No more letters from the council...yet....

The deadline for us to have cleared the allotment of weeds passed on Monday, and as yet there have been no more nasty letters threatening us with eviction. This is probably due to all the planting we did at the end of last week.

(It has taken until now to make a blog posting due to the silly old PhD write-up getting in the way)

We have planted:
A gooseberry bush


A blueberry bush:


An olive tree:


And some broad beans and some peas:


The huge metal poles for the broad beans have been selected in the recycling spirit of allotmenteers...they were found amongst the rubbish that was left on the allotment. Unfortunately they are about 10 foot long, so had to dig a hole about 4 foot deep so they wouldn't fall on anybody's head.

After planting the olive tree we did wonder why we had planted it in a pot rather than straight into the ground....especially as it looks such a small pot in the photo...but the packaging said it was an option, and I can assure all worried readers that the pot is much larger than it looks in the photo!

All Dug Over!!!

There were times when we thought it would never be finished, but at last the allotment is all dug over!!

Obviously such an event deserves more than a mere picture in the blog....so we have VIDEO!!!! YEY!!!!

It's only a short video, but it allows you to appreciate the amount of work we have done over the last couple of weekends...and also answers the question I am constantly being asked:
"David, where are you going to put your brassicas???"

Improvisation is the allotment watchword!

Another exhausting day at the allotment, but whilst there was plenty of digging and clearing, the highlight was the resurrection of the third composter...the amputee we thought would never compost again!

Whilst its new access-hatch (the head of a spade we dug-up) is not quite as neatly fitting as the original that went missing in the dreadful storms of 2006, it'll do for now.

Tomorrow morning we are hoping to finally finish digging over the whole allotment...but there again that's what we thought about last Sunday and again today!

What weeds?

A letter arrived from the council at the end of February:

The highlights of which include
"plot...neglected...clear...of weeds...[or]...notice to quit"!!
In fairness the plot is looking a bit run-down:

But in our defence, we have been waiting for the onset of spring before digging it all over and planting lots of exciting bits and pieces!
Anyway, last week we dug up over half the allotment ready for planting (unfortunately I am not allowed to be a full-time gentleman gardener/blogger until my PhD is finished, so this is the first opportunity I have had to make a posting).

There is still lots to do before the March 25th deadline, but there have been definate inroads made; and yesterday saw a lunchtime trip to Woolworths result in lots of bargain seeds and plants ready for planting, so we are looking forward to another hard-working weekend...just as soon as I finish this entry...

Not all sheds are made of such stern stuff

After visiting the allotment to drop off some bits and pieces in the composter, we realise how lucky we were when our shed blew over. Today we saw sheds that had received much worse treatment: one had had it's roof blown off; one had fallen over on its side (in a similar manner to ours); and one looked as though it had started to blow over, and then just crumpled into pieces!

The crumpled shed just goes to emphasise how well built our shed is...maybe it is time for me give up on the PhD and take up my true calling as a carpenter.

Unfortunately this blog entry is devoid of pictures as Emma forgot the camera...but maybe it is for the best as it would be a bit ghoulish to have photos of other people's sheds in pieces.

A bit of MDF and a bruised thumb

This morning the shed window was finally patched up, and the empty plant pots and bits of old wire are safe from the local hoi polloi. It is, admittedly, not the most scenic of windows, but in my opinion far more practical; afterall, what is the point of a padlock when the plastic window can be simply pushed in?



As with all the simplest DIY tasks, they quickly become a chore in my hands; for every nail that was successfully banged into the MDF at least a dozen fell to the floor and my poor thumbs were beaten to near submission.

But at least I can go out tonight without worrying about the weather attacking the shed, and the New Year can be spent on the much more enjoyable task of planning the future produce!

A Suicidal Shed?

Was it just the wind? Or was the shed trying to kill itself after being ignored for too long?

Yesterday, or some time in the past couple of days, our shed blew over. The image of the shed that we had in our minds from the last time we saw it did not prepare us for the devestation that greeted us after we quickly responded to the phonecall from the allotment supervisor:

Where I am standing (the floating circle of white on the right....it may be best to enlarge the photo) is where the shed was originally!
The composter, selflessly broke the shed's fall:

And miraculously the shed escaped virtually unscathed!!!! Although the manouverings it must have made to get in that particular position are most confusing.

The window fell out, but that is all....it can only have been put together with 'pure craftmanship'!
We managed to get the shed upright, and move it back to its original position; where it is now weighted down with breeze blocks and black bags filled with dirt:
Rather than blowing it over, the wind will now have to rip it from its base!

The Full Picture

Today we spent a couple of hours trying to clear some more ground at the allotment. With so many other demands on our time the job is taking a LONG time.

As the plot next to ours has now been cleared for a new allotmenteer it has given the opportunity for a full length photograph of our allotment; providing some perspective to the time it will take us to clear the ground.



The above picture has not been compressed (unlike the other pictures in this blog), so clicking on it will allow it to be viewed in more detail. The area of the allotment that we have been cultivating up until now can be seen as a mere drop in to ocean compared to the allotment's full length.

Pickled Beetroot!!

As winter approaches it's time to store our provisions for the long cold months...unfortunately this is limited to three jars of beetroot, so we may have to rely on the supermarket for a little while longer.


This is the highlight of the allotment so far for Emma so we just have to wait and see how the pickling turns out.

Preparing for next year

Today we pulled up the last of the beetroot, leaving just a few carrots and spring onions...and the ever-producing beans. Since the demise of the thin fleece the new rocket that we sowed seems to have given up completely.

Now is the time to start preparing for next year's crops. The first task of which is clearing the large area of the allotment that has not been touched since we first took on the allotment...which in reality means since the 1970s.

A couple of hours constant digging in the rock-hard earth resulted in a massive blister and a small corridor through the wilderness. Many more hours are needed to be spent on this, and then comes the even bigger task of designing the allotment for next year!

At least I know that I am not wasting my time at the allotment..I am obviously a fashion leader...although being called a eco-warrior is possibly a step too far!

Desolation on the allotment

The allotment is looking remarkably desolate at the moment. The lettuces had finally given up the ghost, and those remaining had to be put into the composters.

The thin fleece was found to have moved, been ripped and have a mysterious goo on it...suspects include: the wind; the locals; or the fox with the mange.

The beans are still growing by the handful, and are definately the most satisfying vegetable that we have planted, so it's not all bad...although we could really do with some more things put into the ground.

5-A-Day and all that...

Sometimes we go to the allotment and apart from a little hoeing and pulling up the odd lettuce...which were only worthy of mentioning the first time... there is little to report to the blog; on other days, like yesterday, there seems to be 2 or 3 entries worth!

As stated in Monday's entry, we planned to get on top of everything this weekend, and in true David and Emma style this resulted in our strolling up to the allotment at 5pm. Despite this lacklustre start we managed to finally put the shed on the slabs!

Impressive when you consider it was achieved through the my tipping the shed and kicking at the slabs whilst Emma pushed them...very professional.

We also managed to plant some rocket under a thin fleece; this will hopefully protect it from the flea beetle which gave the last lot such a hammering.

So, as we dragged our aching bodies back through our front door at 10pm did we think it was all worth the hassle? Well, we also brought back 5 different sorts of rather muddy vegetables, so we were quite pleased with our lot...especially Emma who has been waiting months to start pickling the beetroot.

Overgrown... or Full of Life??

After a week away - trekking across Hadrian's Wall - we have returned to find the allotment in full bloom despite the hot weather: beans are popping out all over the place; carrots are edible; a whole new lot of radishes are starting to appear; and even the lettuces seem to have held on for a little bit longer.

There is still lots to do though, and the time just doesn't seem to be there...six concrete slabs that were taken up at the start of July continue to lie forlornly around the shed...

...but this weekend we hope to have one last push at sorting out the allotment for this year.

NB:Whilst the pricked out lettuce seedlings grew stronger; we once again managed to leave them too long...oops.

Soooo Busy!!

A propagator sitting on our sideboard should have been the easiest thing in the world to keep an eye on...unfortunately not:

The books warn us that "seedlings quickly get leggy"...we have grown the daddy-long-legs of the lettuce world. Attempts have been made to prick out some of the seedlings that were still standing, but we will just have to wait and see.

Propagating Frankenfoods

We were reminded today of the need to keep a better eye on the allotment. Since pulling up a load of radishes last weekend, those that were left in the ground got a bit carried-away...not exactly the sort of thing you can have as part of a side-salad!

Our latest addition to the good-life will hopefully be easier to keep an eye on:

Filled with more potential lettuces!

A new construction!

Over the last week the beans have gone from strength to strength, and have necessitated the building of a new construction for the allotment.

...and what better way to admire the bean-support-system than in one of our new chairs.

...hats are optional.

Self-Sufficient...almost...

Hours of hard work, hundreds of pounds on tools and a shed, and quite a number of aching muscles; but it has all been worth it.

Not the largest radish in the world,but extremely tasty nonetheless. Another week and the rest should be ready...who wouldn't look forward to a plate of radishes?

The rest of the time was spent transplanting some of the lettuces. There were far too many for an extra row so many seedlings were thrown on the composter. We just have to wait and see whether they will continue to grow after the trauma of moving, or whether we have managed to kill the only healthy looking vegetables on the allotment.

We also identified the first signs of life amongst the beetroot...all vegetables have now been accounted for!!

Having some lunch

As quickly as the worms escaped from the earth-turning fork they were gobbled down by the local blackbird.

The big news of the day was finally spotting the carrots!! But as with the spring onions (which Emma delicately stood on!!!!) they are too small at the moment to be of much of a photo.

The newly camouflaged shed

The weather has finally been dry enough for the shed to be painted; it no longer sticks out like a sore thumb to the local pikeys.


Today has also be bolstered by the spring onions becoming recognisable shoots! ...still too small for a photograph though.

Evil little sods....

The radishes have been subjected to severe punishment:

It's a similar story for the rocket as well.

Both seem to have been attacked by flea beetle, with the radishes being given an extra beating by the slugs!!

These particular crops are not looking as though they have a successful future ahead of them; although there is still time to sow some more this year...maybe with the help of some derris or a horticultural fleece...

Other work today included some more hoeing, digging, and the thinning out of the beans...busy busy busy.