Adventures in the life of an English allotment
Over the past weeks, we have been organising a new site project. The back corner of the site, next to the Razza, doesn't have easy access to a tap. Added to which, when the pond needs topping up or refilling, we need two hoses to reach it from the nearest tap. So the committee has... 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 →
This afternoon I ambled down to the allotment to check on the chickens and do a few jobs. When I arrived, I found Steve and Phil and joined them for a chat. As we were chatting, a small juvenile robin landed briefly on Phil's knee before perching hopefully on a chair. Steve really must be... Continue Reading →
This morning the weather was so lovely, I got down to the allotment early. I had found a couple of people who were selling breeze blocks and whilst I waited to see whether I could collect them later, I got busy with the blocks we already had. After a brief chat with Cliff and consulting... Continue Reading →
Late morning, I ambled down to the allotment to feed the chickens. Happily, the weather was dry and there even was a hint of sunshine. Upon arrival, I found Phil in the Clubhouse. It turns out Steve has done a big clear out of the clubhouse, taking out the chairs and carpet. I walked across... Continue Reading →
This afternoon I pottered down to the allotment determined to make a start on the community garden pond. Over several months, the weed in the pond has started to choke the water plants. When I arrived, Cliff was busy putting the finishing touches to Sarah and Liz's pond so I went to sort out the... Continue Reading →
When I arrived on site today, I found Sarah and Cliff hard at work digging an enormous hole for the new pond. Cliff had spotted a perfect container on another plot and the plot holder was happy to donate it. This saved huge amounts of time and effort as we didn't have to buy pond... Continue Reading →
This morning I got down on site early as today was the day for cleaning out the chickens. It's a long job, usually taking a couple of hours. However, today it took all day. Part of it was my fault for getting distracted with other jobs partway through. Having to go home to sell a... Continue Reading →
After work today I ambled down the allotment. Although it's been a lovely week, it has been exhausting and I was glad the week was over. When I arrived, my first job was to water the loofa plants. I can't believe how much they have grown since I last came down. I am sure if... Continue Reading →
After spending a much overdue few days away, I arrived down the allotment this morning to find major changes had occured in my absence! As I walked through the gate, I saw Dave the Plod busy fiddling with something that suddenly spat out an enormous tongue of flame. It turns out, Dave was burning weeds... Continue Reading →
The rain this morning stopped me walking down to the allotment as early as I had planned. By the time jobs were done at home, it was almost lunchtime before I arrived on site. I met Geoff at the gate and said hello. My first priority was Pop and checking on how she was doing.... Continue Reading →
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 →
So today was another one of those memorable and eventful days at the allotment. As with these days, things started off quietly. I went down to feed the chickens in the main coop, collected four eggs and sorted out their food (tons left) and water (also tons due to the intermittent torrential downpours). I spent... Continue Reading →
This evening, I walked down to the allotment in the blistering heat. It has been insanely hot today, it hit 31 degrees by 10am and the temperature continued to climb. Even at gone 6pm, the temperature was awfully high. As I arrived on site, I spotted my poor monkey puzzle tree was beginning to wilt.... Continue Reading →
I walked down to the allotment this morning armed with my bee suit just in case the bees were being checked. There was a breeze so it will be done another day as bees hate wind. They tend to get rather angry if you open up their hive for an inspection if the wind is... Continue Reading →
I made an early start at the allotment today as the weather was dry. Even though it was overcast, it was quite humid. My first job was to clear out all the old sawdust from when the chicks were in there. We have had several leaks in the greenhouse, unsurprisingly really considering how much rain... Continue Reading →
Shortly after guzzling lunch, we went back down the allotment, each armed with a different delivery. My husband drove the first back of decking boards down. The 8ft boards were so long they only just fitted into the car. I walked on ahead, carrying the bog plants and a new pond pump for the mini... Continue Reading →
This morning I popped down to the allotment early to clean out the shed before a colleague from work came to visit with her girls. I borrowed a broom from Tracy and swept the carpet out before doing some general tidying. The torrential rain has soaked the plot to saturation point yet again. We will... Continue Reading →
I walked down to the allotment later this morning. There's something about Monday mornings which, even in lockdown, seem to take more energy then any other day of the week. Upon my arrival I sat and had a chat with Geoff and Andy. Weirdly, there were very few people down on site given the sudden... Continue Reading →
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