Friday, February 17, 2012

2012 Allotment Diary - Me: 5.75 hrs He: 3hrs

What a difference a day makes - 24 little hours.  I wonder who wrote that song - its the only line I know from it!

Mr Lottie joined me today as he wanted a bonfire.   I gently steered him away from that idea as I really needed a bit of help today.  The weather was damp and cold, it looked like rain - that sort of thing.

Just a reminder that this blog is primarily just a way of recording the hours I put in up the plot, and how it looks over a year etc.   It's nice to look back in the middle of  the winter when snowed in - to have a reminder of the achievements (or not) the previous year.

 Our allotments are in a field on the edge of the village - a bit of a raggle taggle 'shanty' type place! (The allotments, not the village)
It's always windy and often wild.  The winter, as usual took it's toll on the fences - that's why these are propped up at the moment in a bid to keep out the rabbits, deer, dogs, and suchlike.  First thing we did today was to pull up the rubber mat which was laid right along the middle - where the bare patch is.  With Mr Lottie's help we moved it to another section further down the plot - but more of that another day.   It's a work in progress.
I made a start on weeding the bed which runs along the ramshackle fence.  I planted more fruit bushes, and cuttings here.

It's edged with wood and Mr Lottie took over whilst I barrowed more shredded wood to the fruit cage.

Doesn't it look a right mess - a work in progress though.  We had to weed this too.

A candid camera photo of me - looking rather tubby as I am wearing 2 pairs of trousers - waterproofs on top of nice ones.  Two jumpers, and a thick jacket - there is always a cold wind up there.
 It truly was backbreaking work - but at least the soil was wet and soft and easy to dig
The canes you can see with little yoghurt pots on top (to prevent me poking a eye out) are where there are rhubarb plants.  As soon as their leaves grow I'll pull the canes out as they will be easy to see.

I worked myself to a standstill barrowing and spreading all those woodchips in the fruit plot, and it should suppress all the weeds.  I wanted to do this to make it more manageable for me as I can only spend a limited of time outdoors - especially if there is any sunshine.

I have managed to shift about two thirds of the pile I reckon

The next time, hopefully, I will be able to move the rest.
I even managed to cover the 'nursery' fruit cuttings bed that Mr L weeded for me, and more besides.
We are due lots of rain over the weekend so I'll be spending it indoors experimenting with some polymer clay

3 comments:

  1. Well done! That looked like a lot of hard labour to me! Wouldn't the Chooks like a rummage through that in a couple of months' time, when it's full of critters?!

    I think I have the same jacket as yours, but much,much larger!

    Got some seeds from Aldi today,4 pkts @ 39p a packet, if they are as good as Wilkos' seeds I will be very happy. Just have to wait for the next 'payday' to buy some seed sowing compost, although I would have liked to have started sowing some seeds this weekend.

    Have fun with the polymer clay!

    Sandie xx

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  2. Good grief, you are busy! How do you find time to craft?

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  3. My goodness you have done alot, well done you. Its so nice getting out into the garden again. I am in the greenhouse which is just as fun x

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