Adventures in the life of an English allotment
At this time of year, the allotment is a hive of activity. Everyone is busy preparing their plots for winter, efficiently using the last few rainless days before the notorious British rain commences in earnest. I have been busy hoeing the top section of the plot, trying to clear some of the ground of weeds.... Continue Reading →
After minimal sleep last night, I dragged myself down to the allotment to sort out the chickens. Upon my arrival, I spotted Steve and Phil checking the bees. I quickly suited up and joined in. All the hives are still busy but they are struggling to produce a decent amount of honey. The plan is... Continue Reading →
I woke up this morning to a sound I knew vaguely. I pondered it a while, trying to think what it was. Then it struck me. Rain! It was finally raining! The rest of the country has had rain and spectacular thunderstorms in the last couple of days but there has been absolutely nothing here.... Continue Reading →
Today I ambled down to the allotment to sort out the chickens and check on Sophie's tree. As per usual, the chickens made a racket upon my arrival and announced their disapproval at my tardiness. Once fed they settled down and got busy with the important business of laying eggs. I had a good check... Continue Reading →
The last few days have been so hot, nothing has been done down the allotment. The heat has been intense with temperatures above 30 degrees. Most of the plants on site are managing with careful watering. The levels of water in the water butts is dropping dangerously low. I have been regularly watering Sophie's olive... Continue Reading →
Yesterday I pottered down to our allotment as usual determined to make serious inroads into the jobs list. And, as usual, very few were completed! We fed the chickens who were all pleased to be fed at an earlier time than normal. However, they took exception to what followed. Over the past few months, some... Continue Reading →
It's been a busy couple of weeks and now that technical issues are finally sorted, I can recommence normal updates! The last two weeks have seen huge growth down the allotment as we have (very unusually for Northern England) had two weeks of glorious sunshine! Sophie's tree has been planted and looks perfect in the... Continue Reading →
Today I ambled down to the allotment determined to do something more productive than just feeding the chickens. I arrived to find the site busy, the warm sunny weather has brought everyone out. It was good to see Mick the Greek back after a short spell unwell in hospital. Chickens were fed and seem very... Continue Reading →
Despite still dying of flu for the second week running, I managed to drag myself down to the allotment. Unusually for the UK, the weather is still good, a little cooler than last week but still lovely and sunny. Today, like an idiot, I decided it was the day to shift things around in the... Continue Reading →
Today was the day for splitting the feisty hive on Phil's far plot. The build up was intense, everyone focused deeply the issue of putting down the main path.It was definitely a team effort with Neil and Steve taking the lead with Dave the Plod, Cliff and Will busy running back and forth to deliver... Continue Reading →
Still bogged down with flu, I dragged myself down to get some fresh air. The sunshine finally has appeared and according to the Met Office, it will be here for the entire Bank Holiday weekend. I walked down to the chickens and was greeted by a chorus of disgust at the lateness of the hour.... Continue Reading →
This morning we again pottered down to the allotment ready for a couple of hours work in the sunshine. Although the weather was finally clear, it will take several days of sunshine before the allotment stops being a bog and dries enough to properly dig over. Both of us got spectacularly stuck at various points... Continue Reading →
Today we both headed down to the allotment to medicate the chickens - their legs have been showing signs of sore legs. Scaley leg is easy to treat using either vaseline to protect the leg from infection or, even better, sudacrem. The antibiotic nappy rash cream is brilliant for treating their legs with an added... Continue Reading →
Another manic week at work (with an even busier one next week!) I dashed down to check on the chickens this morning. I was shouted at and roundly abused for not being quick enough to feed them. So nothing unusual! The community garden continues to be worked on - we now have 10 gold fish,... Continue Reading →
Last Sunday was the final bee check of the summer. I am not sure what we are going to do on a Sunday afternoon now! We removed the feeder now after two weeks. The feeder fills a super and is designed to allow the bees access to the sugar water without drowning (which they are... Continue Reading →
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