Sunrise through the polytunnel and already it's warm in there, you can just make out the condensation on the skin. Why travel the world in search of a warmer climate when you can walk through that door and it's as hot as the tropics? They say travel broadens the mind, well I say living rurally heightens the mind. I suppose it just depends on whether you want a flat mind or not.			Polytunnel Ah! The polytunnel! It is far more than a place to grow food. In the winter when it's 1 or 2 degrees centigrade above freezing outside, the polytunnel can be 18 degrees higher if the sun is shining. Even if it's not, you're looking at at least 10 degrees centigrade - a lovely place to escape to on a cold winter's day. Unlike working the ground outside there's no risk of damaging the soil structure because you want a head start on the year and you're trying to cultivate when it's a bit on the wet side - you control the irrigation so you can safely work the soil anytime you like! All year round there's something to do and, come rain or shine, you work in a protected environment - you wouldn't believe how relaxing weeding can be after hours working in front of a computer! Panic time is usually end February to March - early on peas, broad beans and leeks are sown in pots with parsnips, first beetroots and onions in the beds and celery in our 'hot cupboard' indoors; later on carrots go straight in with chillies, peppers, aubergines, sweetcorn and tomatoes started off in the hot cupboard, butternut squash, melons, courgettes, Chinese and Japanese salad, rocket and land cress sown in pots. From then on it's just planting out when they're big enough and successive sowings. Spinach, chard, curly and black kale, runner and French beans are sown later on in the year. It also comes into its own from early spring as an area to ferment our wine and beer and also 'prove' dough.