Fruit beds – photogallery from around the plot

Last updated 28th March

The fruit was originally in one of the top beds. The original stuff is still there, but I plan to move it into the new bed on the lower level (complete with fruit cage: promises, promises, so we’ll see). The new bed currently has some raspberry canes and gooseberries.

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Lower level (Lefel isaf) – photogallery

Last updated:  28th March 2011

March Story

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Top beds – photogallery

Last updated:  28th March 2011

The March Story

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Down the back – photo gallery from around the plot

Last updated:  27th March 2011 (newest first)

March 26

Down the back (start of March 11)

Down the back (start March 11)

A lost plot found – Feb 2011

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Allotment 2011 – To Do list

I like a good list. Its worth having an allotment just for the lists it provides. I have a week off work, and the plan is to spend most of if in the allotment: finish jobs 1-5 and do one of the big jobs.

The ideal plan:

1. Turn last years beds (DONE, but need to remove clay and top up from lower beds and manure)
   Extend top beds (DONE)
   Permanent paths – plastic then carpet (DONE – well, all available – the rest will have to be ad hoc)
2. Prep raised beds (STARTED – need to buy stakes)
   Collect well rotted manure
   Cardboard for sides of compost heap
3. Look at last year’s plan and do this year’s – rotation and manure     DONE 22/2/11
4. Order seeds – odd varieties??
5. Check monthly plan (done and updated for feb/march)
   Plant stuff (Onions / shallots ready to go in ground and spuds ready to chit)
6. Lift the last of the covers (half done)
7. Big jobs – Build a fruit cage / shed / greenhouse (??Easter)

DONE ONGOING NOT STARTED

You mean y’can eat this stuff too?

We’ve had a few meals out of the allotment recently. They have just sort of snuck up on us. This is the first proper year where the dinner plate is being heavily subsidised with salad and veg (ie not just potatoes as per the last couple of years). I’d do it for kicks, and the last couple of seasons that’s really been it, but now, we are only really buying the meat content and the veg on the plate is nearly all allotment.

I’m not interested in saving money (I’m not sure we do…definitely not if you factor in time). For me its about a reduced environmental impact, but more importantly I think reconnecting to the land (and your food) is good for one’s mental health (sorry, no reference for this…just personal experience) – that’s the aspect that gives most joy when it makes it to the plate! And to be honest – it tastes better – you can taste the love: take cucumber, I hate it. But not from the allotment it actually tastes different – more fibre, more real. Its so good, I can barely punctuate!

Today and tomorrow I’m doing a few runs to pick up stuff from ‘freecycle’ for the allotment (wood from old doors/pallets, old carpet – that kinda stuff). Great to re-use rather than throw away, altho by the time I factor in petrol it bumps up the environmental impact: I will have my traditional allotment shed eventually…

14th August – Allotment: gaining ground

Maybe a bit of an optimistic title. But I’ve taken some of the first earlies out of the ground (to bring to friends we’re visiting over the weekend). And I’ve weeded 3 beds: onions, shallots and carrots and a quick go over the sunflower and marrow bed and tried to salvage the cucumbers (I think one’s still going).

Oh, and we picked about 2 and a half kilos of blackberries for Jam and bought some jam sugar and some lemons: I’ll let you know how that goes…

So, some photos so show what I mean:

Onions before

Onions after the effort

Shallot update

Carrots

Sunflowers and marrows

And again from another angle

Cucumbers: plant on left has fruited but is struggling

5th August in the Allotment

Ok, I’ve had a big break…between graduating and guests over. But I’ve stayed on top on the watering…hey i’ve got to enjoy the successes where i find them.

To be fair, it’s been a busy few weeks with graduation and guests and job applications and interviews. But enough of all that. I have a job offer, and I’ll be back to the allotment for a full 2 days work: thurs and Fri 12th and 13th Aug to get things under a bit more control…I see jam in my future (god bless those brambles)

Think the 1st and 2nd earlies are ready

I just love the gawkishness of the sunflowers

return to wild-type

At last: some signs of cultivation

Jam jam jam jam jam...

10th July 2010 – Allotment

Oops: a bit of a gap…some photos of it not looking its best. I did do some work after these were taken (honest). Especially around the onion beds…

Gooseberry (no fruit, not a leaf...mystery)

Finally some random lettuce on the big bed

Gooseberries with asparagus on the end

Whole of the lower level. Spuds in the distance

Blackfly on the peas (Lady birds are a bit disinterested)

Upper level

Shallot bed

Onions

Cucmber

I’ve be manually removing the blackfly: squishing as many as possible. They seem to have ants associated with them…hmmm