Sunday 29 September 2013

Nuts!


'Nuts, nuts, driving me nuts. So sick and tired of nuts in me' guts!' Poor Eddy.

Nuts in abundance! Last week, I looked for several nuts to gather.

During a walk in the park, I noticed an unusual noise. It was the sound of hazelnuts, falling from the tree! I was right under a big Common Hazel (Corylus avellana).


I gathered a bunch of hazelnuts and took them home. In a few weeks, I can use them in cookies and cake.

These chestnuts from the Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) fell from the tree too early. The spines are still soft and the nuts are not ripe, yet.


Beechnuts from the Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica). Yummy!


The first mushroom I photographed, this autumn. This lovely, small white guy has still dirt on top of its cap.



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Thursday 26 September 2013

The end of summer

It's obvious: the end of summer is certainly here. Now. The wind is blowing in our faces, clouds cover the sky and make it look like sheep to be shorn.

Though, today was a wonderful day. The sky was mostly clear, and the sun was shining the whole day. I thought it was time for a walk, and my dog was very with me. During the walk, I noted that autumn is very, very near. Take a look yourself.

A pond with fountain in our neighborhood. Some leaves of the Small-leaved Linden are already yellow.


The sun was shining on these beautiful trees. The berries are so bright red and orange, it looks like they're painted.


A stunning blue sky.


The Rowan and its fruit.


Elderberries. If you want to make syrup or jam with elderberries, this is the time to pick them.


A young pollard willow against a bright blue sky.


Flowering clover! The last meadow flowers of the year.


The park in the polder is a lovely place to walk. My dog loves this place, because she can run free and there are always other dogs to play with.



Outside walking gives me so much energy and inspiration. Every time when I go outside, I am astonished by the beauty and the power of nature. I hope you can feel with me.

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Monday 16 September 2013

Beautifully abandoned

For my friend Tamara, because I know she cherishes warm feelings for this place.

Next to the petting farm where I work on saturdays, is an old, abandoned farm. This farm is about 200 years old -some parts are even older-, and a monument. The farm and its environment are neglected and overgrown, but it's still a beautiful place.
Within a few months, contractors are going to turn this farm into a modern care farm. What I hope for, is that the old, silent atmosphere will continue, but I'm afraid that will not happen. I know it's necessary to smart up the whole place and give it a new purpose, but I'm quite devoted to the place and how it is now.
For I want to remember the old farm as it was, I made a few pictures. I tried to catch the warm atmosphere of the old farm, but also the sadness of the expired buildings. I hope you can feel it.

The driveway of the farm is hardly used. You should see wood chips, but they are rotten en overgrown by plants.


The imposing pear trees may be over a hundred years old. They still bear fruit.



The passage to the front door.


The front door, a window of the upstairs room on the right. Through the years, the building sank a bit into the wet ground. That's why the building is crooked, in several spots.


The left side of the house.


The overgrown path behind the big cowshed.


An overgrown wing of the farm. I personally love this picture.


The back of the same wing, overgrown by brambles.


The wooden wagon shed is rotten and half collapsed.



The lock in the door of the old, rotten shed.


A dusty window in the old wagon shed. 

Thursday 12 September 2013

The Plant Project: DIY

A week or so ago, I posted a blog about The Plant Project. I promised to tell how you can make one yourself, so here is the tutorial. First, I would like to explain how this whole thing works, i.e., how this plant can keep itself alive in such a small, isolated environment.

You may know a plant are autotrophic; they use photosynthesis to provide energy. All they need to do that, is water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. In this way, the plant makes oxygen and it's own nutrients, as well.
The plant in the jar also loses its leaves, just like any other plant does. Bacteria in the soil break this leaves down, using oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide. The plant also excretes water through it's stomata, which you can see on the inside of the jar. This 'rains' back down on the plant and the soil, creating a humidity of 100%. For the water can't go out of the jar, you never have to water the plant inside.

Enough talking! To work!

Things you need:
  • an empty jar (one you can close tightly)
  • gravel, marbles or potsherds
  • moist soil (potting soil/compost)
  • a small plant (already watered)
  • moist moss
Eventual:
  • twigs (I got mine from our apple tree)
  • dead leaves
  • earthworms

Start with the gravel. Put some gravel in the jar, just a small layer. It will prevent the plant from root rot, because redundant water can flow down and stay between the small stones (or marbles, or potsherds).


After that, add soil/compost. Make sure the layer is thick enough for the rootball of your plant. Do not push the soil, just throw it in the jar.


Make a hole in the soil and put the plant in it. Add some more soil when needed. Make sure the plant isn't too close to the glass, because the glass will get very moist when you close the jar.

Pick a piece of moss and put it on the soil. Close your jar and there is your very own ecosystem! But...


...there is more. I decided to experiment. I put some earthworms on top of the remaining surface, and put some dead leaves on it. Note: worms eat (dead) organic material and turn it into compost. I wonder if this little creatures will survive in my small, artificial world. They have oxygen, moist soil and food, so it may theoretically work... We shall see!

In the end, I decorated my jar with a twig from our apple tree (yes, I watched the worms, off course!) You can also use alder catkins, small stones or pine cones for decoration



Any questions about this tutorial or one of my other posts? Do not hesitate and leave a comment or use the contact form on the right.

Friday 6 September 2013

Turn the volume up!

I'm sorry for the 'easy' blogposts, but I've been very busy last week. I would like to share some music with you. Volbeat is one of my favourite bands, having this rought, old-fashioned sound and inspired by Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Enjoy!



Sunday 1 September 2013

Turn the music on

Some music I like. This is Omnia, a band which plays pegan folk music. Enjoy!