Green manure and other things...

Well, I had a quick look at the beds in the orchard today and, blow me down, things were sprouting!
I think it must be the red clover (or, of course, some invasive weed that I wasn't planning on...) but it was very exciting to see.
Intended to take a photo, but then didn't get through the garden gate into the orchard - too much time with Joshua in the fallen leaves, then friends popped 'round. Ah well, maybe shots another day.
And did some raking today. Sort of feels pointless in some ways, given the magnitude of the task, but nevertheless is accompanied by a great sense of accomplishment.

Autumn action

Well, have taken out all the pumpkin/squash plants. They were hit by the recent frost, so the fruit softened and was then munched on by vermin (probably squirrels). Today Joshua and I have weeded and hoed the beds, and sown green manure.
The long thin bed has forage pea - two rows about 20cm apart, and 10cm between seeds. One or two (or in Joshua's case, six) seeds per hole. I poked holes with a stake and then brushed over and trampled up and down.
The T bed has forage pea both horizontal and vertical (poked and covered). The horizontal then has winter tares broadcast and raked in, then flattened with the rake. The vertical has red clover broadcast and then raked in. Then flattened.
The corner bed has winter tares, broadcast (quite heavily) and then sort of tussled in with the rake, and flattened by rake.
Loving the colours at the moment...We've done mega work in the orchard recently. I've almost kept on top of it, and Paul and Penny kindly helped collect apples on Wednesday to take to be pressed. Probably about 60-80 kg. Should produce about 50 bottles, with luck...
We've also picked loads for the crumbles. Aiming for 100 this year...