The Plan

2008-11-02T11:05:00.000Z

My map of the plot is upside down. The plot slopes slightly downwards, from the path which is above the top of the map, so I visualise it this way; looking from the bottom to the top. I tried drawing it the other way up, but had to turn it upside down to orient myself! I need to re-do it as it's not quite right at the top end and the measurements are all a bit rough, but it's useful to have an idea of the area.

It's actually a half plot. The Northern end is a small forest of trees kept by the main allotment holder, C. I was lucky to get this allotment. I rather side-stepped the usual waiting lists as an old friend of the family had me in mind when the previous sub-holder got her own full plot and C was looking for someone to take over this half-plot. I first went there on my birthday in 2007, so it felt like a pretty special and unexpected birthday present!

Unfortunately, until very recently, I could only ever get down at the weekends and even that not reliably, depending on household pressures, the little one's health and willingness to nap, and the weather. If the only time I could get there was Sunday afternoon and it rained most of Saturday and Sunday, well, that was that. However, from this year, things are looking up. I'm still working part time, but little A is at nursery full time. So, in theory, Fridays are free! It doesn't always work out that way, but I should be able to give more time to it this year.

I offered J a share in it, and it seemed to be going really well, he'd done a lot of digging and cleared and bagged a lot of weeds, but last weekend we ran into difficulties which haven't yet been resolved.

In the meantime, I'm hoping to get down there next weekend. It's another damp day today and according to Metcheck it's going to be bucketing down most of the week, but sunny on Saturday. Good timing for fireworks displays at the weekend too!

Rainy Day

2008-11-01T17:42:00.000Z

A handful of photos from the last couple of year's attempts at growing vegetables and herbs. Initially on the balcony, and later at the allotment.

It's been hard to find the time what with work, family, and the rain. It's raining again today. Last weekend R gave me a lift to take the new compost bin, cheap from a Council scheme, down there. I was hoping to get there this weekend to load it up with the weeds that have been piled up in the meantime, but it's looking doubtful in this downpour.

Of course it didn't help that we were away in August when there was lots to do and the weeds really took over. Our 'harvest' this year amounted to:

two large bowls of beautiful sweet strawberries;
some malformed garlic;
a couple of squashes
a dozen or so ears of corn (delicious);
a few pounds of quinces (hmmmm - quince jelly anyone?);
a bowlful of yellow cherry tomatoes (grown on the balcony);
one red cherry tomato (grown at the allotment, a neighbour congratulated me for beating their crop!);
a pound or so of shallots;
a bowl of scrumped blackberries
a bowl of scrumped, and very delicious, plums.

I think that was it! Not very impressive at all I'm afraid. Maybe this year will work out bettter.

Allotment 28

The Plan

Rainy Day