Getting sowing

Finally finished digging out the last of the four beds. Have been raking over the beds to create a 'fine tilth' for seeds (above). I started sowing Parsnips on the allotment a few weeks ago using radishes as markers. Also put in first bit of Spinach Beet (below).

Last of the digging?

Quick history lesson - Cobham was the hometown of many of the infamous 'Diggers' who began growing crops on Common Land in protest against the Enclosures Act. Their belief was that the Earth should be 'a common treasury for all' to live on. It is fitting then (and uplifting) that as an environmental activist who has started growing veg, I have to walk past this commemorative plaque with my fork over my shoulder on my way to my plot. If only they could see what's happened to Cobham since they were around though...

So, another glorious day - we even have daffodils coming up at the front of the plot where we dumped all the manure. (Quite a contrast)


I found Aileen and Brian already hard at work and soon got stuck in myself - with the aim of digging out the final bed of the four that we were aiming for on either side of the central path and the areas we will set aside for wild flower and a pond to attract wildlife. It was good to see lots of people about - a really relaxing and friendly atmosphere.


On a less savoury note, some kids have been down lately and smashed everyone's greenhouses. Mindless little pests - I wonder how they'd like it if older people went round smashing their playstations when they're out? It's the first time it's happened in years apparently...


Mum came down with some tea and sandwiches mid-afternoon. So we sat in the sun for a bit. She's just had surgery on her feet so the walk is quite an achievement for her.


I managed to finish what I needed too - I even managed to burn most of the weed roots to make a nice potash. Was feeling pretty satisfied and relaxed as I walked home at the end of the day in a bright red and purple sunset. Lush. :)

Buying Seeds

What a glorious day! This afternoon I went down to the Cobham Garden and Horticultural Association's Trading Hut by the Randalls Farm allotments. It's the first time I've actually managed this, although it is only open 2 hours a week between 2 and 4pm on a Saturday.

I was greeted by a really pleasant atmosphere - the fact that everyone comes at the same time every week creates quite a buzz. Everyone was very friendly. I joined the society and bought 7lb of seed potatoes (Winstons or Rockets?) some Marigold and Sunflower seeds to encourage wildlife, as well as lettuce, leek, and parsnip seeds and onion sets. All at dirt cheap prices!

I bumped into one of my former school teachers Aileen and her husband Brian. I may already have mentioned but they have the plot opposite Henry's and mine. Everyone was looking for exactly the same vegetables! On Fri night I drew up a timetable of what needs to go in when, it's just a question of planning where it's all going now!

The Hut didn't have any broad beans because mice have eaten them all so I had to cycle down to a garden centre. I bought 10 raspberry canes while I was there, as well as Meadow flower seeds and a strawberry plant. It felt really expensive after the Trading hut!

When I got home, I put my potatoes in the shed to chit for a while in a bit of compost.

It's been another glorious day! I made it down the allotment feeling pretty hungover last thing this afternoon, I was at a wedding in Harlow last night.

I've almost finished digging over the plot now, I've just been slowed down by some serious stinging nettle roots down the boundary fence with the allotment next door. She's got carpet on her path and doesn't pull the weeds that come out from under it, so they encroach on our plot with their roots coming through the chicken wire fence. I've ended up just reaching over and pulling both the plants and roots up from her side of the fence as well.


I should get some spuds and parsnips soon, I just need to start thinking about where I'm going to put everything first though!

Mine's a Carling...

After years of just having a bird table, my old man has gone all out lately to find the ultimate squirrel proof bird feeder. He's tried all kind of different hanging contraptions and poles but the pesky grey critters always seem top find a way around things. Dad's got quite close to the squirrels during all this and named the two young ones Boris and Ken.

He has eventually settled on a pair of cage balls and something that looks a bit like a spaceship which stops them from getting up the pole. It's quite fun watching the Boris and Ken trying to climb up and just sliding straight down again. I'll try and get some video footage to post!

Up the creek

After both getting stuck with poor Sunday train services, Henry and I attempted to get some manure on Sunday. The first load went OK. We went back to the farm we got it from last year, forked the well rotted cow manure into the trailer and dumped it down the end of our plot.

It was on the way back with the second load that it all went wrong. A tyre on the trailer burst and we didn't have a spare. We had to wait around for an hour to get it picked up by the breakdown recovery truck. Then, rather than get it to the plot, it had to be taken to Henry's house. This meant that we had to shovel it all out into wheel-barrows and take it down the end of the garden, and we still need to find some way of getting it to the allotment!

Mutant Parsnips

I dug up the first of my parsnips just in time for Christmas dinner. Most of them weren't that big but I did find this for legged mutant whopper!

Unfortunately the sprouts are nowhere near ready. Should have planted them much earlier. Making slow progress on the allotment digging but at least I'm getting somewhere...