Our patch of earth: Runaway May

How it began...

So, we’d spent time walking past our local allotments, getting more and more interested in the mysterious things that other people were growing and the ingenious uses that people had found for stuff that non-allotmenteers would probably term ‘junk’.

In March 2007, we spoke to our council, and discovered that our local allotments aren’t council owned - it turns out they’re held in trust. So, we decided to find the secretary. We spoke to Mike and Louise who were really welcoming and enthusiastic, then eventually tracked down Alan the secretary and, a few weeks later, we chose a plot with a little blue shed, a water butt, a small bench, and a patch of oregano.

We dug. It was April, and for those of you who remember April 07, it was hot, hot, hot. The ground was like rock. Adam was having to jump onto the fork to get it into the soil. But we persevered – this was our new veggie patch! We had plans for a herb garden over there, and some rows of beans over here, a compost heap at the back and flowers planted down the edges… until, one week in, a little old Italian lady turned up and claimed the plot was hers. Wah! Much confusion ensued, until we decided we’d rather not have the hassle and uncertainty, and much less be known as the new guys who kicked a little old lady off her plot. Gracious, no.

So we found a new spot. South facing, with rhubarb, gooseberry bushes (I didn’t know they were spiky!), a damson tree (which we thought were plums to start with – till mum made Damson gin and we recognised the fruit) and the Biggest Strawberry Patch In The World.

Twas overgrown, tis true, but much better than plot number 1. Hurrah for little old Italian ladies!

And two sheds! His and Hers, obviously, mainly because mine isn’t quite tall enough for Adam to stand upright in. So, mine has the tea and coffee making facilities, small gas stove, radio, seed packets on nails and an assortment of gardening gloves, while Adam’s has all the manly things – tools, wooden crates, useful bits of wood, tangled netting and carefully wound up bits of wire.

So the digging had to begin, again. After assessing the plot, with some useful hints and random-plant-identifying by Mike, we headed home to get forks and other digging equipment. Ten minutes later we returned to our overgrown plot to hear a strange buzzing noise, and find Mike strimming all the thigh-high weeds with his petrol strimmer! Thanks Mike! A good start to our compost heap… (Add 'build compost heap' to the To Do list.)

And then, half an hour later, as we’re just beginning to curse the sun for being too hot and the earth for being too hard, around the corner of our sheds comes our saviours Mike, Louise and their mate Ali, on white stallions, (no, not really) all brandishing forks and ready to help us dig, till we’d dug the same amount we’d done on plot no.1. Bless ‘em.

And then it was all go! Nine months later, 2008 seems promising. We've read many, many more books, got more ideas and got much more ambitious. And we've actually grown stuff which tasted gooooood. It could still all go horribly wrong, but even if it does I can guarantee we'll still get some tasty fruit and veg from between the weeds, all for a few pence, and a bit of blood, sweat and tears... (well, hopefully not the blood or the tears... just good ol' elbow grease.)

And a bit of help from our friends and family. Any time, chaps - you're very welcome! We'll get the kettle on...

Sounds fun, eh?

Monday, 18 May 2009

Runaway May

The weather is definitely against us. Not only does it seem to rain every time we want to go to the allotment, but the wind somehow up-turned the mini greenhouse so on Saturday we found pots of compost and just-sprouted seedlings flung liberally all over the patio. I was not a happy bunny.

We have three parsnips growing. Three. After all that effort. Hmm. That's another thing I am Not Best Pleased About. And the carrots aren't germinating either. Whoever knew carrots were so picky? They grew fine in our first allotment year! Maybe I'll have to try growing them at home in a trough instead, to give them a bit of TLC.

The tomatoes are getting leggy on the windowsill - we need to somehow give them some more light but don't have any more space. It's a dilemma. Having said that, one of the Italians on the allotment was planting out the smallest seedlings a couple of weeks ago on his plot. But then he's probably got the time to pop down every day and potter about, giving them all the love and attention they need. Ours need to be a more rugged, determined, Bear Grylls type of tomato, able to stand anything the world throws at them. Even blight, if possible.

So, I have no idea how things are at the plot, haveing cruelly neglected it for two weeks. Tsk tsk. Last I saw, all the beans were merrily growing away. Maybe they need some supports already with this wind... And HOW is it mid-May already??? We haven't sown any courgette yet! Agh!

Ever feel like things are getting away from you?

5 comments:

Amy said...: Yes somehow, despite good intentions, I just never seem to actually get on top of things.

I am desperately trying to keep my plastic greenhouse upright but it is standing at rather an alarming angle. It fell over last year so I am imagine how you are feeling, so many little seedlings rudly dropped on the ground!

Not having any luck with carrots or parsnips either, I think it must be that bitterly cold wind (well that's my story anyway).

Still time to sow courgettes!; 19 May 2009 at 06:57
Shaheen said...: Don't fret! I planted my courgettes and baby pumpkins (which had been nabbed twice by the mice) about three weeks ago on the window sill and they germinated in no time, so you have time to catch up!; 19 May 2009 at 20:14
The Big Lunch Team said...: Hi everyone,

I saw your blog and thought I’d post this message about an event I think you’d be interested in. It’s called the Big Lunch and it’s being held on 19th July. We want as many people in the country to sit down for one afternoon and eat lunch with their neighbours, ideally using food which they’ve grown themselves. The aim is to bring communities together and create new relationships during what is proving to be a tough time for the nation. Please see www.thebiglunch.com for more information, including grow your own advice and ideas.

Needless to say this is a great project and one which we’d like to get as many people involved in as possible. To see the beautiful TV ad promoting the event, please visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgXGUUBHigM&feature=channel_page

If you’d like to join our Facebook group, please use the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=196094095044&ref=mf

The Big Lunch Team; 20 May 2009 at 14:36
allot of veg said...: Hi I see you are not having much luck with parsnips, do you think this is because you used some seed from last year? Carrot and parsnips only grow well from fresh seed. Possibly too late for parsnips (although I'd bung some in). I'm the world's most inept carrot grower I still can't believe they recommend them as easy for kids to grow. I usually forget to water and they give up. Parsnips are much more forgiving.; 20 May 2009 at 20:52
Nic said...: Boo!
Annoying Italians with the time to potter. I've just been to Grandads tonight and he spends all of his time pottering...maybe he could tend to his fav grand-daughters veggie plot too;)
I have loads of tomato plants so I can bring some to Jens wedding, and cucumbers and a couple of butternut squash....haha shall we just have a plant swap at the big, posh hotel in our dresses ;)
My carrots aren't growing and the ones I set last year (?) are coming out white, not sure what happened there.
Let me know if you want any plants and I'll bring them.
xx; 21 May 2009 at 20:22

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How it began...

Monday, 18 May 2009

Runaway May

5 comments: