Life on a Farmstead - Off Grid in Portugal: growing our food, planting trees & a swarm of bees 🐝🐝

[@tess1176]

Is there anything Nick can’t do?? What a great friend to have!

[@heleneschofield3386]

Carissa the flowers on the chives, a friend of mine cuts them and puts them in a jar with vinegar , and it makes the most amazing oniony vinegar that we use in salad dressings. The vinegar actually turns a lovely purple color

[@janetwalker3541]

And you can add oil too and have your own dressing!

[@deborahlee8135]

oh i love that idea :)

[@manishaholm]

Epsom salt will bring yellow back into your citrus leaves. Powerful. Magical.

[@manishaholm]

Bring GREEN back into your citrus leaves. HaHa!

[@alliejones9864]

Don’t give up on the grape, during my year lawn garden makeover, I wrecked a vine with the excavator, I actually couldn’t get the root out without damaging a fence, so thought I’d simply leave it to rot, seeing as how it was dead anyway. This year it has taken off, better than all my other vines put together, so it could just be tricking you 😁

[@DanLanton]

That is the most beautiful salad I have ever seen. Thank you for telling which plants have edible parts, it really helps to see a video instead of trying to figure it out from a book.

[@daffs0]

How wonderful it is to just collect you own salad from your land Thank you for sharing 😁

[@fionagrows1848]

Absolutely gorgeous video! Talk about “ living the dream”! Thanks !

[@p.k.3988]

My peach tree gets a litre of milk in the soil, when the leaves show this fungus. New leaves will grow healthy - easy, cheap and it works.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Really good to know! Thank you!

[@deborahlee8135]

Bordeaux mix is good on mildew, peach leaf curl and other fungussy stuff. They say clear up al the leave/fruit that is damaged because can overwinter. Keeping the peach healthily fertilised and watered will keep its resistance to attack. Those bees can be captured when they swarm and put in a hive. They are not often aggressive, in my experience, when they are looking for a new place to build a hive. Love watching your experiences :)

[@FrankieOffGrid]

That what Nick did with the bees, i think they’re all happy and living at his place. We need a license to get Bordeaux solution here, I might try making my own 🤷‍♂️

[@pearlbhon631]

You are so lucky to have your own farm and be in a such nice country

[@FrankieOffGrid]

We feel very lucky!

[@janp7943]

Leaf Curl - I was told the curled leaves should be collected and thrown away as leaving them on the ground could keep infecting the tree or others near it. Our fruit trees still produce fruit with the nasty leaf curl. Good luck! All is looking good.

[@racebanning6390]

THIS VID WAS WONDERFUL AND PEACEFUL WITH ALL THE SOUNDS TOO....

[@DerrynEHahn-ir2jv]

Citrus are gross feeders with shallow roots around the base. Feed fortnightly, mulch to protect the roots and paint the trunks white with acrylic paint to reflect the harsh summer heat.❤️✨

[@LiLBitsDK]

congrats on the bees, hopefully they settle down near you. wonderful little creatures... they won't harm you as long as you don't bother them or try to swat em... they are just swaming to find a new home

[@josiebriggs4922]

Love to see the Hoopoe, still one on my list to tick off! Great job with the bees! That salad looks so beautiful ❤️

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Come a visit Portugal one day, there are loads of them!

[@NashipurSinha]

Clove oil is very potent. You need very little of it. You can also try mixing neem oil to the soap solution. It's a brilliant anti microbial agent.

[@daveh8144]

neem oil has been the best for me with crushed garlic and soap

[@Neilhuny]

I was assuming that too much clove oil, or too much washing up liquid was used - it really does need to be weak! I've never seen that sort of damage before :-(

[@grandmasstories3418]

Hello iwan and Carissa! I am for a few days in Penamacor where I just inherited som land. If you want and if I find the time, I could maybe take the time to go show you how to work with the picota 🙂.... it would be a pleasure, as I quite like you guys, Nick and his wife and your projects🙂.... You might have to pick us up in the closest village where the bus goes to, though.... Let me know if you'd like that, if convenient for you? .... 🙂

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Hi! Sorry for the late reply. Are you on Instagram? Could you message us there?

[@helenmedlow2764]

Love seeing your Garden and what I use for pest control is crushed fresh garlic, dish soap and water, much kinder on plants and put on at night so the sun doesn't cook your plant's. You guys should get a bee hive of your own to have your own beautiful pollinators on your little farm ❤🌞🐝

[@greenagrar9770]

For ill plants I suggest to squeeze garlic through a garlic crusher put it in water and leave overnight or for some hours. Then pour over ill plant. Worked wonderful for my roses. Hope also for other plants. Greetings from Italy.

[@junco477]

The bees looked very happy over at Nick and Andrea's (Project Portugal). A bit of new life after the foxes got the turkeys.

[@greenagrar9770]

I found for broad beans: It is at its best when accompanied by lettuces, potatoes and fruit trees. It is no coincidence that it is often grown between rows of vines or in empty spaces in the orchard.

[@janetwalker3541]

That mint will take over your garden and nothing else will grow there! I know I've been there. I dug 2 feet down and still didn't get all the roots! My advice is get it out and into a pot now while you can!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

In Portugal? It’s good at deterring flies so we wouldn’t mind too much.

[@janetwalker3541]

I'm not in Portugal, but it doesn't matter where you live it spreads like wild fire! But if you want to take the chance it's up to you. 😀🇨🇦

[@FrankieOffGrid]

We’ve not seen it happen here, in our allotment back in Wales it spread like crazy, I think the hot summers maybe kill back a lot of the new shooters? We’ll definitely keep an eye on it 😄

[@carolbulmer8253]

Lots going on in this episode. I’m glad that Nick captured the swarm. Iwan, lots of fruit trees and grape vines planted. Carissa, that salad looked yummy😊

[@daveh8144]

I have gardened for years .The best fertilisers I have witnessed produce the healthiest plants are the North korean and Jadam methods. Incredible results.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Will definitely look into that!

[@daveh8144]

@@FrankieOffGrid I made all my own vinegars from my apples.I didnt do the alcohol OHM But all the fermentations I did(North Korean) The Jadam I found was best for the soil. Could I suggest the weedy gardner to you on you tube he is amazing and I believe you will click with him straight away and last but not least Liverpool have just won first leg.From a scouser love your channel.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

It was a good game! I can’t see us conceding three at their place. City or Madrid in the final?

[@daveh8144]

@@FrankieOffGridI Prefer madrid but city will score a few.I didnt believe Benfica would do that.The best part of this championship is how many times over the years I have been wrong and that is why I love this competition, so unpredictable and edge of the seat games.Come on you mighty reds.

[@sylvieroy3751]

What a aventure ❤❤❤

[@alicevanroyen5044]

What a gorgeous looking salad, with loads of different flavors in it. So satisfying when you’ve grown it all yourself also. Next time you go to the ocean, fill up some large containers with ocean water and boil it down and dry it until you have sea salt. Nothing better, imo. Also, sorrel soup is really yummy and a great use of the larger leaves. Serve with homemade croutons from that lovely pão you guys have over there. Maybe Nick will gift you some honey from that swarm. 😊

[@FrankieOffGrid]

We’ll definitely try the homemade sea salt!! Amazing idea!

[@anniemac3075]

Love how Albi briefly disappeared in the hole Iwan dug! Hope your little black boy's conjunctivitis has been treated as it'll permanently damage his eyesight otherwise. The salad looked gorgeous, particularly the accompanying wine. 😊 Hope you get a lot more food from your veg patch this year, I think watering regularly will help.

[@suzannegooley5872]

That salad looked too beautiful to consume! Can’t wait to see the kitchen walls; it’s already looking so nice!

[@DAAyre]

Lot of watering throughout the dry summer and they should survive, autumn is usually the best time to plant trees etc

[@jojodancer5016]

You probably already know that marigolds are great for keeping down bugs in the garden. Looks lovely!!!

[@Storm20172]

Hi, I would just use dishsoap and water spray. Avoid putting it on before the heat of the day as it will burn the leaves. That's probably what happened with the clove oil, it's like tanning lotion in the sun.

[@CindyVine]

That was a big swarm!

[@sarahwalker5848]

Please do a full video on all the edible plants, flowers, leaves etc and what we can do with them

[@anamoreira6563]

Your garden is striving, good job!

[@dariuszszu3648]

my tip re trees: please buy copper sulfate mix with water and spray on the fungus and pour into the ground around tree.

[@JadjaVanParghove444111]

You can take the seeds out of the lemons. Soak them, peel the skin and plant them. You can do that with almost all fruitplants. You have the perfect climate there for doing that! I wish I could give you some of my seeds, plants, flowers, herbs and veggies. Don't know if I can send some by post?

[@steveperrett9395]

That salad looks fantastic!

[@isabellevince5174]

Another lovely video! That salad looked so colourful and tasty. How to have citrus trees.

[@mariaeugenia7599]

Nice varieties you have planted! New Hall delicious table oranges, and moscatel grapes, really delicious!!!

[@osdias]

I am from Portugal and I've never seen a squirrel there! I didn't think there were any in the country. Mind blown!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

I think this is the second one we’ve seen since we’ve been in Portugal.

[@ilonakatalindako-tolman5545]

So good seeing all your new fruits and how much you can do in your land. 🤗💫

[@suminthraoojugir9041]

Proud of you. Enjoy the peace, tranquility and pure heaven on earth. Rushen, Trishen and Suminthra Oojugir Kwa Zulu Natal South Africa

[@dreambiggrancanaria6671]

What a beautiful salad Carissa, the colours are fantastic!! Do you just use olive oil as a dressing? I mainly make vinaigrettes, when adding seeds to our salads I grind linseed (in the coffee grinder) then add pumpkin and sunflower seeds, it gives the salad a lovely nutty flavour!! We love watching Frankie help dig the holes when your planting 😍😍

[@inekeroos9264]

Thank you for showing yor salad mix, love it, see you in the next one

[@soniaayachealmeida7111]

Bom dia rsrs adorei 👏👏👏👏🥰

[@livingadventures5623]

A wonderful video...it was such a pleasure being in the garden and picking the the food for the salad. Thank you.

[@AO9R]

The hoopoe was gorgeous!

[@FrankieOffGrid]

They’re amazing birds aren’t they?!

[@davidbutler1666]

The vines you bought are probably on and American rootstock. Different rootstocks respond to different terroir differently. In fact, the rootstock is more influential than the cultivar.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

These are on a 110r rootstock which is French I believe. You’re right about it being influential but the cultivar is what brings the different fruit characteristics, for example I couldn’t use different rootstocks on the indigenous grapes here and expect a more fruity/higher sugar content grape. The moscatel variety has an aromatic flavour that other grapes just don’t have.

[@andygrayson7485]

Salad looked top notch, garden is coming on keep up your good work ! 👍👍👍

[@regtitch5200]

Excellent! video....from Cardigan West Wales x

[@sondraflesch1463]

I'm excited about your trees trying to survive !! I'm not an expert but maybe you can research. I think you shouldn't let it fruit.. Let it's energy build the tree this year. (& I didn't notice but the bad leaves you remove don't drop near the tree)

[@dariuszszu3648]

Hi, re orange tree google says " Orange leaves turn yellow due to overwatering, iron deficiency, and fungal diseases such as root rot. Apply nitrogen fertilizer or urea to fix the yellowing foliage. If the soil is soggy, repot the tree in a fresh soil mix then water it 1-2 times a week while allowing the soil to dry out between waterings" . In my opinion everyday piss should work best. Watch "The World's Fastest Indian" movie there was used as salvation:))

[@Neilhuny]

ie Iwan, this is a job for you - pee around the trees every morning

[@mariamaria-ii6dr]

Los cítricos si son pequeños el primer año son muy sensibles a las heladas, quizás sea conveniente en el duro invierno taparlos un poco hasta que se hagan más adultos y fuertes. ¿ Podría ser esa la causa?

[@taurus167]

Also from what i know, it is better not to let orange trees grow fruit for the first years until they establiss their root system. My orange tree was like this this year due to frost. A little bit of nurisment and we're back to normal.

[@jeanettenicholas2863]

Get a hive for the bees good for all the blossom good luck

[@denisemastromina7821]

When you find greenfly on Broad beens just wash the off with the hose ir you cut the top off it will branch out, they need a lot of Qatar and feeding. If you pick them small boil them in the skins they are edible and texture and taste same as the bean itself, this only works when they are young ad too old they go stringy. This is what they do in Greece we have similar climate but very high winds which burn the plants

[@catarinatorres6378]

Lovely salad! Bom apetite! 💚💚🌹🌸🌺

[@Neilhuny]

That was a great looking salad! I'm very jealous of that. It appeared that the new piece of land has a wider variety of wild flowers from the background to the grape pruning ; that had to be worth investigation and preservation. Carissa The Brave's botany books (internet?) will pay dividends

[@arjanvogel6444]

Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 love you guys. it's nice to have your own vegetable garden .

[@travel-van-world6312]

What an exciting day ! 🐝

[@maeveskelly4686]

Lovely video Ewan and Carissa.

[@trevorwindle8980]

Yellow is from the cold / frosts if in summer throws yellow leaves it’s nitrogen , do you have mallow weed the Italians & Maltese hang them in the stone fruit trees and fungal Is not a problem , the grape pots are black and in summer the sun takes them to scorching temps I would put shade cloth or timber or paint them white their tender new roots will stay away from that side if left in that spot , looks great 👍❤️❤️❤️🙏ps ewin it’s not exciting for the drone as the queen flies on her mating flight this is a swarm from a fertilised queen as the male drones fly from numerous hives and find air currents going up into the sky, the virgin queens find these and fly up the strongest males reach her they mate she keeps his bits he falls to ground dead it’s a solitary thing with no workers involved the swarm is a queen losing control of her hive from lack of pheromones being distributed to her 40,000 daughters who panic and make 15 or so queen cells feeding the hatched grub straight Royal jelly for 4 days she (grub) increases by 1000 body weight per day the workers have to increase the cell near triple ( peanut shell looking ) they then do a mix of jelly ,honey , pollen ,18 days later the queens chew through and rush around the frames and sting through the wax of her buzzing noise unhatched sisters if one has hatched a fight to death ensues first to Yelp is dragged away and tongue pulled out discarded 2 metres away from hive entrance to discourage ants predating the hive raiding for sweet treats , meanwhile as the original queen realised she is being superseded stops eating and laying and when her hatching daughters begin cutting out & they call , this is the signal for their mother to go to the entrance taking half the hive with her, scout bees look for hollow trees or roof cavities to set up camp leaving her daughter to kick off her life the workers surround her to slow her movement until scouts find a home the queen can only fly 20 metre bursts as she has a larger abdomen and weighs her down somewhat , this in a strong hive can happen every year moral of story” boy “ is not good as when swarm season is over they are thrown out of hive totally reliant on the workers who stop feeding them and that’s it for them until next spring and it all starts again 👍

[@monalingan9523]

Another lovely video! I do enjoy the content of your videos.

[@KnittingEmporiumDesigns]

If you've got calendula it's worth watching Rosalee de la Foret on KZbin, she has recipes for teas and infused oils.

[@stknmggs1788]

Beautiful

[@BobbieChurch-ln2di]

Lady bugs eat aphids. Here we can buy them in the plant store, not sure if they have them there

[@1dkappe]

Can you address the risk of wildfires and what preventative measures you take?

[@FrankieOffGrid]

We don’t have too much of a risk from outside, but we make sure to keep the grasses down for the summertime.

[@punjabseth260]

nice

[@mariajoaopeixoto9006]

Olá! Maravilhosas rosas🌹 Qual o nome da cidade próxima de vós? Beijinhos de Lisboa 😘😘

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Olá Maria! Castelo branco é a nossa cidade mais próxima.

[@denisemastromina7821]

I think by looking at your garden and your planting you need to feed everything and water much more everything is small and weak. Just because you're planting into the ground don't assume that it is (good) soil. It always need a lot of care more than you think.

[@sunworksco]

Use copper oxide fungicide spray on infected leaves.

[@duartemonteiro7463]

😀

[@elainebowen687]

Bees have probably split from another hive that was too full.

[@annadaurie2435]

If you raise your garden up, would you still have problems with the worms or bugs attacking them?

[@marilynharms2707]

Maybe need to mow the yard can't tell where the yard begins and the garden starts

[@FrankieOffGrid]

There is no yard? Haha. It’s all a big garden at the moment. It’s spring and a month after the first rains so it’s definitely strimming season!

[@coby6417]

🌟👍🍀💐

[@jamesmattoon9479]

Citrus NEED a high Nutrient soil that is preferably acidic; i suspect you are in a limestone area ? If you feed high nitrogen, such as compost or dilute urine say, the citrus will thank you and turn green soon ! J

[@FrankieOffGrid]

We’re a high granite area here, so would that be the same?

[@jamesmattoon9479]

A Granite soil should be acidic, so that's good, but are likely to be low in nutrients in general, so lots of compost, manure, dilute pee, would all be good and likely to turn your Citrus green soon ! Ask a neighbour with healthy Citrus what they use ! Good luck, J

[@elsaduplessis3185]

What about a beehive?

[@FrankieOffGrid]

Our neighbour actually has three so we get all the benefits of those.

[@daveh8144]

Nice to know ya a red.

[@FrankieOffGrid]

YNWA! ❤️

[@judithtaylormayo]

Delicious salad but way to small for a meal, especially a meal for two

[@FrankieOffGrid]

It was just an aperitif, we had a big pasta dish afterwards ☺️🌱

[@johnlander3194]

Try a weaker solution and don’t spay in the full sun , maybe it will work better