And so as the January weather continues to make the third lockdown more miserable than the last, I escaped down to the allotment for some fresh air. Over the past couple of weeks, I have told myself that I must clean out the main coop. In winter, with the water supply off, the freezing temperatures... Continue Reading →
Winter days
Over the past couple of weeks the weather has swung between Artic and typical January rain. As the plot is either frozen solid or flooded, there had been little to do apart from feeding the chickens. The lockdown rules are getting tighter so I have been going down in the afternoons to avoid as many... Continue Reading →
Yet another Lockdown
So now, in addition to the Avian Flu lockdown for the chickens, the UK has entered it's third lockdown. According to the Prime Minister we will be in lockdown until at least mid-February. As a result, I assume that the usual end of January seed sale will be cancelled which may leave us in a... Continue Reading →
Building a Bee
Today I trotted down to the allotment, marvelling at how changeable the British weather really is. Yesterday was showers and overcast. Today was boiling. Not dry heat which somehow is more tolerable but the sticky, oppressive heat that makes everything difficult. All the usual gang were there when I arrived and after a preliminary check... Continue Reading →
Late night weeding
This morning I ambled down to the allotment, enjoying the sunshine which has appeared from nowhere. Everyone had come down to their plots to make good use of the rare break in the weather. I had a quick chat with Geoff, Brad and Andy before heading down to the coop. I put Pop outside and... Continue Reading →
Ideas for next season
I appreciate that this is probably way too early to be thinking about next year. However, in the changing of my plot from fruit and veg allotment to garden, I will have a chance to use the new sections to grow different plants. The pond area, bog garden and stumpery have given me an idea... Continue Reading →
Building the Stumpery
Today was a very busy day at the allotment. I got down early to make sure I had fed the chickens before receiving a cockerel from a colleague who took three of our work chicks. Unfortunately, she can't keep Napoleon so I had arranged for a local farmer to come and collect him. Abi arrived... Continue Reading →
The day when everything happened
I walked down to the allotment this morning, never dreaming of how much would happen. There are weeks when nothing much happens then everything seems to happen on a particular day. Today was that day! After saying hello to everyone, I began to clean out the chicks. Steve dropped by and said they looked a... Continue Reading →
An evening stroll
After dinner this evening, we walked down to the allotment. Although it was still warm, it was considerably cooler than a couple of hours earlier. Upon arrival we met Tracy, Andy and Steve all busy watering their plots. My husband did most of the watering as I had a chat with Andy about turning the... Continue Reading →
Sticks and string
Today I walked down to the allotment armed with my monkey puzzle tree. I bought it about eighteen months ago and it's now too big for its pot. It was time to pot it on and move it into the greenhouse. The kitchen windowsill isn't big enough to accommodate a bigger pot! I rummaged around... Continue Reading →
Building the veranda
Today I walked down to the allotment in fits of excitement. Tracy had sent me a couple of photos half an hour earlier of four black pallets stacked on our plot. I couldn't wait to get started! When I arrived, I immediately went to feed the chicks. They seem to be doubling in size every... Continue Reading →
Making plans
Today turned out to be a long day down the allotment. I walked down to the allotment to find lots of people enjoying the sunshine, busy on their own plots.On my way down to my plot, I ran into Dave the Plod who filled me in with all the happenings over the past few days.... Continue Reading →
Seed Sale
And just like that, it begins again! The Allotment Federation's annual seed sale always marks the beginning of the new season - a time to plan in earnest, finish off digging the plot (assuming it isn't flooded) and clear out the shed/greenhouse/coop (delete as appropriate). I love the sale because it's one of the few... Continue Reading →
A humdrum update
Work has been crazy the last few weeks and I have barely made it down to the allotment, let alone had time to post an update. Now however, this shall be rectified! Over the past few weeks the weather has been horrendous, repeated deluges, high winds and cold snaps so it has been difficult to... Continue Reading →
Painting a Queen
This morning I walked down to the allotment in the glorious May sunshine. Everyone clearly had the same idea, and it was lovely to see everyone out and busy. First job was to open up the greenhouse to make sure Emily and her chicks had some fresh cool air. I topped up their food and... Continue Reading →
Potato Day!
Today marks a significant day in the allotment year - Potato Day. Arranged every year by the Crewe Town Allotment Federation, it's an opportunity to buy seed potatoes and a variety of other seeds for the growing season. Every year, we buy a selection of seeds, enjoying browsing all the different varieties, most of which... Continue Reading →
Into a new year
It's been several weeks since my last update due to the usual chaos that is December (work, visiting friends and family, Christmas preparations etc). So it's about time to fill you in on what's been happening. The winter months are significantly quieter with only chicken people like myself regularly being on site. Unfortunately, Cliff lost... Continue Reading →
Hi-hoe, hi-hoe, it’s off to work we go!
Today was a busy day down the allotment - I went down with a few things in mind and ended up doing several different tasks! Firstly, I fed the chickens who seemed in particularly good form today. There were 5 eggs (2 Vorwerks, 1 Cream Legbar, 1 Black Rock). The Black Rock egg looked strange... Continue Reading →
A quick stroll
We ambled down at a leisurely hour this morning to feed the chickens and to have a look at our work from yesterday. Chickens were grumpy at being fed so late and made their objections loudly. We fed them, changed their water and cleared out the nest box and left them to it. We had... Continue Reading →
Man vs Greenhouse
Today was a very busy day down the allotment - we had to make the most of the rare sunshine before it pours with rain again! Whilst I ran to and from the allotment repeatedly as I kept forgetting to pick up key bits - an outdoor brush, rake, egg boxes, you name it! While... Continue Reading →
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