We made a start on plot 8 our new allotment last weekend. We didn't really know where to start, there is so much rubbish and it has been very neglected. We sorted through broken plant pots and seed trays, managing to salvage some big pots which would do for growing potatoes in. We started to make a pile of bricks, there seem to be hundreds of them all over the plot, but they will be useful. There are lots of other stones and rubble lying around which again will be useful, especially as we are needing rubble to lay the foundations of the paths on plot 10b. The very flimsy raised beds still had the remains of dead plants in them, which we cleared. They seem to be not very deep, lined with membrane and filled with compost, but we can use them this summer as overflow beds for plants from plot 10b. We noticed that there were two small beds with strawberries in so we will leave those, give them some TLC and see if they produce any fruit. The whole plot seems to have had membrane, bits of carpet and wood thrown down in an attempt to suppress the weeds. I don't think it has been dug over in years.
Down one side of the plot, part of the boundary fence has a conifer hedge, which we could tell had not been cut in a long time and our neighbours confirmed this. They keep their side well maintained. Richard made a start on cutting it back. Although he has cut into the wood which means it will not grow again on our side, we have probably gained a few feet of extra space.
As we worked with our clearing up Helen's husband David got a fire going on our other plot to burn the debris and hedge cuttings. We still finished up with a big pile of rubbish which couldn't be burnt.
All the work was made more difficult because of the water running down the plot. Some areas are very muddy, making it very slippy. So Richard has also been tackling the drainage problem. He has dug out a drain from the top of the plot where the water source starts. This is channelled down to the pond and then out to the bottom of the plot onto the lane. He intends to put some drain pipes into the dug out areas to make proper drains. This is the most important job at the moment on the plot. We can see some improvement already as the path and steps into the plot has now dried out and we can enter without worry of falling over in the mud.
As we spend more time clearing up our new plot we are forming a plan in our mind of how to lay it out.
We've a lot of work ahead of us though.
Wow, this amount of physical work makes me want to turn and run! But, saying that, I can see it for it's potential and I'm pausing and thinking, actually, I'd love to create and see something like that thrive. Recently I've looked at my rear garden which is just lawn and decided I want to do something with it, to make it nicer so that I spend more time out there, reading and writing on nice days and now I see your plot and feel inspired. I look forward to seeing how this progresses.
ReplyDeleteHow are you coping with this and your wrist?
Well Rebecca it's good that you can feel inspired by looking at such awful photos, but I do hope that before long I will have some much better pics to put on my blog!
DeleteI'm not able to do any of the heavy work on the plot yet, all my work is a bit left handed and I have to wander around watching everyone else. It's very annoying because I'm longing to get stuck in
It looks as if you have so much work to do but I know from our experience with an allotment that the benefits gained will be well worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteSarah x
Hi Sarah. I know it will be worth all the effort, I'm so looking forward to getting the plot sorted, it's so different to our other plot.
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