Adventures in the life of an English allotment
Over the past two days, the rain has returned spectacularly. Sheets of it for several hours at a time combined with the darker nights and mornings signals the official start of autumn. It's a season at the allotment tinged with a little sadness as all the greenery is removed and there are fewer people on... Continue Reading →
Upon waking in the night to the wind and pouring rain, I suddenly remembered the sunshade was still attached to the shed! Fortunately, I only put it fully up when it's sunny but I usually leave the widest part of the sail attached to the shed. Worried that the wind might rip off the sail... Continue Reading →
As things get more and more stressful at work, the escape outdoors becomes essential. After spending hours wrestling with a mountain of paperwork, I snuck out for an hour to the allotment. It's amazing what an hour surrounded by green space can do to your mood. I left feeding the chickens until later in the... Continue Reading →
Exhausted and rather grumpy, I walked down to the allotment after work today. There's so much going on at the moment that I just needed some time away. The fresh air, surrounded by plants and bird song is a wonderful balm to the soul. An hour pottering around the site makes the world seem a... Continue Reading →
Up and out early this morning after making a few phone calls. The sun was out again although the temperature was distinctly cooler than yesterday morning. On site I found Derek busy clearing Plot 8. It's in a dreadful mess after a couple of years of flooding and minimal cultivation. I joined him but didn't... Continue Reading →
After completing a few jobs in town, I arrived at the allotment just in time to put the stove on and begin lunch. With the weather so warm and sunny, especially for September, I made the most of it by bringing down sausages and rolls. I bought two packs thinking there would be lots of... Continue Reading →
This morning I ran down to the allotment armed with paperwork and a laptop for the first meeting of the new committee. I suspected it might be a long meeting as there hasn't been a committee meeting in a few years. There was a lot to discuss! Afterwards, I ambled back to the shed and... Continue Reading →
I ambled down to site this morning to discover the sunshine had tempted out lots of people. I say and chatted with Geoff, Cliff and Michael. Geoff has decided to give away two of his Rhode Island Reds as they have been bullying his other girls quite badly. He is completely unimpressed with collecting a... Continue Reading →
This morning before work, the AP's and I walked down to the allotment. After several days of overcast skies and rain, the sun had appeared. Our first priority was to check on Phil's Buff Orpington. There was condensation on the inside of the greenhouse so I opened up the front and back doors to get... Continue Reading →
Earlier, we sent my husband and dad off to get some chicken supplies while mum and I went down to feed the chickens. By the time we were halfway through, the chicken food delivery had arrived. Between all four of us, we collected eggs and threw out treats. My husband took it into his head... Continue Reading →
Over the past two days, the chickens in the main coop have been messing with me. They have a beautiful nest house with a lovely large nest box to lay in. Any hen would surely appreciate that set up. But not our girls! To my horror, I discovered an egg in the poo bucket! What... Continue Reading →
Today there were several visits to the allotment. I really don't know what I would do if we lived further away. On second thoughts, I'd probably be more organised! But having it so close to home, it's so easy to run out for ten minutes to collect some eggs or pick something for dinner. My... Continue Reading →
In our modern world, we are increasingly stuck behind screens and hemmed in by all the trappings of life. Some say nature soothes the soul. For me this rings true. To escape from the indoors, from screens, from work and just revel in the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Granted, we live in the... Continue Reading →
The oppressive heat continues, more like mid July than early September. With the week looking increasingly busy, I bribed my long suffering husband to come down and help out. An offer of sausages for lunch, cooked outside the shed definitely helped! As the door of the shed opened, we were hit by a wave of... Continue Reading →
This afternoon, we dashed down to the allotment to measure up the pond in the community garden. The old liner has worn and there's a leak somewhere. Despite attempting to raise the water level, it keeps dropping which confirms the need for a new liner. Andrea has recommended a Firestone liner which comes with the... Continue Reading →
Waking up to sunshine pouring through the window, I grabbed my keys and ran down to the allotment. Upon my arrival, I found Cliff, Geoff and Cliff chatting by the sheds. I shouted hello and disappeared off to the shed. I put up the sail sunshade and threw in some kale for the little Weed... Continue Reading →
This morning I walked down to the allotment to find the place a hive of activity! Steve and Andy were busy assembling Steve's new polytunnel, closely supervised by Mick the Greek, Ken and Will. When it's finished, it will be massive! A fee years ago I did wonder about getting one myself but I decided... Continue Reading →
Last night, as we were cooking dinner, my husband heard the dreaded sound. A distinct and clear cockle doodle doo! Hoping desperately that the neighbours hadn't heard it, I dashed outside to see the offending bird standing smugly in the middle of the run. Part of me felt impressed but the other part of me... Continue Reading →
The Good Life Crewe 
Recent Comments