Wednesday 13 February 2008

The Final Dig!


It's finally completed, I now have a completely dug, fresh patch of soil that's mine to plant what I want where I want. How exciting is that!!!!!

It was a bit of struggle but I made it, although my back is feeling very alive at the moment.







I came across an area with a lot of beans on the ground, very strange. It made me feel a bit like Jack and the Giant Beanstalk, so I throw them on the compost heap as I am not quite ready for a parallel universe at the top of a giant beanstalk, not yet anyway!







The weather was beautiful today and the evening was so much longer, bring on the long Summer evenings with beautiful sunsets. Although the sky looked quite spectacular as I was leaving the allotments this evening, a good taste of things to come.

Monday 11 February 2008

Light at the End of the Tunnel




Went up to the allotment today to aim to get another bit dug over. On the way up I noticed one of Hilary's new sculptures in the area she was working on yesterday, just outside of the walled garden.




I got the spade and wheel barrow out and went up to my patch aiming for gold. My friend the robin popped in from time to time and was getting used to me pottering around. I also had a flying visit from a squirrel who was checking out the border.



As I was coming to the last part of today's dig I noticed a very large root sticking up from the ground. On closer inspection it looked like a tree root, so I started to dig and dig and dig. I never found the bottom but I found intertwined roots that eventually snapped, is that good or bad???




I pulled out one of the bits that snapped of and got my go go gadget eyes on the case, looks like wood to me!!








After my unplanned dig for roots I was left with a pile of soil and a big hole so I ended up having to dig over a bit more to conceal my mystery dig!






I was very pleased by the end of today, I now only have one third to go, there is a light and I can almost touch it. I will be disappointed when its all dug over I have really enjoyed it. I guess the next chapter will then start, planting!

The light was starting to dim so I decided to call it a day.





I said goodbye to the king of the hen clang, who was getting used to seeing me and was not bothered by my presence at all, yet another new wild friend to add to the list!!



As I was leaving walking down the drive to the convent there was a spectacular view that really captured my mood and made me really appreciate my surroundings.

Sunday 10 February 2008

Half Way There


Finally made the half way mark today. I have also made friends with a little Robin who seems to be appreciating all of the worms I am turning over while digging. The weather was a lot different today, there was a slight chill in the air and after being there about 10 minutes the sea fog started to come in it was very creepy. I felt like the allotments were turning into a set from a Tim Burton film.

Then I started to hear someone digging, I couldn't see anyone just hear it! Between finding all the bones yesterday and the digging noise I was visioning graves being dug through the fog.

But I discovered it was a fellow allotment holder I hadn't met before she was digging over a patch just outside of the walled garden so I couldn't see her.
I breathed a sigh of relief and decided to call it a day.

Saturday 9 February 2008

The Second Dig!


Just come back from a glorious day at the allotments. I can't believe how warm it has been today. I went armed with tea and cake, prime ingredients to keep you going!!

Grabbed the spade and started again, aimed to dig over half by the end of todays session and almost completed it. One thing I learned to day was my gardening gloves were not nettle proof!!! Picked up a lump of turf that was destined for the compost heap and it bit back!! So I threw it into the naughty corner (on the compost heap).


Found a lot more potatoes under the ground and they were all rotten. My hand went straight through the one and it cracked like an egg, it even had the runny yellow inside with a slug to say hello.

It's unbelievable what you find under the ground. I started to find a number of small bones!! too small for human but they were certainly bones!! I had visions of Pet Cemetery going through my mind with a flash of Physco for good luck.


Luckily Jan one of the other allotment holders turned up and she informed me that there used to be an abattoir there!! Not very vegan but I'm sure it done the soil good. I would really like to know the history of the place, another project for a rainy day. At least I know it wasn't from the last plot owner!

It was really nice to chat to someone about the plot and the place. Jan was plating out some garlic and she had some spare and kindly give me a number of garlic plants. Which are now taking residence on my windowsill in the kitchen until I make them a new home.

After a natter and a nice warm cup of green tea and a slice of cake I dug a bit more, threw a few more weeds in the naughty corner and walked home looking very proud with garlic plants in my hand. I feel it was a successful 2nd dig and hopefully the weather will continue and the plot can be dug over by the end of the week.

Saturday 2 February 2008

The First Dig

Well we didn't get the snow and the weather looked fine and not too windy so I put my wellies in a bag and headed up the allotment for my first dig!! Three hours later I got through a quarter of my patch. Had to give it a right old digging as there were lots of rotten potatoes under the ground from the previous person. Also came across a number of slug eggs!!













As I am writing this I can feel my back muscles asking my body was all this digging really a good idea. It's times like this I wish I had a bath! Only another three quarters to go and then bring on the weeds and slugs, I am ready and waiting!

New Surroundings


The community allotments are in a walled garden in the grounds of the local convent http://www.noddfa.org.uk/.



There's a communal shed and the place has a lovely tranquil atmosphere.

Here's a few pictures of my new surroundings at the allotments.













The allotments have lots of potential as you can see from the pictures below.














































Most of the plots are a lot smaller than a normal allotment site but I like the communal feel and as I have never had an allotment before it seems the perfect place to start.

The plot I will be working on hasn't had anything on it for over 12 months and as you can see the weeds have been taking over. On the end of my plot there is a wildlife area being developed. We are hoping to breed hedgehogs in the allotments and lots of other beneficial insects and creatures.