Changes on the allotment

Plot 10b

Things are changing at the allotment this year. Helen has decided that with all her work and family commitments she can no longer give enough time to working her plot (Plot 10b) and so will be giving it up at the end of the year. She will still be around though, helping me on my plot (Plot 8) when she can.

As we worked on both plots together and shared everything, we are gradually moving the things over to plot 8 which we want to keep.  Things like tools, pots, pea and bean frames and also plants.  There are quite a lot of fruit bushes on Plot 10b but not so many on plot 8.  Earlier this year I  moved three blackcurrant bushes and planted them in the fruit bed on Plot 8.  In the autumn I want to move the gooseberries and some of the rhubarb. There won't be enough space in the fruit bed on plot 8 to transplant all of the rhubarb, but I will be moving some of it.

Then we need to sort out the shed.  There is quite a bit of useful stuff which we will take with us to Plot 8.  This means we will have to improve the storage space in Plot 8's shed with hooks to hang tools on and shelves for larger items. I like to keep the shed reasonably tidy so that we can work in there on the potting bench and also make a brew (very important!)

   

Plot 8 shed

Behind the shed on Plot 8 is a very untidy area where we have dumped things which might come in useful one day.  We need to tidy this up and get rid of anything we don't need.  Richard has a plan to build a sort of storage shelter where can store large items like wood and growhouse frames, which we seem to have a lot of on both plots.

The mess behind plot 8 shed

    

The big decision was what to do about the greenhouse on plot 10b. It's not a proper greenhouse but a timber framed structure which Richard built and covered with polytunnel material.  Richard felt it wasn't worth trying to dismantle it and move it over to plot 8. It didn't cost much to make as all the wood was recycled. It is also too big for Plot 8.  So as we can't afford to buy a proper greenhouse he is planning to build another of the same type on Plot 8. It will be smaller, but that won't matter, the other one was quite big. He's started work already on building the base for it.  This is in the area where the old pond was.

Because Helen and I had shared both plots, we did consider which plot to give up--Plot 10b or Plot 8.  But we decided to keep Plot 8.  It might seem a bit daft to get sentimental over an allotment plot, but we do like Plot 8.  It's secluded,  has a good feel to it, lots of wildlife, a woodland area where the grandchildren can play and the best shed ever--another of Richard's creations.

This year we're not doing much growing on Plot 10b as we start to wind down. We're using the greenhouse and just keeping up with the weeding. We worked really hard to get Plot10b into a workable allotment and some people have said it's a shame to give it up after doing all that work. But we don't mind that. We've enjoyed the challenge of transforming a piece of derelict land into a good growing space and hope that the new tenants will look after it. It was hard work looking after two plots so we're already starting to feel the benefits of having just one plot to look after.

Little helpers

 

 We've had a bit of help at the allotment recently from the grandchildren. It's not often it happens so we make the most of it--enjoy it and hope they do too.

 I have found that with my own children and now my grandchildren that as they got older they lost that interest in gardening which in the early years was so full of enthusiasm, everything was new and interesting to them.  Now there are other things to interest them and a visit to the allotment is not always welcome. We have found that we need to really work at stimulating some interest whether it is den building, sowing seeds or watering the plants. And although they might moan and groan about having to go to the allotment, they usually enjoy themselves once they are there. Sometimes they just want to run around and play, but other times they like to help, it might slow us down a bit with our work, but it's worth it knowing that they have probably learnt something by being involved.

On their most recent visits to the allotment they have been sowing purple sprouting broccolli and beetroot seeds, planting cabbages, sweet corn, french beans and sunflowers. It helps to talk about what they are planting and explain how it will grow. For example, beetroot grows below the ground, sweetcorn above and beans wind themselves around a post and some things need more space to grow than others. These things might be obvious to us who've been growing vegetables for years, but not to children who are still learning.

My own children who lost interest in gardening as they got older, I am pleased to say, rekindled this interest when they got gardens of their own so there's hope for the grandchildren yet.

Getting the jobs done

Here we are in June and still waiting for summer, will it ever arrive? This week we've had some lovely warm days and maybe summer has finally arrived. But we've had some strong winds recently which have tested the stability of our allotment plastic grow house. Fortunately Richard secured it well to a strong base. This is its second year and probably its last. The zip has broken down one side and although we could probably buy a new cover I don't think it's worth it. It's served its purpose and Richard is making a base for another grow house or poly tunnel type of structure which he will build himself and will be much more stable. We don't buy things for the allotment if we can make them.

Things are starting to grow and it's looking nice and green with rows of broad beans, peas, salad leaves, onions, garlic cabbages and Brussels sprouts. The pea and bean frames are in place and so is the brassica frame.

This week I have planted out celeriac. I love celeriac but haven't quite mastered the technique of growing it.  Last year's crop was very small, but I will keep trying. I have also sown fennel, swede, more peas and more climbing french beans.  It always seems a mad rush at this time of year to get everything in the ground at the right time.  I don't want to miss out on any vegetables because I forgot to sow the seed at the right time.  But I feel I am getting on top of things and ticking off the jobs on the list in my allotment journal.

The strawberries are looking healthy.  They have had some lovely flowers and are now starting to form the fruit.  I have put some straw underneath the strawberries in the bath and still have to do the ones in the fruit bed. This year I must remember to net them before it's too late and the birds eat them all!

Beacon Fell

We were looking after  two of our grandchildren for a couple of days during the Spring Bank Holiday week. I know they would have been quite happy to stay in and play on their ipads or watch TV but I like to get them outside for fresh air, exercise and something  a bit different to do or see. Besides which I don't like staying in and it's a good excuse for me to have a day or two out somewhere.

We decided to go to Beacon Fell Country Park, where we could have a walk, a picnic and look at the visitor centre. We hadn't been there since our daughters were young and that's a long time ago. When we arrived at the visitor centre car park, the first thing we spotted was a falconry and owl display. The children are always fascinated by these birds so we spent some time watching them.

We then headed off to the visitor centre which was quite small but had plenty of interesting wildlife information and activity tables where the children could get involved. There were word searches, colouring in sheets and an origami frog to make. We took the word searches and colouring sheets home, but our granddaughter managed to make several frogs before we dragged her away.

After a picnic lunch we set off walking along one of the trails. The children spotted some things to climb on in the woods so we took a detour. It was lovely in the woods.  There were lots of tree branches lying around, loads of pine cones and other bits of nature things. Fortunately I had remembered to bring a couple of carrier bags to collect 'nature treasures'. There were big tree trunks lying on the ground which were great for climbing on and we found a tree trunk snake which was one of several sculptures to spot around the park.

Throughout the woods there were dens made out of tree branches. These had been made to show people how to make a den or tipee. Visitors were allowed to have a go at making their own den with all the woody material lying around. We watched a family making their own den, we didn't make one ourselves because we have made one at the allotment and know how to do it.  But it would be a good fun activity.

 

We walked back onto the trail path and walked up to the summit where we had beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.  Then we headed back down through the woods again, stopping to look at one or two ponds on the way.

 

We timed our walk well as we got back to the car park just as it started to rain. I had a carrier bag full of twigs, branches and interesting things which the children had collected. We had great plans to make things with them when we got home. I wasn't sure if we were allowed to take things home with us, but when I saw other families loading tree branches and such stuff into their cars I decided it must be ok. What are we going to do with these things you might ask.  Well that might be a subject for another blog post.