Making the raised beds was a labour of love from Tadhg. I bought railway sleepers from Woodfab Timber in Aughrim as well as 11 tonnes of Enrich Soil (a mixture of top soil and organic compost. The soil was delivered and dumped by the side of the Silver Barn, Tadhg moved it wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow to fill the raised beds. Who needs a gym when you have the land to work?

17 March, St Patrick’s Day, is also the traditional day in Ireland for planting out the first potatoes. They’ve been “chitting” for the past month. Chitting is the process of leaving the potatoes in a light, airy spot to allow the first shoots to appear which gives a head start for when they are actually planted in the ground. I have three types of potatoes, First Earlies – Casablanca; Second Earlies – Alouette and Main Crop – Axona. The First Earlies were planted at the 3 o’clock position in the raised beds, Sturon onion sets were planted at 6 o’clock and Red Sun Shallots planted at the 7 o’clock position. All I can do now is wait, with fingers crossed, hoping for a good crop.