Pennod 4 Gardd Pont y Twr

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-I'm Sioned Edwards.

-Six months ago,

-I moved to Plas Pont Y Twr...

-..with my husband Iwan

-and daughters Nanw and Malan.

-It's my grandparents' old farm, at

-the foot of Moel Famau near Ruthin.

-The house is run-down.

-Our home for the next year

-is a rather cramped caravan.

-It's quite a challenge

-with two young children.

-We must go in five minutes.

-This year's main project is

-to turn the field by the caravan...

-..into a vegetable,

-fruit and flower garden...

-..with a play area, of course.

-Hooray!

-My dream is to grow my own flowers

-for my work as a floral designer.

-With luck, next year

-they'll come from the garden.

-Iwan is passionate

-about green and organic methods.

-I could go to the toilet

-in the compost heap...

-..but Sioned vetoed that.

-After months

-of discussing and arguing...

-..we've finally agreed on a plan.

-This is a story

-about sweat, frustration...

-Hang on!

-..arguing and celebrating,

-as we try to realize the dream.

-Let me sit. This is going

-to take time, I can tell.

-Not to mention headstrong chickens,

-greedy pigs and a cheeky cat.

-It's a big challenge

-and we may not succeed.

-Subtitles

-We've planted potatoes and fruit

-in the vegetable garden...

-..with flowers and herbs round it.

-The trampoline is in place, with

-a hazel fence round the play area.

-The wall is coming along.

-Iwan has a shed where he can hide.

-Our next big task is making a leafy

-path leading from the trampoline...

-..passing the prairie section

-to finish the "S" shape.

-We've chosen one of the hottest

-days of the year for the work.

-It would be nice to use these.

-I found them in the field.

-They've been here

-since Taid farmed here.

-He used them to feed cattle.

-They're made in two parts.

-We'll use one where the curve begins

-and the other at the end.

-The only problem is that

-we have to weld the pieces together.

-It looks great on the plan,

-but I have no idea if it'll work.

-We're in the hands of a skilful

-blacksmith we know from Denbigh...

-..Dyfed Wyn Jones.

-That looks quite good.

-Did we say seven?

-That's seven feet, three inches.

-Do you want it any higher?

-No.

-The path level

-will be a little higher.

-That's fine.

-Because the path curves...

-..it's difficult to get the

-measurements to match on both sides.

-One side has to be higher

-or the other lower.

-What do you want to do?

-What do you want to do?

-

-We'll lift that a little.

-That's spot on.

-I'll fill these.

-The first half-feeder is in place.

-But we need more metal

-for the other half.

-So we down tools

-and look for scrap in the fields.

-There should be something here

-since Taid's day.

-These are perfect.

-These are perfect.

-

-Yes.

-It's great.

-It's square.

-Is it thick enough?

-Is it thick enough?

-

-Yes.

-There were holes

-in the others, but not in this.

-I'm sure Dyfed will be happy.

-I'm sure Dyfed will be happy.

-

-Right.

-Will you pick up the other end?

-One moment.

-We've found something for you.

-Good.

-You don't have much choice,

-because there's nothing else.

-It'll do.

-Is it alright?

-Is it alright?

-

-It's fine.

-As the sun reaches its zenith,

-the heat affects our brains!

-Work progresses painfully slowly.

-I'm sure

-there's a better way to carry it.

-It's a hellish shape.

-It'd be better

-with the wonky part on that side.

-On the same side?

-On the same side?

-

-You can't see it there.

-Two wonkies don't make a right.

-Or straight.

-Or straight.

-

-OK!

-Where's the wood?

-It's too hot.

-It's too hot.

-

-It's too hot to think.

-LAUGHTER

-Thank goodness, despite the heat,

-one of us manages to focus...

-..and keep to the plan - just!

-We've decided...

-..that this leg goes here

-and the other one behind it.

-No!

-Hang on!

-We want the arch to open out

-to the path in this direction.

-You don't want it leading this way.

-We put it there

-or we move it further back.

-No, because the wall looks so nice.

-Having one leg in front

-and one behind would catch the eye.

-Can't we push it back?

-We could fasten this securely

-and move this further back.

-Yes. Thanks, Dyfed.

-Stay on my side.

-You're welcome.

-I won't say any more.

-You're good at keeping

-the peace, Dyfed.

-The feeders are in place,

-but the work isn't over yet.

-We have to put up

-eight arches between them.

-Yesterday, I went to the forge

-to help Dyfed bend them into shape.

-This is nice for me, because

-it's something for flowers.

-Everything else is for Iwan.

-But this is for me...

-..so my beautiful flowers

-will grow over it.

-Right.

-I'm quite excited about this.

-It's not bad, is it?

-It's not bad, is it?

-

-No.

-Do you think it looks nice?

-We'll see.

-There should be a chalk mark there.

-That's it.

-One down.

-Seven to go.

-The next one now, chop-chop.

-After two days of hard work, the

-leafy path is finally in place...

-..although there aren't

-many leaves on it yet.

-But there's no time to rest.

-The new greenhouse arrives.

-We've saved money by buying one

-that was on display in the centre.

-Greenhouse

-I've persuaded Sioned

-to keep hens in the garden.

-Before they arrive, their new

-home has to be safe and comfortable.

-We've renovated an old coop

-from Sioned's parents farm.

-The young gaffer

-is keeping an eagle eye on us.

-We're making a hen coop.

-I'm very excited.

-We'll have our own eggs

-from the hens.

-I've come to help,

-but they won't let me do a lot.

-So I'm going to think

-of names for the hens.

-Dad thought of the name Omelette.

-But I like the name Poach.

-Later, Mam and I plant the prairie.

-Later, Mam and I plant the prairie.

-

-Why am I doing the hard work?

-There's a special party

-in the garden.

-Hooray!

-And Iwan has gone

-to the pub to look for scraps.

-I want potato peel

-and uncooked food.

-OK.

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-As a family, we can't be green

-at Plas Pont Y Twr...

-..without recycling our waste

-and making our own compost.

-So I'm making a compost area not

-too near the house and caravan...

-..where there's plenty of space.

-That's it.

-I've made the compost area

-with pallets.

-There are three bays.

-The pallets are the same size,

-so I can put a gate in the front.

-The door goes here.

-I can fill it to the top

-and there's spare space, if needed.

-Sometimes people cut

-the pallet in half...

-..and build it up

-as the compost heap grows.

-I'm not doing that,

-I prefer to lift this out.

-With this system...

-..I'll move the first heap

-to the second bay...

-..then the second to the third.

-I want to reach it with a fork.

-The idea is that the waste rots

-in the three heaps in a cycle...

-..so we get a constant

-supply of fertilizer.

-I'll make a hole

-in the bottom now...

-..and put a lattice of branches...

-..so that air circulates

-under the compost.

-I'll get the mattock.

-Mixing it will make

-the waste rot faster...

-..without producing much methane,

-which is good news for the planet.

-In three months, we'll have lots

-of free organic garden fertilizer.

-So everyone wins.

-Another important advantage...

-..is that it could be

-a home for hedgehogs.

-They really like hibernating

-under a compost heap.

-I want hedgehogs in the garden

-to eat slugs and snails.

-Hopefully, a hedgehog

-will make its home under this.

-Rather than throw everything in,

-there's a formula.

-But it's simple to follow.

-The first and most important rule

-in making compost...

-..is to get a balance

-between the green stuff...

-..and the brown stuff in it.

-It's that simple.

-Making compost

-is just like how we eat.

-We need fibre,

-protein and nutrients.

-Compost needs that too.

-It needs a bit of everything. Too

-much of anything, it stops working.

-Cardboard.

-Bark chip.

-Wood shavings, paper shavings,

-ripped up paper bags.

-Twigs, like this.

-That's brown stuff.

-Now green stuff. Weeds.

-Grass.

-Cattle manure.

-I could go to the toilet

-in the compost heap...

-..but Sioned vetoed that.

-I need one more thing for the heap.

-Huw, how are you?

-I want to ask you a favour.

-I'm making compost.

-I'm short of vegetables and fruit.

-Have you got any waste in the pub

-kitchen I could compost?

-OK, great.

-I'll come for it shortly.

-Thanks. Ta-ra.

-Any excuse to go to the pub!

-Hello, Huw.

-Hello, Huw.

-

-How are you?

-Fine. How are you?

-Fine. How are you?

-

-Not bad. Nice to see you.

-So you want some stuff.

-So you want some stuff.

-

-Yes, for compost.

-I've got bins outside.

-I've got bins outside.

-

-I've got a bucket.

-Why don't you fetch it?

-Why don't you fetch it?

-

-I'll see you round the back.

-Ideal.

-Hey!

-Is this what you want?

-It depends what's in it.

-I have all kinds of stuff here.

-Let's see.

-That's perfect.

-I want potato peel

-and uncooked food.

-OK.

-This is perfect.

-Perhaps you could have

-a vegetable bucket.

-Can I leave this with you

-and pick it up once a week?

-Come Monday morning.

-We're busy over the weekend,

-so there's plenty for you.

-OK.

-I'll do that.

-I'll leave this with you.

-Great.

-I'll pick it up every week.

-I'll pick it up every week.

-

-Great. You're welcome.

-I'll add water now.

-This is quite a dry mixture.

-It's important to have moisture in

-the compost heap, but not too much.

-That's important.

-If it's too wet,

-add more brown stuff.

-If it's too dry,

-add more green stuff.

-I'll cover it with cardboard,

-to keep heat in the compost heap.

-That kills the weeds and their

-seeds, and it makes good compost.

-We want to keep one section

-of the garden by the leafy path...

-..for prairie plants which I use

-in my floral designer business.

-Ian Forsyth at the Seven Oaks

-Garden Centre, Ruthin...

-..shows me their range.

-Ian said it's better to choose

-fewer varieties, but more of each.

-I like using plants of different

-heights and textures...

-..to create drama and depth.

-This adds interest

-to the garden all year too.

-Blue scabious is a good plant.

-It will have a lot more flowers.

-They're perfect for cutting

-and putting in a jug.

-Lovely.

-This is a Chocolate Cosmos.

-SNIFFS

-It smells just like chocolate.

-I could eat it.

-This must come home

-with me for the prairie.

-Before I go home,

-I have one more call.

-Mam!

-Mam!

-As well as plants from Seven Oaks...

-..Mam has prepared cuttings from

-her own garden for Plas Pont Y Twr.

-She said she'd help,

-because there are so many plants.

-I want to plant them today,

-because it's quite hot.

-It'd be good for the plants

-to be in the soil.

-Iwan has been digging,

-weeding and preparing the soil.

-I have the nice job of planting

-with Mam, when she arrives.

-I'm here, Sion.

-Hi, Mam. Are you OK?

-Hi, Mam. Are you OK?

-

-Yes.

-We've got a lot of planting to do.

-You've been busy.

-I see some plants from the Bull Pen.

-Yes.

-I haven't pinched too many.

-I haven't pinched too many.

-

-No.

-The David Austin rose

-is still there.

-Thanks.

-Maybe we could place them

-where we think they'll go.

-OK.

-I thought we'd put them in groups,

-not all over the place.

-Prairie plants are happy anywhere

-that gets a lot of light...

-..including rough ground.

-They don't need much attention.

-Wildlife will love them.

-I've chosen a variety of grasses...

-..that will add drama

-and dimension to the prairie...

-..and flowers for colour.

-Are there any flowers left

-in Seven Oaks?

-LAUGHTER

-We do have a lot!

-One doesn't realize it,

-but it's quite a large area.

-It needs quite a lot of plants.

-This verbena grows very tall.

-It's very nice

-in a flower arrangement.

-Yes.

-It's purple.

-They have long stems,

-so they're nice in pedestals.

-Mam has taught me almost everything

-I know about flowers and design.

-Years ago, Sioned and I...

-..were asked to help in a wedding.

-Sioned was happy to help me.

-On Friday nights,

-when all her friends went out...

-..she came with me to places

-like churches or chapels...

-..in country villages.

-They can be lonely places.

-It was nice

-to have Sioned's company.

-I think that's where

-her interest in flowers started.

-I didn't think she'd be

-as busy as she is with flowers.

-But that's how things happen.

-Another Rudbeckia.

-I'm the gofer now, not the boss.

-Will you dig a hole?

-Right.

-I'll water them.

-Sioned gets the headaches.

-She has to chat

-to the brides-to-be...

-..and make the decisions.

-I do what she says.

-I'm happy to do it.

-Why am I doing

-the hard work, Sioned?

-I thought you could do the hard work

-while I put plants in water.

-LAUGHTER

-Your grandparents

-would be delighted.

-They've been gone for some time.

-The place had become

-quite overgrown.

-But Iwan and Sioned are happy...

-..to take on a lot

-of the work in the project...

-..which Gwyn and I couldn't do.

-The woman said

-it's called squirrel tail.

-We're glad they have

-the energy to do it.

-It does look like a squirrel's tail.

-It'll be pretty,

-blowing in the wind.

-They need a good

-soaking after planting.

-In a few weeks, the prairie will be

-full of colour and shape, hopefully.

-It's mid-August

-and time for a birthday party!

-When I asked Nanw what theme

-she'd like for her party...

-..the first thing she said was

-a party on the Big Chill theme.

-On her birthday two years ago, we

-took her to the Big Chill Festival.

-She loved it.

-We thought we'd have colourful

-bunting and put up the tent...

-..so it looked like

-a festival especially for her.

-Let's go here.

-Surprise!

-Next time, the hens arrive.

-They're escaping!

-They're escaping!

-

-Goodness!

-The potatoes are ready.

-They're endless!

-Nanw and Malan lead the way

-in the local flower festival.

-Hey, Nanw, that's great!

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead

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