tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12724811312104480182024-03-20T19:24:31.942-07:00My Allotmentor how I converted a patch of stony field to a productive vegetable plot (with a few broadly botanical digressions!)Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-51692424844367549082014-01-20T09:06:00.002-08:002014-01-20T09:06:53.294-08:00Harvesting winter vegetables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxnCdkO_C6klpskZP3fYoHrKfaktRblwcE2vNuJHvOul2Q9Qae-WAPuDnGqnbotTlAz63-y-QSZQPtGQVNnDycQzBDT1x7zg8E9qTBG_DS3qPiDLl9xhbWxqvDQT_ihkgcu3zDP6Ny18/s1600/WP_20140109_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxnCdkO_C6klpskZP3fYoHrKfaktRblwcE2vNuJHvOul2Q9Qae-WAPuDnGqnbotTlAz63-y-QSZQPtGQVNnDycQzBDT1x7zg8E9qTBG_DS3qPiDLl9xhbWxqvDQT_ihkgcu3zDP6Ny18/s1600/WP_20140109_001.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brussel sprouts</td></tr>
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I know I've been neglecting this blog for a while and for that I am sorry. My time has been very much taken up in travelling and writing elsewhere. But the allotment has not been neglected, far from it. I go up there from time to time when I can just to check that all is in order, that the pigeon defenses are still in place, not destroyed by winter winds, and to harvest those winter vegetables.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogh7LIIxh2yqMOZBnYz0VJvYRgKwpldfSfH0TNIperw4REc687C-N1FuzD9KbeebLH8quuuKVGU7OBAgmrByTxIQ_7lTfI4Ep0y9fSnggxyuxjQfd_mgiIrO9qxs7YH43TgVnu6fpEBA/s1600/WP_20140109_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogh7LIIxh2yqMOZBnYz0VJvYRgKwpldfSfH0TNIperw4REc687C-N1FuzD9KbeebLH8quuuKVGU7OBAgmrByTxIQ_7lTfI4Ep0y9fSnggxyuxjQfd_mgiIrO9qxs7YH43TgVnu6fpEBA/s1600/WP_20140109_002.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">super leeks!</td></tr>
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This year has been the best yet for me in this respect. In addition to the squashes in storage which roast beautifully, I am also harvesting brussel sprouts, purple sprouting broccoli, red cabbages, green cabbages, parsnips, spinach and leeks.<br />
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So with the potatoes in storage as well, I havn't had to buy any vegetables at all this winter, except onions - my own crop was very poor this year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJMKgzs_3HzOWz47q-g16sdYIT856OOlSBX-XBkDktW6h37akJWP6SwHlO8Rc3GTfE21Y3NJ9Y_MqhyxA6nVdJWN2563CJyHidGIYEkNCmPjB5SfjDlYex9N9V0YCtYslKmjryuQnAPw/s1600/WP_20140109_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJMKgzs_3HzOWz47q-g16sdYIT856OOlSBX-XBkDktW6h37akJWP6SwHlO8Rc3GTfE21Y3NJ9Y_MqhyxA6nVdJWN2563CJyHidGIYEkNCmPjB5SfjDlYex9N9V0YCtYslKmjryuQnAPw/s1600/WP_20140109_003.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhubarb sprouting! </td></tr>
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But the plot is a total bog after all the rain we've had, and I try to avoid walking on it as far as possible as that will damage the soil structure. The time I spent in the autumn covering all the bare soil with manure was time well spent. Not only have weeds been totally suppressed, but I hope that come the spring, and hopefully with some warm days and drying winds, the plot will only need a light fork over before sowing and planting begins.<br />
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The amazing thing is that the rhubarb already thinks it is spring and is beginning to sprout!Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-80934886773773695682013-12-05T00:21:00.002-08:002013-12-05T00:21:12.920-08:00Preparing the allotment for a short absence<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvmn_SNbuNjKfKyezitYPMD0SoNAAZK-OrDEhOb_96PX75wKsBrLEk2Q8UjzvNWl_lO-2eBYT7oyQ6t91boR3RL5qSgIG35qTfdteIxm25IcCz2t87wawcwfJyAM1CkF6uoRzfNH7o_g/s1600/DSCN6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvmn_SNbuNjKfKyezitYPMD0SoNAAZK-OrDEhOb_96PX75wKsBrLEk2Q8UjzvNWl_lO-2eBYT7oyQ6t91boR3RL5qSgIG35qTfdteIxm25IcCz2t87wawcwfJyAM1CkF6uoRzfNH7o_g/s320/DSCN6068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in the snow March 2013</td></tr>
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For all sorts of reasons I have been away from this blog for a while - although my other blogs have been even busier for much the same reasons. Before I came away, I did what I could to "put my plot to bed" as best I could in the hope it would survive the few weeks of lacking my love and attention.<br />
To start with I gave it all a jolly good weed - not that it needed much - followers will know I have those dreaded weeds pretty much under control anyway. I took down the bean canes and put them away in dry storage ready for another year, cut the surrounding grass, did all the edging to make it all look neat, made sure the netting protection seemed secure against winter gales, and harvested what I could from the red cabbage and broccoli.<br />
Now I know the latter will have gone hopelessly to seed in my absence - but I will cut all the flowers and seed heads off and this should reward me with another flush of edible tops.<br />
I then covered every square inch of bare earth with a coating of thick manure. If you are not so lucky as to have unlimited quantities of this stuff then pieces of old carpet or black plastic will do to suppress everything beneath. Or even generously sow some "<b>green manure</b>"- things like alfafa or clover which will obligingly germinate in most weathers and will smother everything else. Then it can be dug in before it flowers and seeds. <br />
It all looked really good before I bade it a fond farewell for a while. But I forgot my camera to put it on record.<br />
This weekend I shall see how my strategy has worked, and report back!Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-68299537494095545832013-09-07T10:17:00.000-07:002013-09-07T10:17:35.927-07:00Seven easy ways to let weeds get on top of you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqXGfCq7Lr8FVSiFm0IHs5CgkcPk0FTjv2KVDUNPEHRpb0puMq1jeFpG1wAj0MLmZo5eDFoTZ76v6QMvNJDemrZW_4zOBCYO-1idJV8RyJJV1DHxF01VfNZWzjKUHPbPVQtK_drBfVkw/s1600/DSCN7735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqXGfCq7Lr8FVSiFm0IHs5CgkcPk0FTjv2KVDUNPEHRpb0puMq1jeFpG1wAj0MLmZo5eDFoTZ76v6QMvNJDemrZW_4zOBCYO-1idJV8RyJJV1DHxF01VfNZWzjKUHPbPVQtK_drBfVkw/s320/DSCN7735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is for vegetable plotters and allotment holders everywhere!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is this your plot?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Are your weeds getting on top of you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are 7 sure fire ways to make sure they do!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDb_8DmqDjmptV27-wmrszpSz5NuGpCCQawp4BdtUtKql44PCtnExNHJ__qzSwcRLqKSsCoJcDpseOKHpf-9mMk2eoT0yoSCJ1mOMUvdwVVgqbE-2bfVjgRPDNZKPw8ddP8GM_YJQGuc/s1600/DSCN7717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDb_8DmqDjmptV27-wmrszpSz5NuGpCCQawp4BdtUtKql44PCtnExNHJ__qzSwcRLqKSsCoJcDpseOKHpf-9mMk2eoT0yoSCJ1mOMUvdwVVgqbE-2bfVjgRPDNZKPw8ddP8GM_YJQGuc/s320/DSCN7717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Make sure you let the weeds flower and set seed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDis-usxbxhOmmasm-JYbSdkKAv9mEbbLCeEPPtsJ0NhpwtIlYHVehnkrh4bsgCcGl0kubI5xPcGRogzw0E2DaUfUwVGFH9HqrteKWSP2YFEGkykeSQYNz-RHGIM1XL3QllZF_8Df0iZ8/s1600/DSCN7732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDis-usxbxhOmmasm-JYbSdkKAv9mEbbLCeEPPtsJ0NhpwtIlYHVehnkrh4bsgCcGl0kubI5xPcGRogzw0E2DaUfUwVGFH9HqrteKWSP2YFEGkykeSQYNz-RHGIM1XL3QllZF_8Df0iZ8/s320/DSCN7732.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHyhzDQQJ4olOTock73EXz-F1VbKRxj9FyJ481TNwJlMg0uz7Dw3I9OzkWoOwtq8QlmzUOizupOC5FBi0spl2QyaIf0ewJqFR2N4ME95HsGCXO9SaOhwTw2UzKlkv__p7Dw6hQnvtL7M/s1600/DSCN7703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHyhzDQQJ4olOTock73EXz-F1VbKRxj9FyJ481TNwJlMg0uz7Dw3I9OzkWoOwtq8QlmzUOizupOC5FBi0spl2QyaIf0ewJqFR2N4ME95HsGCXO9SaOhwTw2UzKlkv__p7Dw6hQnvtL7M/s320/DSCN7703.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMznCIHniKl3dvDl77clEgf93RxJ-XCdwpWLy48ABv9lmkOVKxj92E3HcMN4fmZgAvdZiroRFB_UZ0YMhvLCOrSnh2DGr-dYnXazysqd7-MEEum2mtJvvFgLSvbhQWutl8ZzM4dAy4dg/s1600/DSCN7702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMznCIHniKl3dvDl77clEgf93RxJ-XCdwpWLy48ABv9lmkOVKxj92E3HcMN4fmZgAvdZiroRFB_UZ0YMhvLCOrSnh2DGr-dYnXazysqd7-MEEum2mtJvvFgLSvbhQWutl8ZzM4dAy4dg/s320/DSCN7702.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Leave piles of weeds exposed to sun and wind so that the seeds can blow all over the place. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Put the seeds on a compost heap and don’t let the heap rot properly i.e. don’t let it heat up to kill seeds and bugs before spreading back on the plot.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2PVcFigpyOi0a-hUTepWHCzkT7x3ONm-GHXvV8cXu4IklJz3dnQmLZ-v-hysP2J2WkYc4iiALmfg1y9AGJtxEivlj1gMpSOWplOLdN7Ko2hDtFGRxgZJsDNWYOokMhD8s41d39YSYA4/s1600/DSCN7736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2PVcFigpyOi0a-hUTepWHCzkT7x3ONm-GHXvV8cXu4IklJz3dnQmLZ-v-hysP2J2WkYc4iiALmfg1y9AGJtxEivlj1gMpSOWplOLdN7Ko2hDtFGRxgZJsDNWYOokMhD8s41d39YSYA4/s320/DSCN7736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Don’t bother to dig out perennial weeds – e.g. dandelion taproots</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Pick the leaves but leave the taproots of dandelions in the ground – they will
multiply alarmingly</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. Don’t bother to hoe or preferably hand weed regularly between rows of
stuff. Too much hoeing or digging can make seed infestation worse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. Just neglect it all!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R1QeXku6J6Kv1J-u3kbIsQBX_Vhv6hhXZMjG3oCpxuwWpiAdOaNnU7o-V7jfi6p3Hkcid5N_e_jDQ-V0qj4OEbE7QH_i968tzJh_MeQ44QFo7BsRw9pdn-l9z7YyAfczOY5Myq4Q0BE/s1600/DSCN7718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R1QeXku6J6Kv1J-u3kbIsQBX_Vhv6hhXZMjG3oCpxuwWpiAdOaNnU7o-V7jfi6p3Hkcid5N_e_jDQ-V0qj4OEbE7QH_i968tzJh_MeQ44QFo7BsRw9pdn-l9z7YyAfczOY5Myq4Q0BE/s320/DSCN7718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So here are some easy ways to stay on top of the the weeds:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwc8GmIcsUIMyi-U13Meiq8fPsxSPbWCoynuodweCNU6NY5TfJYMtdNbcA45_wgl6JY2ZPcEcI-7G7S0Sk-61H069Z_xX928lvduY4BrL_hDTGQuKAv7mzBSOJGnQXFHhDDoBTzz21HA/s1600/DSCN7714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwc8GmIcsUIMyi-U13Meiq8fPsxSPbWCoynuodweCNU6NY5TfJYMtdNbcA45_wgl6JY2ZPcEcI-7G7S0Sk-61H069Z_xX928lvduY4BrL_hDTGQuKAv7mzBSOJGnQXFHhDDoBTzz21HA/s320/DSCN7714.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">1. Every visit, even if you don’t
have time for thorough weeding, remove flowers from any weeds before they can set
seed. People think I’m mad when the first thing I do is go around the
surrounding grass paths picking off the dandelion heads! Not so! I know what I'm doing!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5iR8J2V3cd1qJjMCg_A1alnDKmc97YDfXcT4sKkGsGXi6QpUkcdk9cWRLZB-dNTxgjnWy7l6KzXW2oJFvvXBvQL180UUtUPcIqt1beXTJ10k391Vd9XmoYSt5fA3Xcj6msYeUTE9ok0/s1600/DSCN7726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5iR8J2V3cd1qJjMCg_A1alnDKmc97YDfXcT4sKkGsGXi6QpUkcdk9cWRLZB-dNTxgjnWy7l6KzXW2oJFvvXBvQL180UUtUPcIqt1beXTJ10k391Vd9XmoYSt5fA3Xcj6msYeUTE9ok0/s320/DSCN7726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Do have a properly constructed
compost bin and keep it covered so that it gets hot enough.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUcekCyjNK2kIXBf8EutMsRlP00z0oBejdbh0ISLSeBwP6heK7EbFm5Mvv3BhhvSla3XZnMy9hiBDg1AKSfC1xYd2gyjCou80SUfKEL_NpwmF6_Avbk0GENqrqV9QAY4c6aRj2jE-Ap0/s1600/DSCN7727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUcekCyjNK2kIXBf8EutMsRlP00z0oBejdbh0ISLSeBwP6heK7EbFm5Mvv3BhhvSla3XZnMy9hiBDg1AKSfC1xYd2gyjCou80SUfKEL_NpwmF6_Avbk0GENqrqV9QAY4c6aRj2jE-Ap0/s320/DSCN7727.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Don’t ever dig compost back into
the plot until you’re sure it’s fully rotted</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Do always dig out the roots of
perennial weeds such as dandelions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">5. Don’t dig too much if you have a weed
infestation – you are just bringing more seeds to the top and they will spring
into life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF15ZM-9r64vGu2qMvnmjsllNvUyHGTQIYiXYduTRImcgkLesZpHwunEPU6rlSBdjjWP6ScYRwgsiPCQsLDuf0DbPqGP2jThtjWVDPw3akeSoZMqOyzPddLId6FWSDsVut7c2-DCUlulE/s1600/DSCN7710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF15ZM-9r64vGu2qMvnmjsllNvUyHGTQIYiXYduTRImcgkLesZpHwunEPU6rlSBdjjWP6ScYRwgsiPCQsLDuf0DbPqGP2jThtjWVDPw3akeSoZMqOyzPddLId6FWSDsVut7c2-DCUlulE/s320/DSCN7710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9DOTIOaM8ITgHqULqWcyIcQDzeT983hATtAihukFzPJOj6ZA8Lv3azohjAFWc8nNayvAvLxbWxy6pxCxTkvAs2ILuYhFW3_JqQY8Ky9VmhmFBmMupxtMjqP5-mQ-9SJYZs54xem82_U/s1600/DSCN7715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9DOTIOaM8ITgHqULqWcyIcQDzeT983hATtAihukFzPJOj6ZA8Lv3azohjAFWc8nNayvAvLxbWxy6pxCxTkvAs2ILuYhFW3_JqQY8Ky9VmhmFBmMupxtMjqP5-mQ-9SJYZs54xem82_U/s320/DSCN7715.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">6. Do cover bare parts of the plot
that will not be used for a while with mulch, manure, old carpets, black
lining, anything to discourage growth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Carpet and manure are being used here. Black plastic is another good idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. Do hand weeding little and often </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, just love your plot - and good luck!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH_0t3hsromtCKUKiyhho6EWRoENn8S648-UhbLV3u4L783YMLO6rpxGlP5AvKixpbMcxiyoJdGCvGpe5KukXFX1VSOcexhwm-pHdDUSSjfaFjeT9z6q3ZLMMsUqoYk4BdZfqD50rvTo/s1600/DSCN7709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH_0t3hsromtCKUKiyhho6EWRoENn8S648-UhbLV3u4L783YMLO6rpxGlP5AvKixpbMcxiyoJdGCvGpe5KukXFX1VSOcexhwm-pHdDUSSjfaFjeT9z6q3ZLMMsUqoYk4BdZfqD50rvTo/s320/DSCN7709.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjEvMfVoSGFXuindYIkvxxHTgnfiYo5toe-LA3japnOBwRVg2425DWlPvT2NQZpo7_jThBBrAr1KzhtQNdRehDmWyHlC3ePJngMCaykFEUGIyXJ0k9BqiarggOjcob71hCGAno0Xftno/s1600/DSCN7729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjEvMfVoSGFXuindYIkvxxHTgnfiYo5toe-LA3japnOBwRVg2425DWlPvT2NQZpo7_jThBBrAr1KzhtQNdRehDmWyHlC3ePJngMCaykFEUGIyXJ0k9BqiarggOjcob71hCGAno0Xftno/s320/DSCN7729.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTJBH6KmNvWWdIchV-7WrmfhrPGo-MAj0SxU_zWVFa0OOwzlCL-GiOTEicvnQUVeLCDIuil-VdFXPXIkwzqod96fM8Qk4Q7bnuadx8zg8UlwvFYAiUVLd1E5KLCDB0-XYzPpSGFlJpqs/s1600/DSCN7724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTJBH6KmNvWWdIchV-7WrmfhrPGo-MAj0SxU_zWVFa0OOwzlCL-GiOTEicvnQUVeLCDIuil-VdFXPXIkwzqod96fM8Qk4Q7bnuadx8zg8UlwvFYAiUVLd1E5KLCDB0-XYzPpSGFlJpqs/s320/DSCN7724.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-1053567114336913432013-06-22T04:08:00.000-07:002013-06-22T04:08:41.564-07:00It's summer at last at the allotment!!<div class="MsoNormal">
The allotment is looking wonderful at the moment, albeit
everything is probably four weeks behind in development due to the cold summer we’ve
had so far.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking at the healthy crops, the half decent soil, the
lovely flowers covered in bees, it’s hard to believe that just 4 years ago this
whole area was a stony field, covered in weeds and grass. What is more, it was
a quagmire!! One very wet day when it seemed, at last, that we may be allowed
to move over from our existing allotments, I climbed the gate and started
walking into the field to get a closer look at what we may have to work with.
Soon I was sinking into what felt like sinking sands!! Only it was really
sticky boggy clay, with a consistency I can only describe as “gloopy”! How
different it is now!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwlmoIMehBUt4dWVyEWJIqXR-v-23Lh_SkFIFKwlJlRRaufCnakR2ItDJYN5GRqA7gNePj2DuwcFDrW6EvJ_MTVKXHcPUeCr2Q3XyV4SJ-h8ecajBubnLQkzGdTUrxXCiIxfPJDH9glE/s1600/DSCN6475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwlmoIMehBUt4dWVyEWJIqXR-v-23Lh_SkFIFKwlJlRRaufCnakR2ItDJYN5GRqA7gNePj2DuwcFDrW6EvJ_MTVKXHcPUeCr2Q3XyV4SJ-h8ecajBubnLQkzGdTUrxXCiIxfPJDH9glE/s320/DSCN6475.JPG" width="320" /></a>As we started digging our plots over that first winter of
occupation, we were soon rewarded by the song of a skylark high above us, come
to see what was going on. Of course it didn’t take long for the pigeons to visit
as well, in their droves. Locust like, they can be guaranteed to appear as soon
as some unsuspecting “plotter” plants out any kind of brassica, without
protection, when these pesky birds come down to strip the plants bare to the
midribs of the leaves. But we have netting and scarecrows and glistening CDs
and other ideas to help keep the pigeons away, some methods more effective than
others. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now a friendly robin sometimes comes to see me while I’m
working. She probably nests in one of the sheds dotted around the site. And we
have pheasants galore! Beautiful birds, I don’t think they do much harm to
crops, although I’m convinced that they eat my organic slug pellets that I put
down!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-Yx-isplyFeZyFAAvQ1AXbALWMrzU06hKor1fbWTVx-cLGsBMlO5IhJ9UtVodiAAYS-WPTltS0AriGCffzk8HA_W5QxX2dQ7poNQ9evv-N7rzH_s_hEyTd6tyVAN24gEsrG6zgTI-P8/s1600/DSCN6483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-Yx-isplyFeZyFAAvQ1AXbALWMrzU06hKor1fbWTVx-cLGsBMlO5IhJ9UtVodiAAYS-WPTltS0AriGCffzk8HA_W5QxX2dQ7poNQ9evv-N7rzH_s_hEyTd6tyVAN24gEsrG6zgTI-P8/s320/DSCN6483.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So work is now going on in earnest up at the site and soon
I’ll be harvesting strawberries, new potatoes, spinach, beetroot, chives, swiss
chard, and hopefully some courgettes…</div>
Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-47425551061053541782013-03-27T08:06:00.002-07:002013-03-27T08:07:58.125-07:00Is Spring here at last?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiznQcdjLZSccAQ02SuW5AnsDBkiOX3bDaGt8KqFbqE8a1jkFnIwvUMqrSvi8d3lUMkG6DdK6BMa_mKU67OzKOqss6lJnDEVG2TRRcdreztgoH2bIKIbNMs0qXMV8pe-5zhsMrKCUWSs/s1600/DSCN6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiznQcdjLZSccAQ02SuW5AnsDBkiOX3bDaGt8KqFbqE8a1jkFnIwvUMqrSvi8d3lUMkG6DdK6BMa_mKU67OzKOqss6lJnDEVG2TRRcdreztgoH2bIKIbNMs0qXMV8pe-5zhsMrKCUWSs/s400/DSCN6068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Unbelievably this is the allotment only 4 days ago!!<br />
<br />
Today it is sunny - the first sun we've seen for ages - albeit still very cold - little more than 3 degrees centigrade still.
But at least I have been motivated to venture outside and sow a few seeds - the first of the year I confess! I've found it so difficult to get going this year in the garden - it has been so wet, then so cold!<br />
<br />
What have I sown? Well to start with I've sown two different varieties of Broad Bean into 3" pots of seed compost, watered them and covered them with panes of glass on the staging in the cold greenhouse. I hope the ever present mice out there will not be able to climb up to the staging - and anyway the glass covering will defeat them at the moment. Mice love digging up broad beans - all through the process of germination! Last year I sowed the seeds directly into the soil at the allotment - and lost the lot to mice!! The heater in the greenhouse is set to prevent the temperature going below freezing - that is all. I have given <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=asparagus+peas&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qAlTUYO9F8jZPM6RgZgD&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1357&bih=639#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=beetroot&oq=beetroot&gs_l=img.3..0l10.215519.218685.0.219636.21.11.0.3.3.4.193.807.8j2.10.0...0.0...1c.1.7.img.0Ah1enGEIXs&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44342787,d.d2k&fp=9b11dcc70602f20a&biw=1357&bih=639" target="_blank">beetroot seed</a> and <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=asparagus+peas&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qAlTUYO9F8jZPM6RgZgD&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1357&bih=639">asparagus peas</a> the same treatment except that I have put individual seeds into 2" square modules in seed trays - and will transplant them out on the allotment in due course when it is warmer up there and they are well hardened off.
I also thought it was time I sowed the tomatoes. These I have treated like the beetroot, sowing them into modules in seed trays. But I have brought them indoors and they are on a warm window ledge above a radiator, covered with cling film to keep them moist until they germinate.
Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-3353886577839974852013-01-14T04:56:00.000-08:002013-01-14T04:56:42.710-08:00USA and Canada won't let you grow your own vegetables?Just found this amazing story! Across the USA and Canada there are apparently authorities who restrict the amount of space given up to growing vegetables in your yard or garden. Sounds crazy? It is! Follow the <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/08/planting-vegetable-gardens.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link</a> for full story.<br />
How can a pristine striped lawn with hefty use of chemicals and copious watering to keep it that way be at all sensible in a world where growing our own organic food has to be the best thing we can possibly do to help us in developing healthy eating habits for our families?<br />
I thought it was a wind up to start with but the article seems genuine enough.<br />
What do you think?Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-19314827723869321902013-01-01T10:42:00.000-08:002013-01-01T10:42:16.756-08:00Grow your own Drugs and a Homegrown RevolutionI braved the weather today and went up to the allotment to see what is going on up there. The sun was shining and the sky blue but it was very cold! And the ground is totally waterlogged - so absolutely impossible to dig the ground at all - it would really damage the soil to even attempt to walk over the plot.<br />
But I did manage to pick some lovely sprouts, some purple sprouting broccoli, and dig a few leeks and parsnips. I shall roast the parsnips with a grating of parmesan cheese - delicious!<br />
And quite unbelievably the rhubarb has started sprouting. It clearly thinks it's spring already!<br />
Had a super book as a Christmas present. It's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/James-Wongs-Homegrown-Revolution-Wong/dp/0297867121/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357065387&sr=1-1">Homegrown Revolution</a></i> by James Wong, the author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Your-Own-Drugs-James/dp/0007345305/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357065483&sr=1-2">Grow Your Own Drugs.</a></i> And in it he shows us how to widen our horizons, to grow the exotic and unusual - and he trials all these in his own small suburban garden in South London. How about callaloo, watercress, cucamelons, chop suey greens, tomatillos, inca berries, shark's fin melon, dahlia yam, electric daisies .... The list seems endless; he calls them "incredible edibles." So I'm really looking forward to following his advice and pushing the boat out this year on the allotment. I can see I shall soon run out of space up there.<br />
And through the blog I shall let you know how I get on!<br />
<br />Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-6264198392163991512012-07-15T02:46:00.000-07:002012-07-15T02:46:00.470-07:00Frog in a flowerpot!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf1KbeRUVs9RmuviHj80gw02c2CO6GXwyMLMMqopj-me_M6xRXU8blEUhL7eAWdu60YT65ZXwbZK7QGynbu0jZnVSar3osvyD1wDuaQa4LOD62Zyo1vdP-8Ey-Wa-29x8eYuVKtkfOck/s1600/DSCN3141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf1KbeRUVs9RmuviHj80gw02c2CO6GXwyMLMMqopj-me_M6xRXU8blEUhL7eAWdu60YT65ZXwbZK7QGynbu0jZnVSar3osvyD1wDuaQa4LOD62Zyo1vdP-8Ey-Wa-29x8eYuVKtkfOck/s400/DSCN3141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-74082983912734341822012-07-14T02:44:00.000-07:002012-07-14T02:44:19.936-07:00What is eating my potato flowers?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd52fLqZA9ZwuLlA4nuQG6tfw4G4_00QLS2e_dVhuTMmqoy9fmFFJJ1JNhNw9zqnMzOG8bQMG3JzBrRbYA4-lA1oZu8LDxtQi-HtcOxNUnomkCrRweEq1HozqAJIDSYa2ZGEV_E4CjYDE/s1600/DSCN3149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd52fLqZA9ZwuLlA4nuQG6tfw4G4_00QLS2e_dVhuTMmqoy9fmFFJJ1JNhNw9zqnMzOG8bQMG3JzBrRbYA4-lA1oZu8LDxtQi-HtcOxNUnomkCrRweEq1HozqAJIDSYa2ZGEV_E4CjYDE/s200/DSCN3149.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Anyone have any ideas? I have never ever seen potato flowers disappear like this before?<br />
<br />
What a challenging year this is proving to be on the allotment! The rain continues - unrelenting. In the past week we have had thunder and lightning, hail stones and rain the like of which I have never seen before.<br />
And the plants struggle with so much wet and the attacks from slugs and snails which are delighting in the conditions.<br />
Some things have been good - strawberries were amazing albeit two weeks late in coming - but they are now over. The new potatoes are tasty and abundant and the perpetual spinach and swiss chard are keeping me in healthy greens!<br />
The broad beans need another week probably to swell up but the crop doesn't look too bad, as long as the pigeons stay away. And the various brassicas, totally protected by netting from the unwelcome attention of birds and butterflies, are growing well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpGdOsKLcj829A0z_oyGNtl5ZqjgKjpHSaIcUsdDfyKolb8NeJahCQz6Nm89SPJZvfwOmb9JOy6M5KZIlWPUJEa0v0A7LO7eXpqS0FUxKKqq6myfc77FJc1Lp3gypitieTXR3Ab1C-cA/s1600/DSCN3144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpGdOsKLcj829A0z_oyGNtl5ZqjgKjpHSaIcUsdDfyKolb8NeJahCQz6Nm89SPJZvfwOmb9JOy6M5KZIlWPUJEa0v0A7LO7eXpqS0FUxKKqq6myfc77FJc1Lp3gypitieTXR3Ab1C-cA/s320/DSCN3144.jpg" width="320" /></a>As soon as the ground dries a little (if it ever does?) I shall tidy up the strawberry bed, digging out the oldest row and planting a new row from healthy looking runners, on a three year rotation plan. Then I shall put plenty of manure down between the rows, to feed them and also to keep weeds at bay - then I can forget about them for another year.<br />
I also intend this year to sow some broad beans where the potatoes are being cleared, hoping for an early spring harvest next year. I've never done this before but others do with seemingly good results. And I shall sow some more spinach and swiss chard to keep the supply to the kitchen going.<br />
My main hope now is for a late summer burst of warmth and sunshine to give the poor courgettes, pumpkins, squash, etc a chance to grow and mature - otherwise I shall be missing out on beautiful squashes to store over winter for lovely roast vegetables.Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-67309422080650379292012-07-03T02:52:00.000-07:002012-07-03T02:52:05.361-07:00Flaming June. What a month it was! Everyone is saying the same thing; plants on the allotment are just sitting there, doing nothing, especially the runner and french beans, and the courgettes, pumpkins etc, that need sunshine and warmth to really get going. And they hate the wind. It has battered all the young plants relentlessly for weeks and they simply hate it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq41ChZAWb91fYLibQ6FZ6_5XN950JnLpNQoYWSDO1F93Dv9rOwOorzg3Iotx4PJpqwJRmunBDBfaeYQmZLcSiSzAiqx4pdyvIgsnVloh-RIUCjQ2C0JC8goMy1YBZqpBWXCsiXrzoEEY/s1600/DSCN2851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq41ChZAWb91fYLibQ6FZ6_5XN950JnLpNQoYWSDO1F93Dv9rOwOorzg3Iotx4PJpqwJRmunBDBfaeYQmZLcSiSzAiqx4pdyvIgsnVloh-RIUCjQ2C0JC8goMy1YBZqpBWXCsiXrzoEEY/s320/DSCN2851.jpg" width="240" /></a>Nonetheless, not all things have been bad. I am still picking and enjoying spinach and swiss chard, carried over from the winter and last year's sowings. They are tending to bolt, but even the flower heads can be chopped up and steamed with the rest of the leaves. I must sow some more soon to carry over to next year, as surely the existing plants will give up soon and end up on the compost heap.<br />
And talking of compost, I have just emptied one bin and used the contents to top dress the asparagus bed.<br />
And the strawberries have been amazing. They loved all the rain to swell the fruit, and then a week or two of warmth came just at the right moment to ripen them. Yes they have been very late, but for the last ten days I have been picking up to 6 pounds every day!! And that is after the birds and mice have had their share and in spite of the many that have gone moldy on the plant.<br />
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And in case any of my readers wonder why I have been silent for a while, it is because I have had my head down getting my next book through the copy editing and proof stages. The cover is now designed and it is all very exciting! But with the allotment and garden to look after as well, there are simply not enough hours in the day to keep blogging as well. Mea culpa.Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-45377304398562923292012-05-15T01:08:00.001-07:002012-05-15T01:08:57.328-07:00Rain and WeedsOh dear! It continues to be cold and wet and miserable - just 2 reasonably pleasant days and we were all up at the allotment beavering away with seed sowing and planting out and generally tidying up some pretty neglected plots. But everything is now so late, and we need warmth to bring things on. I only hope that autumn comes late and mild or many vegetables will not have a long enough growing season to reach maturity.<br />
I continue to hear plotters crying that they cannot keep on top of their weeds. Do you know why? Take a look at this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kbNQRCTQCV8RsRPfdtbtUV39ruM5X0Vccj9dJhiWveT7sj9RVAWUQ3xwpc-BaYzuePrW3CnvXE2WGLlWiCL6dYJy5dP4HN4MzR46I5SL2A_SbY3nGHN6jQatFJ5d3nAvOqxRVvgWtmY/s1600/DSCN2725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kbNQRCTQCV8RsRPfdtbtUV39ruM5X0Vccj9dJhiWveT7sj9RVAWUQ3xwpc-BaYzuePrW3CnvXE2WGLlWiCL6dYJy5dP4HN4MzR46I5SL2A_SbY3nGHN6jQatFJ5d3nAvOqxRVvgWtmY/s320/DSCN2725.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
The plot looks well tended - but a moment or two getting rid of those dandelions before they seed would pay dividends in less weeds next year!! It's all a question of priorities!<br />
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Below is the photo from another plot. Again the other half of that plot is well tended, dug and raked and sowed - but why not pull out those big weeds at the same time? Why allow them to flower?<br />
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It all gets very frustrating for those of us who keep a weed free plot!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhCaKldWOyQVcNfoXhCKOW60NZFpfUDl7Ctqha1Vnsnd7ScK5vFEb22dez9XvZ_fCj-jsFD0axkzqtewSTPGHIv9_E6kBG6Htdaczne-UEiJ9ikakvW6eFFmKq4g6ratm9XppVz-WJEQ/s1600/DSCN2721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhCaKldWOyQVcNfoXhCKOW60NZFpfUDl7Ctqha1Vnsnd7ScK5vFEb22dez9XvZ_fCj-jsFD0axkzqtewSTPGHIv9_E6kBG6Htdaczne-UEiJ9ikakvW6eFFmKq4g6ratm9XppVz-WJEQ/s320/DSCN2721.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Here is my plot. It's a busy plot - I like to think of it as a cottage garden allotment - there's always something on the go ready for the kitchen, and things get put where there's space, whilst still trying to avoid the same crop in the same place within a 3 year cycle. But weeds I do not have!<br />
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I've just sown rows of radish, lettuce and spring onion directly into the soil. All the seeds I sowed in modules in the cold greenhouse before I went way for a few days last week are all now well and truly up, and growing. Soon I shall be able to transplant beetroot, parsnips, onions, celeriac and many different types of brassica onto the allotment. I've also just sown all my cucurbits - courgettes, butternut squash, cucumbers etc, along with the beans - runner and french - so I don't intend to go hungry this year to come. If only we could have some more warm sunshine.<br />
<br />Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-20506142528626177962012-05-02T04:51:00.000-07:002012-05-02T04:52:50.753-07:00After the rainWell it at last stopped raining for a while yesterday and I snatched an hour to go up to the allotment. The first potatoes I planted have come through, and I have earthed them up well - at the same time dealing with the abundance of tiny weed seedlings that covered the potato plot. This is one reason why potatoes are such a good crop to clean any weedy land. All the earthing up doesn't give weeds a chance - and any that do survive are soon finished off by the shade of the maturing potato foliage.<br />
The dandelions have had a field day - hundreds of flowers all across the allotments. I take the flowers off as I walk around, to make sure they are not given any chance to seed - one year's seeding = ten years of weeding. Oh how true. <br />
The ground is really boggy on the plot after all this rain. I planted out some lettuce seedlings and sowed some spring onions, but had to give up because walking on such wet ground is not doing it any good.<br />
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Not to do with the allotment at all - but just look at the progress on the banana plant indoors- wonder how many months before they'll be edible!?!Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-36714164638486613122012-04-17T06:46:00.000-07:002012-04-17T06:46:57.166-07:00My robin in the flowerpot<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/robin%20bird%20picture/fotoklub_2008/DSC_0011a.jpg?o=6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh188/fotoklub_2008/DSC_0011a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Tidying up all my flower pots the other week in preparation for big time planting sessions ahead, I disturbed a robin sitting on a beautiful moss lined nest inside one of the big black plastic pots. I don't know who was more startled - her or me.<br />
I was so afraid that with the fright I gave her, she would abandon the nest, and I have been giving it a very wide clearance ever since.<br />
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So what happened?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am delighted to report that the eggs have hatched and two robins are now busily flying backwards and forwards with beaks full of grubs and flies to feed the young! </span></div>Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-26715478529406948922012-04-13T04:34:00.000-07:002012-04-13T04:34:15.103-07:00What a week!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dhQ0FSE_xmYhQrPwBwb0eEUg3hqLTq6I6tjqWtC8M1zmy1wiaFQMkeC7kZNynIcn0UKOObAVHHyBdckw-xoGo9yvO5_9-geaBapG-YwqGcPBZXWKkQ90yp7riyY17vHzY9NKvahMsbk/s1600/DSCN2594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dhQ0FSE_xmYhQrPwBwb0eEUg3hqLTq6I6tjqWtC8M1zmy1wiaFQMkeC7kZNynIcn0UKOObAVHHyBdckw-xoGo9yvO5_9-geaBapG-YwqGcPBZXWKkQ90yp7riyY17vHzY9NKvahMsbk/s320/DSCN2594.jpg" width="240" /></a>What a week it's been.After the false summer we had in March, enjoying temperatures up to 25 degrees, this week has seen sunshine and showers, wind and rain, hail and thunder, and temperatures little above 8 degrees during the day with slight ground frosts at night.<br />
But I just had to plant my potatoes today. Legend says we should plant them on Good Friday, which seems a bit daft given that Easter dates vary significantly year on year.<br />
So up to the plot I went, and whilst there picked some vegetables for the weekend; spinach, swiss chard, leeks and sprouts - plenty to eat for several days. And I looked across at other plots which are just bare soil, (below right - just a few leeks planted recently) compared with my "cottage garden" plot still full of produce. I still have parsnips to dig, and cabbages hearting up nicely, especially now I've covered them to keep the butterflies and pigeons off them!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vQ2oP2blVgXDXLHUrW5z5joR5ytxV5ZouROsirH0dAuVUew_ccCb48ob61DrhUHp6jdGV4eSpYGTtTGKghYkEXbYlS7hjyCFP-19JI-vhaC5gEOk8p-scF8cc1tKjlHVJbfzzeeN040/s1600/DSCN2595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vQ2oP2blVgXDXLHUrW5z5joR5ytxV5ZouROsirH0dAuVUew_ccCb48ob61DrhUHp6jdGV4eSpYGTtTGKghYkEXbYlS7hjyCFP-19JI-vhaC5gEOk8p-scF8cc1tKjlHVJbfzzeeN040/s320/DSCN2595.jpg" width="240" /></a>And I did get the potatoes in! I first dug a trench and lined it all along the bottom with compost from one of my bins at home which I have just emptied. Last time I did this, I had a bumper crop of spuds. Let's hope history repeats. And I also wanted to use this strip of land which has been a strawberry row since the allotments opened, so the soil is not well worked, still full of stones and very heavy with clay. The potato row should do the trick in improving the soil here with all the earthing up that will be required - and the thick potato foliage will keep any weeds at bay.<br />
All we need now is some warmer weather - no sign of the broad bean seedlings yet - I hope the field mouse hasn't dug them all up!Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-50694537836085405102012-04-09T04:38:00.002-07:002012-04-09T04:38:47.231-07:00My Banana Tree is flowering!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6xCf95lKjvporHX8kKaasIRI69NW_I19MdLjsRwUOjsPHnTH6OW8aUFbhQNHBjHADtbnKUCawUBHWeOEf6NjzKzD3_ldII6yI4KqknJm_K7EIhsubxwv_HCBOufzBNUkj1-DSVM4Mnc/s1600/DSCN2528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6xCf95lKjvporHX8kKaasIRI69NW_I19MdLjsRwUOjsPHnTH6OW8aUFbhQNHBjHADtbnKUCawUBHWeOEf6NjzKzD3_ldII6yI4KqknJm_K7EIhsubxwv_HCBOufzBNUkj1-DSVM4Mnc/s400/DSCN2528.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Huge excitement in this household over the last week - the banana we have grown indoors from a tiny plant is flowering - after 8 years!!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D1ocghH6ktrCCihYm1R3p2aMbdvUotfvioT9nStGXA3tJzewyhzn-WGy3Kvu9wor9xhNDXiZhzB6EHkiqDc6A1n45gPOHLBMeKLOBtTJr7xzlmyuKtas_sPN-P6IIcsKYi-6QSI0bt4/s1600/DSCN2532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D1ocghH6ktrCCihYm1R3p2aMbdvUotfvioT9nStGXA3tJzewyhzn-WGy3Kvu9wor9xhNDXiZhzB6EHkiqDc6A1n45gPOHLBMeKLOBtTJr7xzlmyuKtas_sPN-P6IIcsKYi-6QSI0bt4/s400/DSCN2532.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLEVAS1_2IGiesRh8MC0wFWH5mrvSh8YQotmwj_QwQSELK9viXAzpWpT5Fvp3FrqHHiJn_h0p8BLzqJqA0CfVHjcaDBPSEEiVa9H6w7lyeCcqhYtH8KNhnz4hYzIyzzu0NJDFHfSAddE/s1600/DSCN2562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLEVAS1_2IGiesRh8MC0wFWH5mrvSh8YQotmwj_QwQSELK9viXAzpWpT5Fvp3FrqHHiJn_h0p8BLzqJqA0CfVHjcaDBPSEEiVa9H6w7lyeCcqhYtH8KNhnz4hYzIyzzu0NJDFHfSAddE/s320/DSCN2562.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14Ub06Qlrt2ScvAcVm3C1W44T0vgfOGKK63ayLVIpoikDiD6dzC_hvc3VzZr3yDvhF4MRhtH9zfIbD5sJmpAd_Q1uEuG-KfIY0L1IIyXw2pCreK284US7KiGPbxxo6XO8Sb7tsXNDJqk/s1600/DSCN2563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14Ub06Qlrt2ScvAcVm3C1W44T0vgfOGKK63ayLVIpoikDiD6dzC_hvc3VzZr3yDvhF4MRhtH9zfIbD5sJmpAd_Q1uEuG-KfIY0L1IIyXw2pCreK284US7KiGPbxxo6XO8Sb7tsXNDJqk/s400/DSCN2563.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-42155276078912278742012-03-29T09:11:00.001-07:002012-03-29T09:13:05.618-07:006 ways to keep weeds at bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQl21mVxoxqUBr0blrLp-2vqXxXisoqsvwjEOHh-I-alCgZDcDLtX9-77L4FYTE5BCUiNdbMelHBgQznXuFcyl1UG3XcGSqVj9D_EcEFhhgUYNhSLLI8lDT5RzcX2f-QoOEitnAG7vVY/s1600/DSCN2503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQl21mVxoxqUBr0blrLp-2vqXxXisoqsvwjEOHh-I-alCgZDcDLtX9-77L4FYTE5BCUiNdbMelHBgQznXuFcyl1UG3XcGSqVj9D_EcEFhhgUYNhSLLI8lDT5RzcX2f-QoOEitnAG7vVY/s320/DSCN2503.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Have just spent a few happy hours at allotment and will pay for it tomorrow - back already twinging!<br />
The sun was fierce - a sun hat was essential kit today.<br />
Folks often ask me: How do you keep on top of your weeds so successfully?<br />
The answer is really simple - just remember:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">One year's seeding means seven years' weeding. </span></div><br />
It really is that simple!<br />
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Every time I visit the plot I walk around it and pick off any stray dandelion flowers etc. both on the plot and in the surrounding grass edging before they get any chance to seed. And I also, whenever I have a few moments, take a hand fork or trowel around the plot and dig out any perennial weeds such as dandelion, dock, etc. making sure the deep tap root is removed as far as possible. Leave any root in and the weed will spring up again.<br />
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I also never ever rotavate the soil with any kind of mechanical digger. Apart from being cruel to all those worms, that we should be encouraging, the digger shreds up any perennial weed roots so that the weed problem is multiplied many times over! Not a good idea!<br />
The digger also produces a fine tilth that is as as good as any seed bed - perfect for encouraging germination. The problem is it encourages all the weed seeds to germinate as well - they've been lying dormant beneath the soil waiting for just this moment!<br />
<br />
Then again - if I know I am going to leave a patch of soil bare for any length of time, I cover it with a thick layer of manure. If you don't have this readily available, then old carpeting or black plastic will do the trick - or why not sow some green manure seeds - such as annual sweet clover - and dig the resulting growth into the soil before it seeds. <br />
<br />
So - just a few ideas. And I certainly seem to keep on top of those weeds without too much effort - valuable time and energy is best spent growing the vegetables, not fighting weeds!Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-80648491408216147722012-03-15T06:40:00.000-07:002012-03-15T06:40:07.241-07:004 jobs at the plot today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsGk4UyG-nGZtTu-awj1rrOm99KCkHZ-7k78_TWuP2PY-X1if28XOYa0PS9Vpr2xCgxvIo2uBg3zA8i7DPXPwAgu_fGSTWZRbIuUp1vI4JPUd0o57zx-ELM1MlNvzSQMUw-x9CTDKdTs/s1600/DSCN2147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsGk4UyG-nGZtTu-awj1rrOm99KCkHZ-7k78_TWuP2PY-X1if28XOYa0PS9Vpr2xCgxvIo2uBg3zA8i7DPXPwAgu_fGSTWZRbIuUp1vI4JPUd0o57zx-ELM1MlNvzSQMUw-x9CTDKdTs/s320/DSCN2147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It's tempting to be lulled into a false sense of spring during this extraordinarily mild, indeed warm, week at least down in the South East of England. 17 degrees C it might be during the day, but there are still frosts at night sometimes, albeit not the really deep hoar frosts of mid winter. But they can still damage tender plants.<br />
I spent nearly three hours at the allotment this morning. First thing, there was a thick fog and it was quite spooky down there. Later as the sun burnt through the fog it became quite warm by 11 ish.<br />
What was I doing?<br />
First I wanted to dig out all the strawberry plants that had spread far and wide across the plot during the autumn and early winter. They had to come out - I need the space.<br />
So out they all came - and onto the compost heap.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtNrykUlRCvJh3oe_vBep11XD5sNe__SQ5dpIP51sP5GGq78LBXbBVWL-0q_TgEPnFAFT57c55110KG7ay183lROyPOtjdU8EN70vapGglqJ4KNo5YP6xk7URBMRjn_bArQTkdS1MbFc/s1600/DSCN2146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtNrykUlRCvJh3oe_vBep11XD5sNe__SQ5dpIP51sP5GGq78LBXbBVWL-0q_TgEPnFAFT57c55110KG7ay183lROyPOtjdU8EN70vapGglqJ4KNo5YP6xk7URBMRjn_bArQTkdS1MbFc/s320/DSCN2146.jpg" width="320" /></a>Then I raked out all the dead leaves and runners - all brown and crackly now - from the two rows of strawberries I want to retain for fruiting this summer. These dead remains contain toxins that inhibit fruiting if they are left to rot around the strawberry plants. Mixed with all the other compost material, and plentiful farm manure, and left to rot over the summer, the resulting compost will benefit the rest of the plot no end.<br />
Then I looked at the other compost bins and forked through them to turn the material a little in each one, to promote faster rotting down. In a couple of them I noticed the tell tale little runs of field mice - no harm there - they like the warmth and no doubt the vegetable peelings etc brought from home. Now rats I would be more worried about - but no trouble with those so far. The biggest problem with vermin at the allotments comes from wood pigeons. They will strip bare any sprouting broccoli, cabbage, and other brassicas unless the crop is completely covered with netting to keep them off. Some plotters have covered their whole plot with a fruit cage to tackle this problem.<br />
So - to carry on - I then lugged umpteen barrow loads of manure from the communal pile and spread this all around the plots - except for that part where I plan to sow root vegetables this year. Fresh manure and root vegetables don't go well together, unless you want to see how grotesque you can grow your carrots!<br />
All in all a good morning's work. The other day I bought some Broad Bean seeds and must sow them soon! Also the seed potatoes need chitting and planting - more about that later. Traditionally potatoes are planted on Good Friday - I don't off hand know why - but this year that will be 6th April so I have a few weeks in hand yet.<br />
Good gardening!Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-81834699138131771562012-02-16T12:38:00.000-08:002012-02-16T12:38:18.679-08:00First signs of spring?Sorry for the absence from this site. It has just been too cold and frozen to even contemplate going to the allotment. But today I did, and picked a good number of lovely Brussels Sprouts. The freezing cold has taken its toll, and the Swiss Chard looks decidedly sick, but now that the ground is thawing I shall go back to dig some Parsnips and Jerusalem Artichokes, and pull a few leeks, ready for the weekend. Soon I shall have to think about what what I want to grow again this year and decide what seeds to order. I hope it's not too late to put some garlic cloves in. They really benefit from cold weather, which they need to stimulate division into smaller cloves. Since a cold snap is forecast again in the next few days, I should be OK if I don't waste any more time!<br />
I just really hope it warms up soon though!<br />
Listening to the news today it seems that we are in for a serious drought this year, so I must cart as much manure as I can over to my plot from the communal heap so I have a good supply of mulch to spread around plants in due course to keep any moisture around their roots.<br />
Spring must be just around the corner - the daffodils are breaking into bloom on the church bank, blue tits seem to be preparing to nest in the box, the green woodpecker is enjoying digging for ants in the lawn and I have heard the drilling of the greater spotted woodpecker somewhere in a nearby tree.<br />
Hooray!!<br />
At home I must make sure all the water butts are properly connected up to drainpipes so I save every drop I possibly can of any rainfall we have.Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-21209619071931964682011-12-28T11:30:00.000-08:002011-12-28T11:30:31.477-08:00Incredible EdibleI've just come across a fantastic idea - one that started in the UK but is gathering interest from other parts of the world. I was listening to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme today and pricked up my ears when I heard mention of food sustainability. Vegetables are being grown in a graveyard, I heard, and then came another snippet; that our food production accounts for 23% of our carbon footprint. So I stopped my noisy food processor and started to listen properly. <br />
Todmorden is a an old Victorian mill town on the Lancashire/West Yorkshire border. 3 years ago it set out to be the first town to become self sufficient in food, with a target set for 2018. They call it the Incredible Edible campaign. And whilst the founders do not feel that the target date is totally achievable, nevertheless they are doing well - and they have a wonderful <a href="http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/">website</a> to prove it, full of amazing resources to support those already in the loop, and to encourage others to start in their own localities.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCq1t2ZXq2SjOcGAX3Hzx4RQoXxEJk6JDeO4pBihgHVdH1AYPzN0AO0fgjvxtVW9RG2ekEuAcy9Ai19TkGR-TmvPBYDJ1pXSwJboH9x1oH_DKmd-gjMMqfls0hrDzgy3LJ-mLubVuiQA/s1600/DSCN0999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCq1t2ZXq2SjOcGAX3Hzx4RQoXxEJk6JDeO4pBihgHVdH1AYPzN0AO0fgjvxtVW9RG2ekEuAcy9Ai19TkGR-TmvPBYDJ1pXSwJboH9x1oH_DKmd-gjMMqfls0hrDzgy3LJ-mLubVuiQA/s320/DSCN0999.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The idea is that veggies and edibles are grown in public and unused spaces for the common plate, and it is now being put into practice in <a href="http://www.incredible-edible-wilmslow.co.uk/">Wilmslow</a> for example, and in <a href="http://www.transitiontowntotnes.org/projects/incredible-edible-totnes">Totnes,</a> the original <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/support/what-transition-initiative">Transition Town</a>. <br />
And it's not just about growing fruit and vegetables - at least in Todmorden. It's also about educating residents on what to look for in sustainable meat supplies, and in how to pickle and bottle summer surpluses for winter consumption.<br />
Now here's something I could start rolling in our own town! Just give me a little time! We've already started encouraging our local school to grow vegetables, for example, and we have a community orchard, but this is one huge step further. If there are any hints and tips out there as to how to start (in addition to the online resources mentioned), I'd love to hear.Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-53318706016226886052011-12-23T05:48:00.000-08:002011-12-23T05:48:16.608-08:00A very unusual parsnipWas up at the allotment this morning - very grey and bleak up there and extremely boggy underfoot. Needless to say I was the only one there, but I had a shopping list from my family for Christmas grub. And that included leeks and parsley and sprouts - so there I was digging and picking! Whilst there I also dug up some jerusalem artichokes. They are very knobbly and hard to clean, even more impossible to peel, but they are wonderful in a mixture of various roast vegetables. You don't want too many of them on their own though! They are rather like baked beans and worse than sprouts!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Cw9OucVGUAREyiaA4RBhJDkRfJKxfMyYSdjDkTNkjrwbhNTuOHvw1yVkIzGXZQiEQp6BObka-ScweZ9hfMRNU3MQY7WPmBXgjKbuZj2BgnB4z82wxjMmSZbTIBw2X6saCZWlSXT5rqc/s1600/DSCN1749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Cw9OucVGUAREyiaA4RBhJDkRfJKxfMyYSdjDkTNkjrwbhNTuOHvw1yVkIzGXZQiEQp6BObka-ScweZ9hfMRNU3MQY7WPmBXgjKbuZj2BgnB4z82wxjMmSZbTIBw2X6saCZWlSXT5rqc/s320/DSCN1749.jpg" width="320" /></a> I have also been nurturing a rogue parsnip that decided to grow in the middle of the gravel and stone path across the plot - it was never going to be a prizewinner, given the "soil" it was growing in - but how about this!! Roasted, it will feed quite a few mouths!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I really look forward to a new growing season just around the corner now we have passed the shortest day here in the Northern Hemisphere.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Meanwhile </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wish all my readers and supporters a peaceful and joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year. </span></div>Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-90660715384153965532011-11-14T07:00:00.000-08:002011-11-14T07:00:13.820-08:00Sparrowhawk on the allotment<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/sparrowhawk/plymmer/sparrowhawk.jpg?o=6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad171/plymmer/sparrowhawk.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Went up to the allotment to dig some carrots, pick some spinach and take some household waste to the compost heap there (an enclosed plastic bin to keep rats at bay).<br />
<br />
As I drove in I disturbed a beautiful sparrowhawk - at least I think that's what it was - that took flight and soared down the track ahead of me. I hope he's earning his keep and keeping the pigeon numbers down!!Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-21580560941436029512011-11-12T14:17:00.000-08:002011-11-12T14:17:58.828-08:00In Remembrance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDVEO-hD-KenBnCrpmh4N-lAY802ZafEI1wamR84L6fKgIO4cp4-GixSszNMGdIFQXcHRPLGeiNW7UYmjFaC3erDK6Y2799B4J2p0jM3eJQYnqtmGG-2HsiX97nR0TrimhEtbtb6B9gQ/s1600/DSCN1497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDVEO-hD-KenBnCrpmh4N-lAY802ZafEI1wamR84L6fKgIO4cp4-GixSszNMGdIFQXcHRPLGeiNW7UYmjFaC3erDK6Y2799B4J2p0jM3eJQYnqtmGG-2HsiX97nR0TrimhEtbtb6B9gQ/s400/DSCN1497.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A lone poppy captured in full bloom on the allotment yesterday!</div>Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-39305535100062295362011-11-06T05:25:00.000-08:002011-11-06T05:27:55.241-08:00Autumn fruitfulness - and flowers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJl48zr15doc_PiS__I5n9pu_AXoZMJbKv41Pv-4267shURAfDKOAi4Vhc0Hbu_MfmxdmOm3sAWbVZu-AAQZ1A0zik7N94QaKi9iDiYDbgp00qkL6BBx6L8k_mK_fToGjCB6696LgkBe0/s1600/DSCN1439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJl48zr15doc_PiS__I5n9pu_AXoZMJbKv41Pv-4267shURAfDKOAi4Vhc0Hbu_MfmxdmOm3sAWbVZu-AAQZ1A0zik7N94QaKi9iDiYDbgp00qkL6BBx6L8k_mK_fToGjCB6696LgkBe0/s320/DSCN1439.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Out in the garden yesterday clearing up mountains of fallen leaves - all very soggy, but so mild!!<br />
Never before can I remember the fuschias being still out in their full glory in November at the same time as the fungi in the lawn! And even the fungi seem to be twice as big this year as usual. We have plenty of the beautiful Fly Agaric toadstool - often called the Mabel Lucie Atwell fungus, because it featured in many of her illustrations. But be careful - it's very poisonous. <br />
So I took a camera around to record all of this yesterday. Just look at the Azalea just come out - even that is twice its usual size! And the Iris seed heads with their gorgeous red seeds are in abnormally super abundance. If old wives' tales have anything in them, this is going to be a very hard winter again. Poor birds!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4uPUH9U3DSyYCal3zLaBbCUGYz7qNODwGQL0ajAdGC0QUNdgXltnbb7-GJOapO6wXk54HtHx60dkK2XlmrIPCI9C7Ki6AqeVGhvcsLqw9LQWfTyX382vA3lc3PdU6VRvGnC9OW6GDUY/s1600/DSCN1441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4uPUH9U3DSyYCal3zLaBbCUGYz7qNODwGQL0ajAdGC0QUNdgXltnbb7-GJOapO6wXk54HtHx60dkK2XlmrIPCI9C7Ki6AqeVGhvcsLqw9LQWfTyX382vA3lc3PdU6VRvGnC9OW6GDUY/s320/DSCN1441.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIsX0-FZ40Bp5WWWoGQrY0fwzvbT2_ObctvACGrNefPvaLAaLoDw7T5ZVchvlYjwsU-DS6vnK3L8AqNrpSIXyBE2Z-xEKBYwUq6TN_QoqbsSC1xWpXW4Z8D1S2gcxorTjt9A0LrpjKEg/s1600/DSCN1445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIsX0-FZ40Bp5WWWoGQrY0fwzvbT2_ObctvACGrNefPvaLAaLoDw7T5ZVchvlYjwsU-DS6vnK3L8AqNrpSIXyBE2Z-xEKBYwUq6TN_QoqbsSC1xWpXW4Z8D1S2gcxorTjt9A0LrpjKEg/s320/DSCN1445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0jO-G07I0HiZCAZ2pUbsmC88z35VbTFSPGvaAgR6vfDFbLo6EILEhsyWL-rJTY1H_klrxJhTPjAPkUYwnlU-aVdudmX2jZEbVO8UBabpBNyEO131AYi7XDXgkLbgjix7Pj4zTdiEHKM/s1600/DSCN1446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0jO-G07I0HiZCAZ2pUbsmC88z35VbTFSPGvaAgR6vfDFbLo6EILEhsyWL-rJTY1H_klrxJhTPjAPkUYwnlU-aVdudmX2jZEbVO8UBabpBNyEO131AYi7XDXgkLbgjix7Pj4zTdiEHKM/s400/DSCN1446.jpg" width="400" /></a>Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-23721139672155941662011-11-04T05:46:00.000-07:002011-11-04T05:46:56.799-07:00How "green" is your garden?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9dY1atMt6XCSiPyxOF1gc2nQQfhiuW1PJrNZ_RWNB3Kl8i0ANA6lReB8boee8ef5ms6ZFi3uXDqQkhcSMeJ1y_8t6Tp5kQaoRLEqKYLhRuVEGhqdZebPalA5E42jV8x7dczZgb2rbOQ/s1600/DSCN1369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9dY1atMt6XCSiPyxOF1gc2nQQfhiuW1PJrNZ_RWNB3Kl8i0ANA6lReB8boee8ef5ms6ZFi3uXDqQkhcSMeJ1y_8t6Tp5kQaoRLEqKYLhRuVEGhqdZebPalA5E42jV8x7dczZgb2rbOQ/s320/DSCN1369.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I've just been clearing out some old papers, trying to get rid of a few "piles" of them that threaten to take over my writing desk. And I found an article by Lia Leendertz in <i>TheGarden</i>, the monthly glossy magazine of the Royal Horticultural Society (June 2011 p. 410, The Moral Garden Maze"). <br />
I had obviously kept this for a reason. I had scrawled a pencil line down the margin against this: "We aren't children," she writes, "we in the Western world have taken and taken - isn't it now time to face up to our responsibilities? Gardening more sustainably, especially by growing some of our own food, is what we should all be doing, if we care at all about those beyond our imaginary drawbridge outside the garden gate."<br />
Now I guess any one who finds this blog is already interested in growing their own - most probably already does. So this may be preaching to the converted. But it is so easy to grow many vegetables in window boxes, containers of all sorts, if a garden or allotment isn't available. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGaJyhltZnKbdDN3yZIl7aYWW7I__UZv_W074vUf6Jw9Ejn27M37aFYhlMg3pGHxWP8d96VGyH2Cg_2l4zguUcWL8NiGk18lqEz_PGX0gMgJ2iWqp3rOkibmN8KrGZh4a-25dqHFJke8/s1600/DSCN1364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGaJyhltZnKbdDN3yZIl7aYWW7I__UZv_W074vUf6Jw9Ejn27M37aFYhlMg3pGHxWP8d96VGyH2Cg_2l4zguUcWL8NiGk18lqEz_PGX0gMgJ2iWqp3rOkibmN8KrGZh4a-25dqHFJke8/s320/DSCN1364.jpg" width="240" /></a>But I think what I liked most about Lia's article was her bluntness! "Should" and "must", she says, are words that rankle and are often avoided by many environmentalists as being too off-putting. And I have often been told that I am too direct sometimes in my thoughts and writings - that cajoling is better than ranting. But hey, Lia is right. We are <b>not</b> children. We should be able to take the rants to heart and change our ways, accept our responsibilities like the mature adults that we are.<br />
The serious point behind Lia's article is that as gardeners we should be not only growing our own veg., but also reducing our consumption of materials by innovation e.g growing our own plant supports, using hand mowers and hand tools where possible, reducing our peat use, making our own compost, etc.) Because our consumption affects our carbon footprint and can contribute to pain and misery elsewhere in the world.<br />
The article is tough on gardeners. Lia does not mince words. She does have a very good case. But here is a thought to ponder: To what extent is it morally wrong to cultivate ornamental plants only on land that could be productive? Should all gardeners grow at least some food?<br />
What are your views?Eleanor Stonehamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06388151576836128132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272481131210448018.post-71017209559912166762011-10-31T13:16:00.000-07:002011-10-31T13:16:54.214-07:00More scarecrows and frost!A couple of weeks ago I wrote this post and then couldn't work out how to upload the photos - using a different camera from normal. So here it is but not illustrated I'm afraid. <br />
"One rogue early frost has suddenly changed the entire face of the allotment. Courgettes that were still growing last week are now useless, even where they were protected in the lee of the warm compost. So today I was up there pulling up all the frost-bitten plants and piling them high on the compost heap. How much more can it take? So it was time to empty the other heap onto the now cleared ground. And it’s lovely stuff too!And amazingly, in the midst of that sorry scene, I picked a punnet of luscious alpine strawberries and autumn raspberries!"<br />
And having tidied everything up I then walked around (with my usual camera!!) and took pictures of some fabulous scarecrows on other plots!<br />
<br />
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