[inishindie]

Hazel rods make great supports for peas and beans. They are free too if you are prepared to go out into the woods and get them yourself. It is very tempting to go to the shop and buy a ten pack of bamboo poles, but I resisted this and ventured out into the undergrowth with my loppers. Being up to my knees in mud didn’t deter me and in no time at all I had far more poles than I could carry. Coppicing hazel seems to be a bit of a dying art now, and it is a pity because the trees benefit immensely. It regenerates the tree with fresh shoots, which prolongs the life of the tree. At one time it is all that cattle had as shelter in the winter. Putting the pea and bean structures will take no time at all because my lad has learnt how to tie a marlin spike hitch at scouts, which means I can delegate another job to the children and have more time to lounge about in the sun!



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