Reminiscing about allotment days

Today I had the pleasure of meeting someone who is starting out on allotment which only a little while ago was a field, that the Council has transformed into a patch of land to allow the communal gardening group to work as allotments.  This wonderful enthusiastic lady suggested that I write down all my experience because she found it helpful.

A number of years ago the Council did the same thing in our area, I signed up for an allotment much to my husband's dismay.  I managed to work it for a while and get a bit of a harvest out of it before I had to give it up due to a job which required a commute, a complication in health and a husband who is allergic to proper hard work.

I still remember those days fondly.  Tips that this darling lady pulled out of me today came from the conversation and in hopes they help someone else, I'll try to record them here.

Starting an allotment from a field is difficult, it means digging and digging and digging.  Fields harbor all kinds of insects and worms that are terrible for vegetables particularly root vegetables.   So while you're waiting to dig down, start the root vegetables in a container that is tall enough even carrot fly can't get in, make sure it has a sandy mix and fertilizer so you get strong straight vegetables.

First cut all the weeds down to nothing, you're gonna dig all their roots out anyway.  Once you get them cut, cover the portion you can't dig with a garbage bag cut in half, and put your containers on the corners and along the edges so you can grow stuff in them ready to transplant when your prepared soil is ready. You can put seed trays and things over the bag, so it holds down the bag and kills the plants under the soil, it'll also contain it and keep it so when you are ready to dig it it will be easier.

Around the edge, pop bottles (2 L) with the bottoms cut off with the tops still securely on, make great water recepticals while you're waiting to find funds for a water butt.  Take the labels off the bottles and pain them green, they'll blend in like a mini hedgerow patiently collecting water while you prepare your ground - bury them so the bottle stands secure and will survive the wind - usually this means the bottle cap and first three inches or so is in the soil.

That's you start then there is no other option but to begin preparing the soil, which means digging and removing rocks.  Save the rocks for a rock wall around the allotment patch and paths - you'd be surprised how much of a wall you can make from what you get digging down 2 to 6 feet depending on how much you want to prepare the soil first.   Once you get the trench dug, it's easier to make it bigger.

First layer, horse manure.  If you go down beyond 4 feet it doesn't matter if the horse manure is aged or not cause it will age as it rots and next year you'll dig it up and mix it in. How thick you want it is up to you if you dig down six feet you can put up to 2 feet deep of manure in if you want.  Then soil you dug mixed with fertiliser or  compost.  Finally a good 6 inches of top soil.   As the year goes on you'll notice it sinking as the manure rots, next year you'll add more with your compost heap.

Compost heap, gather some cast off wood, make a bin square retangle or any shape you want but make sure you get a side you can remove, cause when it's seasoned you'll shovel it into your soil.  Don't put the weeds in it first year, you're just making your job harder and perpetuating the work - take the weeds down to the council green waste site and let them seed somebody else's compost.  Give it a base either wood, or a plastic layer first year - keep them field bugs out of it if possible. Further years you can move it around the allotment to make your soil replenishing must let laboursome, but for now, it's a start.   Household green waste is great for the heap as all the stuff you harvest.

So there you have it - you're start, plants, water sources, soil replenishment system.  Get to know farmers in the area for manure sources and chicken manure, horse manure, cow manure - it's all great stuff for the bottom layer of the pit. Get to know joiners & construction workers for their cast offs.  An old tub is as good a water butt as any better if it's free. You can sink it in a hole - just make sure you ensure no one can fall in it  or decorate it so it's not an eyesore.

Be creative and let the earth help you out, along with anyone with cast offs, that give you ingenious free infrastructure. I think that was my advice.....essentially earth has been procreating plants for ages, it knows what it's doing, and all you have to do is help it along. Worrying about hoeing perfectly or planting properly - we all have our own special talents so find the way that works for you, you'd be surprised how much more forgiving the earth is than humans.

Just get on with it and have a go - you will learn as you go.   But to ensure you don't get discouraged with the amount of work required, work smarter not harder.

96 Days to Go ! 634 days survived.

It's amazing to sit here and recap what I've been through in the past year, 8 months and 24 days.
It's more phenomenal that I survived the 15 years, 9 months and 16 days before it!   All in all it's been 17 years, 6 months and 12 days to date.

The road for the next couple years will be rough.  Maybe longer.

But absolutely no regrets, and complete confidence that for once in my life I made the right decision.

The great news, I've already been replaced.  Not even divorced yet and he's engaged.

Ok it ain't all sunshine and roses, there are some significant issues, but in a very short time, he will no longer be able to manipulate my life, saying he is my husband and trying to use all of my resources for his sole benefit, something he has done for way too long.   He's built a lovely house of cards, and I hope I'm well out of Dodge when it falls.   There was a time where I wanted to be a fly on the wall, to witness it for self satisfaction, but frankly, it's just not worth my time.   I have a lot to do.....a life to get on leading and sorting out.

Yea, I'm sure I'll make mistakes, but fire up REM's song - it's the end of the world as we know it, cause I'm still standing, granted I'm awaiting results on a scan for sinuses and not as fit and well as I'd like to be but I'm still fine.