Digging out for the shed

I did want to start sowing some seeds this weekend for my greenhouse. However, thought the wind was ridiculous and the poor seeds would have ended up sprouting up on the next door neighbours lawn or something in a couple of months so dedided to give that a miss. But when going outside to walk to the allotment, my greenhouse (half sized one) had completely collapsed - definitely unmendable! :( So wouldn't have anywhere to put them anyway!

With the waiting for some help putting up my shed, I decided to start digging out a patch ready for the shed at the weekend. This needs to be done because my plot is sloped so need to dig out a flat patch for it. My Mum appeared after about an hour and helped me out, didn't completely finish but got a good block of it done! This was harder work than I thought it would be and am feeling the affects today... I am now determined to read up on how to build a shed and the stuff I need for it for the base etc... I am clueless on this part.

So after a slightly disappointing weekend, I decided to bake some cakes to make me feel happy again. Vanilla Cupcakes with m&m choco crispy topping! Yum! But am dieting so can't eat one, but it makes me happy seeing other people enjoying them!

Free Seed Arrival

I have received my seeds from http://www.vegetableseeds.net/default.asp today! Very excited as they were all free!

I am looking forward to my purple 'Red Bull' sprouts and my 'Sun Beam' pattypans, mostly because they are colourful!! I think I have enough seeds. For now...

Skip RAIDING...

Well not quite raiding, I found the kind workman and told him I have been eyeing up his skip for a week or so and wondered if I could take some stuff for my allotment. He said of course and that to take whatever I wanted - even the bath! The bath won't fit in my car unfortunately...

So my Dad came to meet me by the skip and we were like a couple of tramps in the dark loading up his car with wood mainly, we did get a few stares, I was going to go and explain myself with the allotment story but was far too excited looking in the skip to be honest. We mainly got planks of wood to use for a base for the shed, to make some more vegetable beds and make some posts to mark off the sections. Chuffed to be saving myself some money and making use of those poor wasted trees! :)

We might return in daylight when perhaps we will see some more gems!

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Dig Dig Dig

Today was time for more digging and planning out the plot ready for the start of planting things in February. I braved the freezing cold weather in my new killer boots ready to have a good old therapeutic dig.

It didn't surprise me that there were not many people out digging today as when I arrived, it was like the arctic up there - well not quite, maybe I wasn't wrapped up enough!

I had a check of my rhubarb and pleased to see it coming through - can't wait to use it for my rhubarb and custard cake!

Then had a check of my garlic which I planted back in October, this should be ready about summer time. This is growing well too.

 

I was prepared with my allotment plan on my Blackberry phone, which is fab as can keep on track with my plan (Bringing modern technology to the outdoors!). I started where I had left off last weekend, marking out little patches for the veg. As I have a whole year this year, I thought it would be easier if I de-weed little sections and mark them out, and then when it comes round to planting something there, giving it another proper dig. This way I will get more done early on and it won't be so disheartening!!

The ground was wet and all the mud sticking to my new boots, not ideal for conditions for digging but I was determined to get rid of the brambles - glad no one was around to hear my foul mouth everytime a bramble went through my glove into my poor fingers! I dug away for about 2 hours and felt I made a bit of progress, only a small section to go until I have dug the whole allotment (since I had it last year that is!). I may have a celebratory coffee when I get to that stage.

I am getting frustrated with my shed as I was very lucky to get it off Freecycle, it has been sitting there unerected for a couple of months now, one panel was warped when we got it so that is on top of the other panels, protecting them from the weather. I can't put it up until we have enough posts or something for the base - my Dad is helping with this job as I can't do this alone! Also, my boyfriend won't join me at the allotment until my shed is up! He wants a hammock too - lazy!

Skip Searching...

This is something that all allotment holders need to master - searching through rubbish. Today I drove into the carpark and it was like seeing money. Planks of wood in a skip (vegetable beds?), a bath (attractive feature??) small bits of wood (marking out patches??) doors (urm, clutching at straws here...) but anyway lots of stuff that I could use at Plot 39- FOR FREE!!

However, I have not YET got to the cheeky stage yet of just taking things without asking so I am waiting to speak to one of the builders with a sweet smile. Fingers crossed!

x

To start - Beg of January

I thought I had better start doing something with the allotment after the snow, frost, rain! had stopped me visiting to check she was ok. I went up to check it and everything was ok. A missing compost bin lid which I found on the neighbouring plot and some cloches blown away but other than that, everything safe! I had a rough count of steps to work out metreage etc... ready for planning, dug a few weeds and went home feeling determined.

I decided to used Excel to make a plan. It is very rough and can adapt as I go along. I looked at what I want to grow this year and organised when I need to plant seeds etc... I was pretty impressed with myself! After planning, I went shopping for seeds and spent about £20 (I am sure I will see the savings in the veg!)

Today, I went up to the plot with my Dad and his cordless drill to make a couple of vegetable beds and mark out some patches with sticks and string! It is getting there!! I have 5 little patches ready and am working my way down the plot. So much to do!!

Watch this space...