ChonanClegg
Family Allotment

I’ve failed to blog the last couple of weeks but we have not been neglecting the allotment. Last weekend was spent installing three long concrete posts at the back to which I was able to tie the decrepit wire fencing that separates our plot form the next. I’m probably going to use the remaining fence panels that were donated by the TRIM timber guys to properly close of the back. Junko has been working hard on her beds and they are really starting to come along. She’s getting some very welcome help from a couple of friends, Mark and Yumi.

On Friday we took delivery of more lumber from those wonderful guys at TRIM. This time, git my hands on 8 scaffolding boards, perfect for raised beds. In their unceasing  generosity, the TRIMers rewarded me with twelve more fencing panels, free of charge! Thanks guys!!

So today I built one raised bed 5′x2.5′. The plan is for one more of the same and a third at half the size – next week’s job.

Today was a truly glorious day for allotmenting. The sun shone bright and hot all morning. I managed to spend 4 productive hours from 10am without a single drop of rain. Miraculous.

There is still so much to do before the plot will start looking as I want it. Junko is working hard most days to try and improve the quality of soil and get some produce out of it before the cold weather starts. She is struggling at the moment a war against the dreaded slugs. The recent weather we have been having has brought them out in their millions it seems. You can see how they have attacked our turnip leaves from the picture here. There is a lot of advice out there on how to tackle this problem and I quite like the idea of the slug pubs. Our fear is though that the persistent rain would just dilute the beer beyond effectiveness.

Compost is another of our obsessions at the moment. We’ve started collected out vegetable and other organic waste from home and are reading up on wormeries. The whole thing is very fascinating! who’e have thought there would be a such science and art to it all?

My main task yesterday was to try and clear the space at the back of the plot. It seems there was once a shed there and possibly a greenhouse judging by the amount of buried wood and glass I have recovered. The fencing up there is also in a serious state of disrepair and needs sorting out. I would like to get that space clear and level as soon as possible as this would be the ideal location for our shed. And it would be nice to get up before the end of the year.