December 2012
Thanks to our lovely English weather work on the allotment has got off to a very slow start, only managing to be on site 4 days in 2 months! I have managed to build my first compost bin from palettes salvaged from a neighbouring allotment, nothing fancy as you can see but it’ll do the job.
I have started hand weeding and digging over the plot from the top end of the site working my way across and down as I go. Using any sort of machinery to do this would only cut the weed roots into thousands of tiny pieces and make the problem worse, it’s back breaking but it will be worth it.
Getting little areas into working order allows me to start using the land as I move on to clearing other areas. When it all gets a little daunting and seems an impossible task, it’s from these little areas I hope to find the inspiration to carry on going. I have been given some onions and garlic from a neighbour that will go in this area.
These are not my chickens, but this is my plot!
The onions and garlic I planted in the prepared bed seem to have been pulled up, chewed on and spat out. I don’t have solid proof who the culprits are, but I strongly suspect the feathery things clucking away on my plot are to blame. Never mind it’s a lesson learned, protect your crops!
The soil gets heavier and a lot harder to work over the other side of the plot, I’m turning it over and leaving it rough in the hope that our winter can break it up a little. The heavy and prolonged rain forecast could well just turn this into a boggy mess though. I’ve been given some old, low fencing which I plan on using to break up the growing areas. Again splitting the plot up into smaller growing areas seems to be easier to get to grips with.
I don’t think it has ever rained this much, making the clay soil so unbelievably sticky and heavy. I literally got stuck in the mud, nearly breaking my ankle getting free.
Cold wet weather has put a full stop on work now, it’s doing more harm than good walking about on site. Putting a path down the middle is the next job to do, if it ever stops raining that is.
Thank you
Michelle Mawson
mawsonmichelle 
Thanks for discovering my plot and deciding to follow. I hope you enjoy it. I manage our allotment site’s website so if you want to take a look it is bowbrookallotments.co.uk.
What a beautiful place! You must all be so proud to be part of such an amazing community. Thank you so much for leading me to the website. I look forward to more from you, Michelle.
Great Start on your allotment, getting it cleared and organised into beds is half the battle. Good luck with your growing this year, I’ll be sure to check your blog to see how your’e getting on. Thanks for taking a look at my posts.
Thank you samsallotment. It is very much appreciated to have your support. Good luck to you this year too 🙂