Dig
Friday, February 22, 2008
Allotments (Planning) Bill
From ePolitix
The second reading is on March 14th.
Technorati tag: Gardening
posted by Ian at 1:26 PM link
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From ePolitix
Tony Baldry (Con, Banbury) introduced a ten minute rule motion to bring in a Bill to "encourage local authorities to make provision for allotments; to require them to consider imposing duties on developers to provide land for statutory allotments when determining planning applications; and for connected purposes."
He stated that the demand for allotments has increased and the number of available plots is decreasing. Although allotments have some statutory and regulatory protection "all too many allotments are disappearing and even fewer new ones are being created."
Baldry's Bill seeks to redress the balance, it proposes that under the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, developers "are obliged to consider, akin to the 1925 legislation, whether there is a need for the developers to make provision for allotments either on that site or on land elsewhere."
He concluded that "allotments are in big demand for growing fruit, flowers and vegetables, or just as a great way to chill out." Therefore he hoped that the House and the government would support the Bill.
The second reading is on March 14th.
Technorati tag: Gardening
posted by Ian at 1:26 PM link
(0) comments
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Down the garden path
Since this path, which goes to allotments as far as I can tell, has been closed off it has been taken over by nettles and other plants.
posted by Ian at 12:32 PM link
(0) comments
Since this path, which goes to allotments as far as I can tell, has been closed off it has been taken over by nettles and other plants.
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 12:32 PM link
(0) comments
Thursday, February 08, 2007
The Guardian's allotment blog
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/allotment/
Technorati tag: Gardening
posted by Ian at 10:31 PM link
(0) comments
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/allotment/
Technorati tag: Gardening
posted by Ian at 10:31 PM link
(0) comments
Monday, July 03, 2006
The allotmenteers vs the Olympics
The Manor Garden Society Allotments, date back at least 80 years, having been bequeathed for the public good by a local philanthropist, Major Villiers. Now, however they are under threat from the developments surrounding the London Olympics and could be compulsory purchased to make way for a footpath. The tenants have been offered alternative plots but the site is available for only seven years.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotments, Olympics
posted by Ian at 10:47 AM link
(0) comments
The Manor Garden Society Allotments, date back at least 80 years, having been bequeathed for the public good by a local philanthropist, Major Villiers. Now, however they are under threat from the developments surrounding the London Olympics and could be compulsory purchased to make way for a footpath. The tenants have been offered alternative plots but the site is available for only seven years.
The scheme also threatened a nature reserve next door. She said: "It's crazy to be talking about a green Olympics and to be annihilating the nature.
"The London Development Agency and the mayor [Ken Livingstone] launched a food strategy and bio-diversity strategy to increase access to fresh food, particularly in places like east London, but all they're talking about is deleted [if we lose the allotments]."
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotments, Olympics
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 10:47 AM link
(0) comments
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Gardens as nature reserves
The allotment has turned into wilderness due to a lack of time and commitment. Hopefully the frogs we found last year are enjoying it. It is possible, however, to have nature in your backyard without allowing it to degenerate. Though you may have top take steps to defend frogs from newts.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Wildlife
posted by Ian at 8:15 AM link
(0) comments
The allotment has turned into wilderness due to a lack of time and commitment. Hopefully the frogs we found last year are enjoying it. It is possible, however, to have nature in your backyard without allowing it to degenerate. Though you may have top take steps to defend frogs from newts.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Wildlife
Labels: allotment, wildlife garden
posted by Ian at 8:15 AM link
(0) comments
Friday, April 14, 2006
live from the allotment
live from the allotment,
originally uploaded by spinneyhead.
Where my glamorous assistant insisted on doing the digging. She says she offer the exercise, i think she's planning to bury someone.
One of the allotment's many old irish men came and have up advice, but his accent was so strong i didn't understand most of it.
Today's planting consists of leek and herb rocket. The former won't be done until the autumn, but the latter should be on our plates in a month or so.
Technorati tag: moblog
posted by Ian at 10:53 AM link
(0) comments
live from the allotment,
originally uploaded by spinneyhead.
Where my glamorous assistant insisted on doing the digging. She says she offer the exercise, i think she's planning to bury someone.
One of the allotment's many old irish men came and have up advice, but his accent was so strong i didn't understand most of it.
Today's planting consists of leek and herb rocket. The former won't be done until the autumn, but the latter should be on our plates in a month or so.
Technorati tag: moblog
posted by Ian at 10:53 AM link
(0) comments
Friday, April 07, 2006
Planting Potatoes (finally)
The allotment is suffering from a combination of apathy and weather. On those few afternoons at home when I could be bothered to go and dig something up it has either rained or snowed.
Today I decided to confuse the weather gods by going to the allotment in the morning. It's been nearly two weeks since my parents brought me a box of sprouting King Edwards with a rather useful planting guide on the lid.
There were enough potatoes to plant about two-thirds of a row. Then, in line with my previously decided plan, I double dug another row for the row I'd planted in. Just as I was finishing it started raining on me, the weather gods having finally woken up and noticed.
Hopefully I can get some peas dibbed in next week.
Technorati tag: Gardening, potato, King Edward
posted by Ian at 5:17 PM link
(0) comments
The allotment is suffering from a combination of apathy and weather. On those few afternoons at home when I could be bothered to go and dig something up it has either rained or snowed.
Today I decided to confuse the weather gods by going to the allotment in the morning. It's been nearly two weeks since my parents brought me a box of sprouting King Edwards with a rather useful planting guide on the lid.
There were enough potatoes to plant about two-thirds of a row. Then, in line with my previously decided plan, I double dug another row for the row I'd planted in. Just as I was finishing it started raining on me, the weather gods having finally woken up and noticed.
Hopefully I can get some peas dibbed in next week.
Technorati tag: Gardening, potato, King Edward
posted by Ian at 5:17 PM link
(0) comments
Friday, January 27, 2006
Let's hear it for the lady allotmenteers
A welcome number of women are getting allotments and changing the face of the little plots. Obviously, some of the old codgers aren't happy about this.
Technorati tag: Allotment
posted by Ian at 11:38 AM link
(1) comments
A welcome number of women are getting allotments and changing the face of the little plots. Obviously, some of the old codgers aren't happy about this.
Neil Dixon, the chairman of the National Allotment Gardens Trust, said: "The reason for the conflict is different lifestyles. Often it is a shock for a flat-capped, red-nosed gardener of advancing years to find an attractive young woman on the plot next to him. He will probably be a bit disgruntled.
"But this kind of attitude is way out of date. Usually after a season they are all getting on famously and swapping seeds and advice."
Technorati tag: Allotment
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 11:38 AM link
(1) comments
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
allotment- battling entropy
allotment- battling entropy,
originally uploaded by spinneyhead.
I plan to win the battle and eat well because of it. Today i went to the plot for the first time this year. Two rows of double digging seemed enough. Next week i'm going to look for plants hardy enough for january planting. From then on it will be plant a row, dig a row until things are ready to be harvested.
Technorati tag: moblog
posted by Ian at 3:50 PM link
(0) comments
allotment- battling entropy,
originally uploaded by spinneyhead.
I plan to win the battle and eat well because of it. Today i went to the plot for the first time this year. Two rows of double digging seemed enough. Next week i'm going to look for plants hardy enough for january planting. From then on it will be plant a row, dig a row until things are ready to be harvested.
Technorati tag: moblog
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 3:50 PM link
(0) comments
Monday, November 14, 2005
Wearable garden stool
The allotment is still at the turning of sods by spade stage, but for planting and transplanting, maybe even harvesting, a wearable garden stool might be just the thing.
via blogaholics
Technorati tag: Gardening
posted by Ian at 8:04 PM link
(0) comments
The allotment is still at the turning of sods by spade stage, but for planting and transplanting, maybe even harvesting, a wearable garden stool might be just the thing.
via blogaholics
Technorati tag: Gardening
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 8:04 PM link
(0) comments
Sunday, October 30, 2005
King of the allotments
George Monbiot has gone crazy and got five allotments, so he doesn't have to buy onions air lifted from New Zealand. He's a bit disparaging of box schemes where I'll sing their praises as a way to get locally grown produce.
via Horticultural, also the source of the Allotment Register.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment
posted by Ian at 9:58 AM link
(0) comments
George Monbiot has gone crazy and got five allotments, so he doesn't have to buy onions air lifted from New Zealand. He's a bit disparaging of box schemes where I'll sing their praises as a way to get locally grown produce.
via Horticultural, also the source of the Allotment Register.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 9:58 AM link
(0) comments
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Indoor composting
Living in a second floor flat it's not easy to compost for the allotment. A wormery would have to go outside and risk the weather and marauding squirrels and kids, so maybe I should think about getting EmPowered.
Mind you, a value starter pack costs £95.
via Hippyshopper
Technorati tag: Gardening, Composting
posted by Ian at 6:01 PM link
(2) comments
Living in a second floor flat it's not easy to compost for the allotment. A wormery would have to go outside and risk the weather and marauding squirrels and kids, so maybe I should think about getting EmPowered.
Effective microOrganisms are a carefully controlled mixture of microscopic bacteria, yeasts and fungi that work together to speed-up composting, suppress pathogens (no e-coli in an EmPowered composter), prevent putrefaction and eliminate bad odors. Working together they deliver a four-way knock-out blow against all the problems that beset conventional composters. EmPowering your composting is simple, really simple, in fact it's the easiest to use composting system we've ever tried.
Mind you, a value starter pack costs £95.
via Hippyshopper
Technorati tag: Gardening, Composting
posted by Ian at 6:01 PM link
(2) comments
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Allotment: Welcome back to the jungle
The allotment has been neglected for the last couple of months, which is a crime. I think it was mostly that we didn't expect to get anything off it this year, so we let it be. I visited earlier this week and it was almost back to the state we found it in.
However, the ground is damp now and easier to dig and turn, so half an hour of double digging turned a row over. I'm back on my bike and the allotment is on my way home from work, so it's going to see a bit more attention and at least half of it should be ready for planting come Spring.
Technorati tag: Allotment
posted by Ian at 4:20 PM link
(0) comments
The allotment has been neglected for the last couple of months, which is a crime. I think it was mostly that we didn't expect to get anything off it this year, so we let it be. I visited earlier this week and it was almost back to the state we found it in.
However, the ground is damp now and easier to dig and turn, so half an hour of double digging turned a row over. I'm back on my bike and the allotment is on my way home from work, so it's going to see a bit more attention and at least half of it should be ready for planting come Spring.
Technorati tag: Allotment
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 4:20 PM link
(0) comments
Monday, August 08, 2005
National Allotments Week
It's National Allotments Week. Which means that, at the very least, I should visit mine and do some digging.
The BBC has a guide to finding an allotment if you're interested.
Thanks to Sabs for the link.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment
posted by Ian at 6:52 PM link
(0) comments
It's National Allotments Week. Which means that, at the very least, I should visit mine and do some digging.
The BBC has a guide to finding an allotment if you're interested.
Thanks to Sabs for the link.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 6:52 PM link
(0) comments
Friday, July 29, 2005
Home Allotment
We will visit the allotment again. Some time. In the mean time, I'm thinking about setting up a window box or similar in the new Casa Spinneyhead where I can grow herbs and stuff for mealtimes.
One nice looking option is the Leopoldo City Vegetable Garden, designed for patios, balconys or even inside use. The site's in Spanish, but Treehugger has more information.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Window box
posted by Ian at 9:35 AM link
(0) comments
We will visit the allotment again. Some time. In the mean time, I'm thinking about setting up a window box or similar in the new Casa Spinneyhead where I can grow herbs and stuff for mealtimes.
One nice looking option is the Leopoldo City Vegetable Garden, designed for patios, balconys or even inside use. The site's in Spanish, but Treehugger has more information.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Window box
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 9:35 AM link
(0) comments
Saturday, July 09, 2005
I've got to get one of these
I've wanted a scythe since using one to clear the allotment. A contributor waxes lyrical about the European Scythe on Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools blog.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Scythe
posted by Ian at 12:31 PM link
(0) comments
I've wanted a scythe since using one to clear the allotment. A contributor waxes lyrical about the European Scythe on Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools blog.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Scythe
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 12:31 PM link
(0) comments
Monday, June 27, 2005
Legacy food
Now that's a green roof.
It's surprising, but we're managing to harvest from the allotment already. Mostly it's left over crops from former tenants. The raspberries provided a healthy haul yesterday, and will continue to do so for the next couple of weeks, and the red stringy stuff we thought was rhubarb is actually chard. I found this out by taking my gardening gurus- Jo, Mum and Dad- to see the scraggly, part burnt thing that is the current state of the allotment.
Mum and Jo spent a while searching out cuttings, particularly from the rambling rose that has consumed next door's shed and broken out in flower after the rain of last week. Our plans for a frog pond could be aided by the offer of a header tank, if we don't find anything else in the mean time, and we now have a large rake that should make separating the organic from the ironmongery in the remnants of the fire.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Chard
posted by Ian at 6:40 AM link
(0) comments
Now that's a green roof.
It's surprising, but we're managing to harvest from the allotment already. Mostly it's left over crops from former tenants. The raspberries provided a healthy haul yesterday, and will continue to do so for the next couple of weeks, and the red stringy stuff we thought was rhubarb is actually chard. I found this out by taking my gardening gurus- Jo, Mum and Dad- to see the scraggly, part burnt thing that is the current state of the allotment.
Mum and Jo spent a while searching out cuttings, particularly from the rambling rose that has consumed next door's shed and broken out in flower after the rain of last week. Our plans for a frog pond could be aided by the offer of a header tank, if we don't find anything else in the mean time, and we now have a large rake that should make separating the organic from the ironmongery in the remnants of the fire.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Chard
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 6:40 AM link
(0) comments
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
First Crop
A bit of a cheat really. The raspberries that came with the allotment have fruited. There aren't many, and they're still a little bitter, but it was cool to look up from digging and realise there were little dots of red in amongst the tangle of green and brown that has been left untouched because there are fruit bushes somewhere in the depths.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Raspberry
posted by Ian at 6:38 PM link
(0) comments
A bit of a cheat really. The raspberries that came with the allotment have fruited. There aren't many, and they're still a little bitter, but it was cool to look up from digging and realise there were little dots of red in amongst the tangle of green and brown that has been left untouched because there are fruit bushes somewhere in the depths.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Raspberry
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 6:38 PM link
(0) comments
Going Underground
Tokyo doesn't have the space for allotments, So they're converting undergound bank vaults into farmland. The vegetable vault has computer controlled lighting and hydroponics and is intended as a way to give Japanese youth and unemployed salarymen some grounding in growing if they want to take a career in the fields.
via Treehugger
Technorati tag: Gardening, Hydroponics, Japan
posted by Ian at 3:56 PM link
(0) comments
Tokyo doesn't have the space for allotments, So they're converting undergound bank vaults into farmland. The vegetable vault has computer controlled lighting and hydroponics and is intended as a way to give Japanese youth and unemployed salarymen some grounding in growing if they want to take a career in the fields.
via Treehugger
Technorati tag: Gardening, Hydroponics, Japan
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 3:56 PM link
(0) comments
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Fire good, fire cleansing
The biggest problem with the allotment so far has been the pile of wood, six and a half feet tall and about the same diameter at the base, accumulated at one end. Strictly speaking, you're not supposed to have bonfires in Manchester- it is a smoke free zone nowadays- but what else were we going to dowith it.
We now have a large, if nail laden, amount of potash to spread liberally around before the double digging continues. I hope it's worth it, because yesterday was probably the hottest day of the year so far and I've got really nasty sunburn on my arms and the back of my neck.
Meanwhile, and possibly ahead of schedule, the lettuce in the propagating tray have sprouted and it's become obvious I put far too many of them in each little section.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Fire
posted by Ian at 10:16 PM link
(0) comments
The biggest problem with the allotment so far has been the pile of wood, six and a half feet tall and about the same diameter at the base, accumulated at one end. Strictly speaking, you're not supposed to have bonfires in Manchester- it is a smoke free zone nowadays- but what else were we going to dowith it.
We now have a large, if nail laden, amount of potash to spread liberally around before the double digging continues. I hope it's worth it, because yesterday was probably the hottest day of the year so far and I've got really nasty sunburn on my arms and the back of my neck.
Meanwhile, and possibly ahead of schedule, the lettuce in the propagating tray have sprouted and it's become obvious I put far too many of them in each little section.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Fire
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 10:16 PM link
(0) comments
Friday, June 17, 2005
First Planting
Yes, I have finally managed to plant stuff. A very short row of potatoes has gone down in the pathetically small patch of allotment I've managed to double dig, and there are carrots, lettuce and something else (it'll come back to me when I read the seed packets) in a tray on the kitchen window sill.
Potential for green stuff in the near future. Plus tomorrow we get to burn things.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Potatoes, Propagation
posted by Ian at 6:25 PM link
(0) comments
Yes, I have finally managed to plant stuff. A very short row of potatoes has gone down in the pathetically small patch of allotment I've managed to double dig, and there are carrots, lettuce and something else (it'll come back to me when I read the seed packets) in a tray on the kitchen window sill.
Potential for green stuff in the near future. Plus tomorrow we get to burn things.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Potatoes, Propagation
posted by Ian at 6:25 PM link
(0) comments
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Got Scythe?
Having borrowed a scythe from a neighbour and been shown how to use it, the allotment now has a short back and sides of grass. Today we started digging and tomorrow, weather permitting, I should go back and start double-digging. Start a trench, turn the sods from the next one into it, then dig deeper in the new trench and put the earth from that on top of the sods. If I bury the grass deep enough it won't grow back and, by rotting, will become compost for whatever we grow on top of it.
We have a few potatoes in the carbs cupboard that are beginning to sprout......
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Double digging
posted by Ian at 9:08 PM link
(0) comments
Having borrowed a scythe from a neighbour and been shown how to use it, the allotment now has a short back and sides of grass. Today we started digging and tomorrow, weather permitting, I should go back and start double-digging. Start a trench, turn the sods from the next one into it, then dig deeper in the new trench and put the earth from that on top of the sods. If I bury the grass deep enough it won't grow back and, by rotting, will become compost for whatever we grow on top of it.
We have a few potatoes in the carbs cupboard that are beginning to sprout......
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Double digging
Labels: allotment, Compost, Potato
posted by Ian at 9:08 PM link
(0) comments
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Allotment Update
One frog, about to be evicted
Irony has to be driving around for an hour and a bit visiting four shops whilst trying to find a scythe and/ or sickle to clear the grass from the allotment, giving up, tackling the grass by hand and finding the remnants of a sickle in the burnt rubbish that was left by a previous tenant. (True irony would have been buying a scythe and then finding one, but no-one seems to stock scythes any more, it's all high tech tools and strimmers. This lack of a simple tool made me ponder when I became a Luddite.)
As the grass was hacked down it kept revealing "treasures". Mostly mementoes of the "throw it all on the fire and let God sort it out" mentality of the previous tenant, but also a large frog that was very surprised to have its roof removed. We transplanted it to the next allotment over, where it could do slug-killing duties and be safe from our planned fire.
We're hoping to get the meadow cut down by the end of the weekend and burn the big pile of wooden rubbish some time soon as well. Then we've got to start turning the earth and planting stuff. The hope is to grow something this year, but the intended three year crop rotation isn't going to start until next year.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Frog
posted by Ian at 7:12 PM link
(0) comments
One frog, about to be evicted
Irony has to be driving around for an hour and a bit visiting four shops whilst trying to find a scythe and/ or sickle to clear the grass from the allotment, giving up, tackling the grass by hand and finding the remnants of a sickle in the burnt rubbish that was left by a previous tenant. (True irony would have been buying a scythe and then finding one, but no-one seems to stock scythes any more, it's all high tech tools and strimmers. This lack of a simple tool made me ponder when I became a Luddite.)
As the grass was hacked down it kept revealing "treasures". Mostly mementoes of the "throw it all on the fire and let God sort it out" mentality of the previous tenant, but also a large frog that was very surprised to have its roof removed. We transplanted it to the next allotment over, where it could do slug-killing duties and be safe from our planned fire.
We're hoping to get the meadow cut down by the end of the weekend and burn the big pile of wooden rubbish some time soon as well. Then we've got to start turning the earth and planting stuff. The hope is to grow something this year, but the intended three year crop rotation isn't going to start until next year.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment, Frog
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 7:12 PM link
(0) comments
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Has anyone got a scythe?
The allotment project begins. I sorted out a full plot earlier today and should start work on it later this week.
It currently looks like this-
Which is...... challenging. There also appears to be some piece of art fashioned from an old immersion tank-
There already appear to be raspberries, which I might try to keep-
And the plot next door has a neat shed that thinks it's a tree, or vice versa-
The plan is to keep the allotment as nearly organic as possible. The fact that it's been abandoned for a year or so is a help in that respect as it therefore doesn't have a recent history of chemical use. I hope to get some small crop from it this year, but it's the second and third years when Ican really expect to see results.
The first job, obviously, is going to be clearing as much of that growth and rubbish as possible. If anyone would like to help I can pay them in chutney.
Technorati tag: Allotment
posted by Ian at 9:16 PM link
(1) comments
The allotment project begins. I sorted out a full plot earlier today and should start work on it later this week.
It currently looks like this-
Which is...... challenging. There also appears to be some piece of art fashioned from an old immersion tank-
There already appear to be raspberries, which I might try to keep-
And the plot next door has a neat shed that thinks it's a tree, or vice versa-
The plan is to keep the allotment as nearly organic as possible. The fact that it's been abandoned for a year or so is a help in that respect as it therefore doesn't have a recent history of chemical use. I hope to get some small crop from it this year, but it's the second and third years when Ican really expect to see results.
The first job, obviously, is going to be clearing as much of that growth and rubbish as possible. If anyone would like to help I can pay them in chutney.
Technorati tag: Allotment
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 9:16 PM link
(1) comments
Friday, May 20, 2005
Allotment, interrupted
The allotment plans have stalled slightly. The patch Damian and I most liked isn't, as we had thought, abandoned now that its gardener has paid up for another year. Now we have to go along some Sunday and hope there's someone there to arrange a plot with. The problem is this Sunday we're going to be tramping up Sca Fell Pike. It looks like planting season could be over before we get our hands on some land.
Meanwhile- a history of allotments and the Allotments Regeneration Initiative.
Technorati tag: Allotment, Gardening
posted by Ian at 11:21 AM link
(0) comments
The allotment plans have stalled slightly. The patch Damian and I most liked isn't, as we had thought, abandoned now that its gardener has paid up for another year. Now we have to go along some Sunday and hope there's someone there to arrange a plot with. The problem is this Sunday we're going to be tramping up Sca Fell Pike. It looks like planting season could be over before we get our hands on some land.
Meanwhile- a history of allotments and the Allotments Regeneration Initiative.
Technorati tag: Allotment, Gardening
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 11:21 AM link
(0) comments
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Planting timetable
One step closer to getting a Spinneyhead allotment. I should hear back about a plot within a week. Judging by the state of the allotments Damian and I looked at today the first job will be cleaning out the weed and other sprawling plants (securing a shed is high on the to-do list as well). The plan is to clear a row a week and plant a crop or two in each one so that there'll be a rolling crop as stuff matures.
Pages like this one tell me I should be planting beetroot, swede, dwarf French and runner beans as well as potatoes. Further research should give me hints for plants to start on the windowsill for future transplanting.
I'm all excited, I want the adventure to begin.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment
posted by Ian at 2:17 PM link
(0) comments
One step closer to getting a Spinneyhead allotment. I should hear back about a plot within a week. Judging by the state of the allotments Damian and I looked at today the first job will be cleaning out the weed and other sprawling plants (securing a shed is high on the to-do list as well). The plan is to clear a row a week and plant a crop or two in each one so that there'll be a rolling crop as stuff matures.
Pages like this one tell me I should be planting beetroot, swede, dwarf French and runner beans as well as potatoes. Further research should give me hints for plants to start on the windowsill for future transplanting.
I'm all excited, I want the adventure to begin.
Technorati tag: Gardening, Allotment
posted by Ian at 2:17 PM link
(0) comments
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Allotment
Dig as a blog is going to have to walk the walk. I can't just report on stuff that I find, I'm going to have to get stuck in and, quite literally, get my hands dirty.
It was with that in mind that last night I went to the Manchester Allotments home page and had a look around. It's a straightforward, clean little site with a useful map of allotments in the North, Centre and South of the city. I found a few likely locations in the Rusholme/ Fallowfield area and decided to call around.
I was in luck and the second person I called (first I got through to) said his allotment had some free plots, though they might not be in very good condition. So I'm off on Sunday to check out the state of the plots and probably offer to take one over.
Now I need a proper spade.
Technorati tag: Allotment, Gardening
posted by Ian at 3:46 PM link
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Dig as a blog is going to have to walk the walk. I can't just report on stuff that I find, I'm going to have to get stuck in and, quite literally, get my hands dirty.
It was with that in mind that last night I went to the Manchester Allotments home page and had a look around. It's a straightforward, clean little site with a useful map of allotments in the North, Centre and South of the city. I found a few likely locations in the Rusholme/ Fallowfield area and decided to call around.
I was in luck and the second person I called (first I got through to) said his allotment had some free plots, though they might not be in very good condition. So I'm off on Sunday to check out the state of the plots and probably offer to take one over.
Now I need a proper spade.
Technorati tag: Allotment, Gardening
Labels: allotment
posted by Ian at 3:46 PM link
(0) comments
