And we're back....

It's been a while since we have done any really hard graft over at the allotment, so getting back to it has been brill! Here are a few pictures....

Some pictures from the Allotment

Red and White Onions and Garlic

Greyhound Cabbages

Purple Sprouting Brocoli

Maris Pipers

19A on tour...

I grant you, allotment holders as a rule are not usually associated with going on tour and unfortunately there will be no TVs going through any windows or all night parties in this post (sorry about that). 

As I was heading into the big smoke of London for a works conference today, I took advantage of the fact that this is actually my old stomping ground and decided to stay with my parents last night, as I did to not really want to have to to train it across to London first thing in the morning. 

As I was down for the evening I had arranged to go with mum and dad to meet up with some friends (Nick and Claire - hi guys!), so last night making my way eastwards on the train I was looking forward to seeing some (not so) old faces. 

One of the main reasons I was seeing Nick and Claire was to see their little boy - who was, as I expected; growing at a ridiculous rate and actually walking around now, if with a slight wobble. Seeing the little man was really lovely, but I got there quite late and soon enough he was given his marching orders and he went off to bed.  

Nick had mentioned earlier in the evening, that when the little one went off to bed if  I wanted we could pop over and see his plot. Now Nick had been one of the main reasons that I had put my name down for an allotment to start with, so to see his plot was something I really couldn't turn down. Also as an allotment newbie I was quite excited to see another plot off of my allotment, so off we went. 

Now firstly let me explain, in the time that you have taken to read up to this point - that is how long it takes to walk from Nick's front door to the gates of his allotment (I am jealous). 

One thing that hit me when I got through the gates of the allotment was the size. It was a lot smaller than our own site - but to be honest this was really the only big difference that I really noticed.

What I did notice were the similarities - the many well maintained plots in their neat formations, the familiar odd concoction of borrowed and acquired artefacts that 'allotmenteers' use to aid growth or store in the hope that one day they will use. The standard amazing plot with its perfect furrows and perfect lines of early crops and a couple of plots that had fallen into disrepair with their sad empty raised beds.  

Nick's plot is a good size with a lovely shed at the end (with the obligatory potatoes chitting in the window). It has raised beds, some tyre beds (something that up to now I was completely unaware of) and an area towards the back with some early crops. On the right hand side of the plot is an area that Nick has covered as to kill off some of the Couch Grass that the allotment suffers with.

He has a whole number of things growing on the plot from Strawberries to Onions and like me talked about it all with great fondness. Overall its lovely plot in a brilliant location, that he has worked really hard on, I want to thank Nick on here for showing me around it. 

Looking around his plot has given me lots of ideas about how to improve on my own and his knowledge, something I am always to soak up, was really helpful. 

So as my first excursion on to a plot other than my own was a complete success, I really enjoyed walking around the site and picking up tips. So as I said, 'going on tour' didn't involve TVs going out of windows or any heavy drinking sessions - but it was fun and I can't wait to go and explore other allotments! 

Taking the rough with the smooth...

It has taken me a fair while to write this post, this is down to the fact that I really didn't know what to write. What happened on Saturday both shocked me and made me appreciate what a family there is at the allotment. 

-  

Last week I had decided that I was going to work on the plot over the weekend, the plan was to turn over the last of the raised beds and clear some of the very end of the plot, so we could turn this section over and start planting. 

So quite early on Saturday morning I drove down to the allotment and opened up, there were already a few people busily working away at their plots and the usually suspects said hello. I opened up the shed to collect my tools and noticed that a few things were slightly different to how I left it. Now on the allotment I am more than aware people borrow and replace tools if they need them and I am more than happy for people to do that. This though was different and it become evident pretty quickly that my toolbox with all of my hand tools, planting bits (my dibber, seed syringe, labels) and my good knife had been stolen.

This really shocked me, even though I had been told that this could and probably would happen. Because of this I had followed advice and not even put a lock on my shed, this was because I was told if people wanted to get in they would break the door, the lock and then steal everything inside. If the thieves had looked into the toolbox they would have seen that the contents could not have been worth more than about £20. After working out what had actually been taken I had a walk around the allotment and found that my shed was not the only shed that had been stolen from and the sheds that did have locks did indeed have doors smashed and locks cut - it turns out that I was quite lucky.

-

After finding about the thefts, I must admit I did go home. I was so annoyed and really could not even think about  tending to the plot so I went home and of all things had a nap! Later that same day after some errands I went back to the plot as I had left my coat, the weather was beautiful and it was a lot quieter than when I left. 

I decided that actually I would work a little, I added compost to the beds where there was nothing growing and I planted some Onions and some Garlic. I also met my new neighbour (across from me) - an absolute gem of a bloke who told me how he was down at the plot to get away from his family as they were all down to see him because he was so ill, he said coming down to the plot was his way of just forgetting everything and getting away from everything at home.

He has a number of plots on the allotment and they are all cracking and he plans that his new one will be no different. After talking about his plans for his new plot he asked whether the thieves had got into my shed, I explained about what had happened - but really him talking about his illness and his fighting spirit had really put everything into perspective. With that he said, "Do you want some onions?" He shot off and came back with 50 onion plug plants, he handed them over and wouldn't even take a thank you calling it a neighbourly gift. 

So a really mixed day at the plot that started with me feeling pretty negative ended with a new friend made lots of work done! 

A shed, raised beds and more digging! (Two hard days at the plot)

Well, what a weekend! This weekend has been in the diary for a while as 'The Shed Weekend' (I know that's quite sad). Also as it has been Easter weekend and my parents had booked to come down, it would only be right to rope them in to help out down the plot - voluntarily of course.

The weekend started as I imagine many bank holiday weekends do with a trip to B&Q. Over the past couple of weeks I have been looking at sheds for the plot (yes, it has been thrilling) and had decided that a simple 6ft x 4ft shed would be perfect for our little patch. So off to B&Q we went for a shed and wood for our raised beds. 

The shed, all wrapped up and ready to go!

As you can see the shed came in many, many pieces. luckily enough my dad can turn his hand to pretty much anything and it wasn't long before the shed was unpacked and spread out over the plot. 

By lunchtime, with some elbow grease and perseverance we had got the sides and the roof on! 

   

Prep for the shed and more paths - with a boozy surprise!

Yesterday and today were really all about myself and the wife preparing for the arrival for the shed. We had already decided where we were going to put the shed, unfortunately this area very uneven and was covered in overgrown carpet.

Working on the shed base

After turning over and raking to even out the square, I then covered it in membrane and covered it in mulch. Tomorrow we (my parents are coming to help) are hoping to buy and erect a shed! 

The finished base

So today I decided that I was going to work on an area that I hope to end up as a raised bed and finish some of the paths.  Taking on the area where the bed was going to be was quite a job as it was weed-heavy and had lots of long grass both dead and still alive all over it. Unperturbed I set out on the area and worked on it pretty much all afternoon. Let the raking, weeding, turning over, weeding commence! As I said it did take most of the afternoon but I did get there in the end. 

The bed on the far right was the one I worked on today

Today had a surprising and welcoming ending when my neighbour who had been busy rotorvating all afternoon called me over. "I want you to try my wine" - who am I to argue, so after a chat about the many different kinds that she makes we settled on a thimble sized taster of her Plum Wine. The wine tasted like a strong dry cider and I wasn't too keen. So I decided to take bottles of of the Dry Blackberry Wine and Greengage wine - I will let you know how they taste tomorrow!

You can find me on twitter at @lancehorsey and comment on this blog, it would be great to here from you.

All paths lead to the ... mulch pile!

Well it's been a while since iv'e blogged, that's mainly because I haven't been down to the plot in over a week. This has been due to the temperature only hovering above freezing and because work has been really busy!

So today after a trip to B&Q to look at sheds I headed down to the allotment. My aim today was to get some of the paths laid, start on creating a new bed and depending on the time tidy up a bit. 

Completely alone on the allotment I must admit I was loving the peace and quiet. The first thing I decided to do was dig over a new bed that I had marked out the last time I was at the plot. The bed, quite a small square (about 2m Square) was covered in weeds and long grass. After a good 2 hours of cursing the weeds, long grass and hard ground the job was done! 

To save money we have decided to use the mulch that is provided at the allotment for pathways on the plot. So after turning over the new bed I thought I would take on the paths! I had previously bought some membrane to run under the mulch, so the dreaded weeds would not come through. 

What I did not realise was how much mulch is needed to mulch a path! (The answer for those who don't know either is ... more than I ever could have imagined!)  So there followed many, many trips to the mulch pile. 

The dreaded mulch pile!

After laying all of the paths that I could, I set about clearing some of the long dead grasses that were caught in the raspberry bushes on the plot - another job that took quite a while.

The plot is really starting to take shape and I'm still really enjoying it, even though the work is not getting any easier. It wont be long until we sow our first seeds and bulbs - I cannot wait! It would be great if you could follow me on twitter, you can find me @lancehorsey and feel free to comment on this blog!