Adventures in the life of an English allotment
Today I headed down to the plot early with a long list of jobs to do. The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It's been weeks since we had such beautiful weather! My first job was the most important, catching up on all the site news with Cliff and Geoff.... Continue Reading →
Buying seeds for the new growing year is always exciting. What do you choose? What new thing are you going to try this year? How about those beans that you tried five years ago that were a total disaster? Or how about that crop you've wanted to try but haven't because everyone said they were... Continue Reading →
With the demise of the Allotment Federation and Wilko's, it's severely limited local options to buy seeds. I am loathe to go to B&Q as they are really expensive and only have the usual selection of seed varieties. However, on a recent visit to my parents, we ended up wandering around a garden centre which... Continue Reading →
It's been a busy bank holiday filled with DIY and painting. But I did manage to escape the paint fumes for an hour this morning to feed the chickens. Fortunately, everyone was on their best behaviour and there were no missing chickens, escaping chickens or marauding eggs in the water bowl. For this, I am... Continue Reading →
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 →
Just before 7am this morning, I found myself busy feeding chickens before work. It had rained heavily overnight and the temperature has dropped significantly in the last few days - so much so, that I resorted to a fleece and coat. The latter could have been avoided but the sharp contrast from a warm duvet... Continue Reading →
I pottered down to the allotment this evening for a quick visit, just to collect eggs and check on the chickens. I was totally unprepared for the carnage that greeted me on my arrival. As I walked down the back path, I pondered the loveliness of the weather, despite being windy, the sun was out... Continue Reading →
After work, I pottered down to the plot to feed the chickens. As usual, as I approached the shed, Roxy's loud shout went up, quickly followed by Trixie and Foxy. You really don't need a guard dog to alert you, just have chickens! They refused to quieten until their beaks were buried in their refilled... Continue Reading →
After lunch, I pottered down to the allotment, determined to finish planting in the greenhouse and to clear some of the weeds from Geoff's raised beds. Last year Geoff kindly let us grow some vegetables on his plot and I have been meaning to clear the beds for him so they were ready for him... Continue Reading →
This afternoon, we dashed down to the allotment to drop off supplies for the chickens and compost bags for the greenhouse. My husband dumped the food outside the main coop and got busy digging over the beds. Periodically, he threw some weeds into the Omlet for the Little Weed Destroyers. The lack of Trixie caught... Continue Reading →
I sprung out of bed this morning, threw on my wellies and headed out the door before breakfast to feed the chickens. The sun was out, the sky was a gorgeous shade of blue and although it was still a bit nippy, it definitely felt warmer than a few weeks ago! In the Omlet, I... Continue Reading →
This afternoon, I walked down to the allotment weighed down with some seed potatoes, onions and other odds and ends for the new growing season. It was increasingly misty, with the BT building behind the site a shadow rather than the looming landmark it usually is. As all the chickens had enough food and water... Continue Reading →
The hardest decision at this time of year is choosing what to grow in the spring. Every year there are long debates on site about whether this variety of potato is tastier/better/stores longer (delete as appropriate!), which type of tomatoes have the best fruit and so on and so forth. Usually, I have a clear... Continue Reading →
Today being Halloween, we decided to try carving a pumpkin. Previous years, we have donated pumpkins to others and for school Harvest festivals. But as we are on the verge of Lockdown Mark 2, I rather doubt we could offload pumpkins to other people. We carted both pumpkins back from the allotment in the car... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
This morning, armed with cleaning supplies, I lugged the stove back to the allotment. It had occurred to me that the strong chemicals needed to clean the stove wouldn't be a good mix with my idiot cats. I arrived on site, dumped the cleaning supplies and stove outside the greenhouse and went to join the... Continue Reading →
This morning I went down to the allotment much earlier than usual. I swung by the corner shop and picked up some food and ambled onto site. I opened up the shed and enjoyed breakfast in the sunshine. Breakfast scoffed, I went over to say hello to Mel and her sister who were busy working.... Continue Reading →
This afternoon I ambled down late after a lie in. The chickens seemed pleased to see me although they weren't impressed at the lack of sunflower seeds. Upon opening the nest box, I discovered 6 eggs! Happily, 4 of them were from the Vorwerks and Cream Legbars (2 from each) which shows that spring is... Continue Reading →
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 →
The Good Life Crewe 
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