A few months ago, something sad happened on the way to the clay oven: it imploded.

What can I say? It was version one. And it was a wet winter. But this was supposed to be a garden update, so why bring up the sad demise of the clay oven?

Well, after months of letting it languish in a pile in the garden, I finally made peace and relocated the oven to the potholes in the cattle yard. Still, what remained was a table and a whole lotta bricks, so I decided to use them for good.

The bricks went towards putting in a small raised bed against a ne’er used gate along the garden wall.

The clay oven table is now supporting trays for rocket, salad and herbs.

I’m pleased with the oven’s rebirth. And it really IS a rebirth. Rocket is already sprouting in the trays, as is the perpetual spinach in the raised bed, and I’ve gotta believe the garlic and radishes are making headway beneath the soil in the new brick-lined bed.

Meanwhile, indoors, I’ve got loads of sprouting going on: cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, yellow onions, spring onions, purple sprouting broccoli, lettuces… some are just starting to show signs of their first “true” leaves.

Now, I wait. Everything looks a bit… empty at the moment. I’m looking forward to the beds filling up with greenery and yummy veg.