Fantastic news! I have a new allotment. I was a bit dissapointed that I couldn't get number 7 back, but it has worked in my favour as number 7 is very overgrown now, and plot number 5 is partially dug and has been well kept in the past. I can't wait to get started on it. It's going to feel strange because it's the first time really that I have left my daughter for any length of time, but she's 13 months now and she'll enjoy the time spent with her daddy.
I spent an hour at the allotment this weekend (18/19th March). It is surprising how different the soil is to plot 7. It's much more stoney and clayey. I have a carrier bag full of seeds which are all at least a couple of years out of date, but I'm going to try them just to use them up.
I tol some friends that I had got my allotment back and there seemed to be some interest in my surplus veg if I have any. I might just get a few pounds to pay for my rent next year and some new seeds. The rent is currently £10 a year.
April 9th 2006
I have got beetroot and broccoli in now, but it is a fortnight since I planted the broad beans and peas and there's no sign! It's disheartening, even though I shouldn't really expect them to grow. All my seeds are old; between 4 and 15 years. I just want to use them up and I couldn't bear to throw them in the bin. Despite Richards attempts with his 1945 tomato seeds http://www.downthelane.net/ I have every hope that they will grow. I'll stare at the ground a bit longer and see if it helps!
As well as three water butts, a bench and a compost box being left at my new allotment plot, I was also left some black bin liners full of something...today I decided to empty them. Well rotted horse muck, grass clippings and some bags of soot. I planned on scattering the contents evenly around the plot. I didn't know black bin liners decomposed so well! They were like tissue paper and so, got dispersed where they split.
April 2006
I have been able to go to the allotment for an hour every Saturday and Sunday since I took it on at the end of March. I could easily stop there all day. I'd be quite happy with a flask of tea. If it wasn't for missing my little girl I'd stop there longer. I make good use of my hour though. So far I have two half rows of broad beans in and a half row of peas. I need to get as much into the ground as I can this month. The more veg I plant the less room for weeds to grow.
May 1st 2006
Hooray! Broad beans are growing, peas are growing. Old seed does sometimes surprise us! The others aren't showing yet though. Today OH and I spent an hour at the lottie and got bean canes cleaned and moved to a new site. There is a really nice bloke on allotment number 2. He's got the best kept plot by far and has been so encouraging. He's given me some potatoes to plant and is getting me some runner beans, and he will give any amount of advice. The great thing is he's not one of those annoying types who know it all. He's just friendly. I wish I had more time to talk to him, but I have so little time and have to get as much done while I'm down there.
