When my husband went down to feed the chickens he found that Polly had sadly passed away. It's strange knowing she's gone as we've had her for so many years. I had to go a very long way back through this blog to work out how old she was. Eventually, I found the post and... Continue Reading →
New Additions
With the rain of yesterday over, I went down to the allotment this morning to see how the plot had faired after yet more rain. I'm not hopeful that we'll be able to start off any of our crops for another two to three weeks as it will take at least that long for the... Continue Reading →
RIP Maude
Before work, I headed down to the allotment, blissfully unaware of what awaited me in the Omlet. I always begin with Maude and Mavis when checking the chickens as their coop is right by the shed. When I arrived, I spotted Maude on the floor. I rushed over thinking she might have injured herself only... Continue Reading →
Storm Incoming…
With the next storm rolling in, I went down to the allotment this afternoon to check on the chickens and to make sure everything was tied down ready for the very high winds which were coming. Maude and Mavis were tucked away in their nest box avoiding the wind and rain. As I checked over... Continue Reading →
Rounding off 2023…
It's always worth pausing at the end of the year to think about what has happened and to plan for the next year. Looking back on the allotment year, it's been eventful with the arrival of new chickens and quail as well as a new roof on the Main Coop. We have welcomed Qwerty, Quinta... Continue Reading →
Weeding in the Sunshine
Considering how wet this summer has been, any day when the British weather isn't trying to emulate the height of the monsoon means it's time to get down the allotment. Even rarer are the days where the sun is actually visible and the sky changes from drizzle grey to blue. Days like today can't be... Continue Reading →
Beans, beans everywhere!
This afternoon I headed down to the plot with only a vague idea of what I needed to do. Weeding clearly, but I hadn't decided where I would start. I opened up the shed and surveyed the mass of weeds. Where to begin? To put off this difficult decision, I went to go and catch... Continue Reading →
Wandering through the Weeds
After carefully checking the forecast for today, I decided it would be a good use of a day off to spend it at the allotment. It's been ages since I have been able to spend a full day on site, partly due to the weather (first too hot, then too wet!) and partly due to... Continue Reading →
Hazards of Keeping Chickens
Before work this morning, I ran down to the allotment. Although I tend to grumble about having to be up much earlier on days I go into the office, I do enjoy blowing away the cobwebs and getting a blast of fresh air to start the day. When I got down to the plot, I... Continue Reading →
Rain Off Yet Again!
Yet again, I got beaten back by rain. The only difference this week is that it was accompanied by thunder and lightning. It was forecast to start at 4pm. As usual I took no notice of the forecast as I headed down. Seriously, how often is the forecast right? I thought to myself, looking up... Continue Reading →
Dodging the Rain
Despite the humidity, I forced myself down to the allotment this morning. The heat was oppressive even though the sky was beginning to cloud over. My first job was to open up the shed and put up the sunshade. I checked on Maude and Mavis who were clucking loudly, demanding some treats. I headed across... Continue Reading →
May Heatwave
After a wonderfully relaxing holiday, I trudged down to the allotment this morning dreading what I would find. In my mind's eye, the weeds were waist deep and would require days of hacking back to rediscover the plot below. Having seen the amount of sunshine Crewe has had over the past week, I knew the... Continue Reading →
A Day of Chickens and Potatoes
With the sun out and showers forecast for tomorrow, I decided when I woke up this morning that today I would finally clean out the chicken coops. It's incredibly difficult to clean the allotment chicken coops over the winter due to the water being off and having two large wooden nest boxes to clean. Plus... Continue Reading →
Better Late Than Never
Yet again February and March have disappeared in a blur of work and holidays and somehow it's April and I've not started growing anything! It doesn't matter how many years I have the allotment, I always seem to end up planting late. I promised myself I would get things growing in February after last year's... Continue Reading →
The Allotment Ecosystem
There really is nothing better than getting outside and getting stuck into digging to clear away the cobwebs after feeling under the weather. The relatively dry weather over the past few days has meant that our usually water-logged plot seemed like it might be dry enough to dig over without running the risk of sinking... Continue Reading →
A Break in the Rain
Rather to my surprise, today was dry and, even more shockingly, there was sunshine! Granted in November, the sun contains little warmth but it's a vast improvement on the past few days! Armed with cleaning supplies, I dashed down to the allotment during my lunch break to clean out the chickens. Poor Maude and Mavis... Continue Reading →
Busy Sunday Afternoons
Shortly after lunch, I dragged my somewhat hungover husband down to the allotment to make a start on the jungle. As he fed the chickens, I walked around the plot, trying to work out a plan. I decided that if we could clear some of the main beds then other jobs such as clearing the... Continue Reading →
Hoeing and Weeding
Late this evening, I walked down to the plot to do some weeding. The patio was completely overgrown with weeds - it's been a job I have been putting off for a while. It is nearly impossible to get the roots out especially when they insist on growing between the slabs. The best I could... Continue Reading →
Belligerent Birds
Today was a momentous day. Finally, after five months of flockdown, DEFRA have finally lifted the housing mandate, meaning the chickens can roam the garden at last! I opened up both Omlets and encouraged the Silkies and Ancient Ones to come out. They were incredibly reluctant but eventually, with some bribery, out they came. The... Continue Reading →
Way Hay and Up She Rises!
Finally today, the weather cooperated which meant we could put up the shed! Between us we spent a while shifting around the different sides of the shed to work out the best way to orientate it. After some discussion, we decided on having the window facing the house and the door facing down the street.... Continue Reading →
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