so far so weedy ...

Well, since my last post we've also planted some broad beans, put up a plastic greenhouse thingy, marked out our beds and planted some grass seed for the areas we aren't going to plant in just now. Dad has installed some guttering and a water butt too so we're doing fairly well.

I've got 5 beds about 1 metre by 5 metres and a couple of little ones about 1 metre by 2 metres. Four of the larger beds will be for the rotated crops, and the other just for pretty flowers. The smaller beds were supposed to be one each for the older kids, but Danny's not really that interested so I'm gonna use one of them for herbs.

I managed to get hold of 4 old fireguards which I'm planning on strapping together to use for compost bins and I've also yet to paint the shed.

The main problem at the moment is weeds, They seem to have suddenly appeared after a couple of days. We have couch grass, horsetail and something else that I can't seem to find out what it is - it's got purpley white roots and seems to be everywhere - like loads of tiny little worms! I have sprayed some weedkiller on them but not sure how much effect that will have as it was only a cheap spray bottle from the local discount store.

So the plan now is to lay some of the spare wood we've got from the shed at the edges of the beds to raise them up a little, then to dig over the plots once the weedkiller has kicked in. Then we need to get some veggies in. I've got some purple broccoli and some cabbage waiting to be planted so that will be first.

Wish me luck. Jana xxx

here we go again ...

Well I know I haven't written for nearly a year but I'm on a mission now. We've rotovated the whole allotment, build and made the shed all nice and homely, planted out some potatoes and onions. Planted in some chillis, peppers and sunflowers.

All is going well, I've got quite a list of things to do - first to mark up a few small beds, then rake over and level the rest of the soil before laying grass seed. Also got to paint the shed and install some guttering and a water butt - lots of plans but we're doing well - hopefully get a chance to take some photo's tomight or tomorrow so you can see how different it looks!!!

Strange weather

Like it says on the tin, the weather's a bit odd today, tipping it down one minute and blazing hot sunshine the next. Managed to get down to the allotment for a few minutes though. Covered over plot 2 as much as we could with cardboard boxes and weed matting over the top, Trev fixed the window on the shed and that's pretty much it for today. i just keep consoling myself with, as long as we're doing a little bit at a time we'll get there in the end!

Feeling positive!

Things are going in the right direction so thats good. I've got half of the seating area covered with matting and bark - I think it looks great!! Very professional - well, for me anyway!! Trev nailed a bit of trellis up to the side of the shed and Gaz has painted a number 11 on it. I've also marked out one half of the plot with stakes and string.

Slowly but surely.

Went and bought some weedproof matting and bark and hoping to get that down tomorrow to make the start of a relaxation area, that's what Amy calls it - I'd prefer to call it a seating area but apparently she's the architect so I have to do what I'm told. This is a photo of our pretty much finished shed from the house.

Mmmmmmmmash

Hurray!! Today was the first day we have eaten something that we have grown from scratch on our allotment!!! Yay!! It was only 3 potatoes but they were lovely and it was really nice to be able to give alice something to eat that I knew we'd grown ourselves. the shed's up aswell now which is brilliant, it makes a big difference when it comes to leaving stuff down there and not having to lug everything around, photo's to be posted soon. Yay again!! Jojo

14th April, 2008.

Well, we're not doing too badly, slowly but surely. We've marked out a couple of plots and dug over the first one for the most part, I've even weeded it a bit. Trev's really getting into it which is cool and I've managed to find a few pallets from various skips nearby that I'm gonna use to make my compost bins. Planting some potatoes that a nice man gave us tomorrow and hopefully puttting some kind of path in and some weedkiller on the 2nd plot with cardboard and manure on top. Thats the plan - lets all hope it doesn't rain!!