agam. Ach in aon rud agus i mo thuraim tá sé tábhachtach.

Nur a dhúirt mé faoi gairneoireachta bhí dacrachtaí agam, tháinig deacrachtaí sa bhealach orainn mar is gnách agus shíleamar. Mar atá gairneoireachta saineolaí suibiacht.

Ach nur a bhím beidir ceathair bhlaoina daois, táim abálta as gaeilge a labhairt. Tá sé mo teanga dhúchais agus iarracht mé thabhairt ar rud a dhéanamh faoi sin.

Go dtí rudaí atá glas. Beidir rudaí faoi amuigh faoin aer….

Ní maith liom óráid mór a dheanamh ach…. cúpla lá ó shin bhí mé i Pairc Naomh Phadraig. So beidir nach bhfuil sé an tabhachtach nach ndhéanaimid dearmad ar an rud seo. Ar Lá Fheile Phadraig, tá sé phairc agus áit go hana speisiúil ar fad. Ach beidir nach cuimhaimid faoi pairc as Baile Átha Cliath, níl sé an phairc seo.

Le lá amháin, beidh mé ag cáint, ag gáire agus beidir ag dámhsa as gaeilge agus freisin ar an lá seo [beidir] beidh mé ag dul go dtí Pairc Naomh Phadraig le Bean Donagáin.

#lnag10

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Donabate Allotments

I was talking to Trevor Sargeant at another gig. Trying to find a time that suited us both to meet we settled on meeting at the allotments in Donabate on Saturday morning. However which way it happened we missed each other.

I took a walk around anyway and I have to say I was very impressed with the enthusiasm that was literally brimming out there…. phenomenal

Some were just getting started, others had just short of set up home there…. I’m looking forward to heading back in a few months time to see the transformation form what at the moment is just the beginning of what I can only say is something amazing.

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Just Call Me Peter

I have been a member of the Institute of Horticulture since I was about 23 years old. Sounded really good at that age [and in that era] to have Peter Donegan AI Hort [now MI Hort] for a name and title.

But what does MI Hort mean, to you or to me? Is it really doing anything for me? Really? I know there is the point that one only gets out of anything what you put in etc and to an extent I do agree. That said, I did get an email a long time ago asking if I had any suggestions [?] for the association. I replied. But I have never received any acknowledgement of that email.

The Institute of Horticulture is the only organisation that can truly claim to bring together all professionals involved with every aspect and facet of the diverse industry that is horticulture

Maybe the argument, for me, comes down to if I want MI Hort after my name – in exchange for a yearly fee. Maybe it’s just not the organisation for me?

From now on just call me Peter.

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Irish Blog Award 2010

The 2nd round results for the Irish Blog Awards 2010 were announced today.

This year I wasn’t as fortunate. That’s allowed. Those remaining in the race really are an amazing list of  weblogs. My congratulations sincerely to each and every one of them and sincerley also to the sponsors. Big bulaidh bós mór there.

Of course I’d like to win every category, but I don’t particularly undertsand techie stuff. I just know how to use it. On the other hand give me a tree and ask me it’s sisters name and I will make it talk to you.

As I said in 2009 and in 2010

That said – awards or not, it is because of *you* that I write and to be simply nominated is reason enough for me to smile

Best of wishes to each and everyone of you once again. Still…. was nice to see my name and a flower in there somewhere

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How To Water Seeds

To some how does one water seeds may seems like a silly question…. but to others it is the very simple things that most often are not explained due to assumption… more so on the horticulturists part. Try find any gardening book with how to water in the title….?

But, for years as a nipper I crushed and broke weak seedlings with large droplets from a watering can…. and it being the start of the growing season this dilemma has resurrected itself.

If you are sowing your seeds in trays that have perforations/ drainage holes on the base then we are in luck.

With your compost in the tray, slightly firmed…. place your seeds as preferred and drop the tray into a large container of water. As you can see here I have made really great use of my green bin that I did not want. You can of course use your brown bin if you wish

Capillary action [as it is called] is the process which will ensure the water is drawn up all by itself. You will see the compost turn from a dry brown to a wet dark black. Be careful here not to let the tray sink to the bottom and lose all your seeds… watched pots and kettles may come to mind but patience is the key. As soon as you see water just appear at seed level… you’re good to go. You can repeat his process as long as is necessary and as long as your seeds need to be in the plug tray.

If however your container does not have perforations… this is were it can get tricky.

These [left] are the ones I sowed for indoors. I don’t want drainage holes on them, because, they’ll leak all over the window ledges. And I can’t steep them… so…

The answer is to water the soil very well before putting my seeds on top. If I chose not to the compost bubbles up over the seeds and the seed sinks somewhere within the pile of mush

Watering of these is then done very gently. I myself like to used to use a Mr Sheen/ windowleen type misting bottle [you can't go wrong this way] and wet them as necessary. Or I pour from a very small jug of water into my hands, held over the container and let the water trickle through my tightly gripped fingers.

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