Greenfingers by Alexis

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about my blog!  I've just been a bit busy lately!

I managed to finish work early yesterday, as there was nothing to do, so I squeezed in an hour and half at the allotment before it got dark!  It was lovely!  I had the ipod going to drown out the noise from the noise from the factory, and actually found myself singing aloud!  Luckily there was only one man there, and he was quite away away, so I don't think he heard me!

Last time I was up there, another man confirmed that I don't need to take the grass out.  I just need to turn it over and chop it up.  I can still set seeds etc on that, so long as the roots can get through!  So, I did another patch of digging, and then sorted out the rhubarb patch! 

There is a small patch of rhubarb about half way down the allotment.  I had planned to take it out, but yesterday, I decided to leave it in, and make use of it!  So I dug around it, and sorted out that small patch.

I still need to rabbit-proof the allotment, before I can grow anything...although when I arrived yesterday, I was somewhat surprised to find that someone has set up a little bunny trap on it.  It's not a nasty one.  It's just small cage, with a few carrots in.  The bunny would walk in, and the door would close behind it.  I'm not sure what will happen to mr bunny when he's found in there, but I can assure you, I won't be involved!  I'm not sure how I felt when I saw it.  Part of me was touched that someone was trying to help me out, but on the other hand, I was a bit put out that they'd assumed I would want this!!  I need to find out who it was!

The other news, is that I went to the Allotment Association AGM on Tuesday!  It was great fun!!  Everyone was quite quiet, until someone mentioned a vegetable, then Jeeeeeeeeeeeeesus.....it was like a fish market!  The chatter and noise was unbeleivable!  Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am now the 'Seed Scheme Co-ordinator!'  Through the Allotment Association, we get a discount with a seed company.  I will take everyone's order in teh summer, and place one large order, which will arrive in the Winter.  i will then dish out the order and take the money!  As you can imagine, it's a huuuuge responsibility!!!  When I put my hand up to say I'd do it, I did get a feeling of "are you sure?! ...but you're a girl!"  So, I intend to do the job extremely well, and show the old boys how it's done!!!!  :o)

Andy is away this weekend, so I should get some more digging done!

I've decided that I can't rest with all that grass left in the soil!  I'm going to go over the patch I'd done, and take all the grass out.  That way, as soon as I need to sow seeds, there will be an ever-growing patch ready for action!  It will take longer to dig the allotment, but it will be worth it in the end!  Yes, I'm a perfectionist!

I'll just have to have a bonfire for what I take out!  I need to burn off the bits of wood from the greenhouse anyway!

Thought you might like to see the state it's in!!!

For those allotment geeks out there...it's 9 poles!

I headed straight back up there this afternoon, so make use of the sunshine, and start the digging! (as you can see, there's quite a lot to be done!)  I dug for two hours, and I didn't get very far!!!

The soil is lovely!  Very crumbly and well cultivated (atleast this half of the allotment is, anyway (the back half hasn't been cultivated for a while, so it will be harder to dig!)

Mr Committee Man advised me to just turn the grass over (thus leaving the green underneath.  This will rot, as green manure.  We'll see!  I've started to do that, but it doesn't feel right!  I prefer to get everything out as I go....but then, that takes longer!  I might do it this way first, get it all manageable, and then go over it again!

At the back of the allotment, there are a few fruit trees (my own little orchard), and a delapidated greenhouse...which is in lots of pieces!  I need to take that down, and get a shed...and somewhere to put my bench for all those cups of tea!

After two hours, my back is a bit weary....I've had a bath, and will continue in this way (just a bit each time I get up there), otherwise I'll be crippled!

I'VE GOT AN ALLOTMENT!!!

We've been up on Orkney for the last two weeks, organising Granny's funeral, but returned home to find a message on the phone from Committee Man!!  He's got me an allotment!  I'm going to try to meet him tomorrow to find out which one!!  Nice positive end to a rotten fortnight!