Encouraged by my no-dig experiment last year, I decided to start well ahead of the growing season this time and to be more methodical and thorough. I was inspired by ‘Gaia’s Garden’ by Toby Hemenway, which explains the benefits of building up soil fertility from the top down, as Nature does, by creating a ‘sheet-mulch’,…
Jerusalem artichokes are a perennial vegetable that grow very easily on the allotment. I inherited mine with my plot and every year I look forward to being able to dig them up for this winter soup adapted from Delia Smith’s recipe. Ingredients 500 g carrots 700 g Jerusalem artichokes (weight before peeling) 75 g butter…
Committee Roles For those who weren’t able to be there, we had a successful and positive – if slightly chilly – AGM on 16th September, followed by a social round the pizza oven which didn’t wind up till about 10.30 – I think everyone enjoyed the chance to meet and chat in a relaxed way…
One of our members, Amanda, who was helping with the composting work last weekend, said she suffered a very nasty bite from a spider, which was probably a False Widow. Her arm swelled up badly and there are two fang marks clearly visible. She is OK now, but this is a warning to wear gloves…
This pest can decimate the foliage of gooseberry and red and white currant bushes, sometimes reducing the bush to a skeleton. The adult emerges in mid spring and lays its eggs on the underside of leaves usually low down and in the centre of the bush where it is difficult to spot them. The eggs…
Last week we (finally!) held our AGM. Held over a week, members were invited to register participation and raise questions by email, complete an online voting form and then join us for a Zoom meeting at the end of the week. We also had alternative postal options for those who don’t use email. We were…
It’s been a while since I posted a blog on behalf of the committee; I had some tech issues which I’ve only recently resolved. I hope everyone reading this has been keeping well in these strange times. The seasons have well and truly changed, with most of the summer harvest finished and most work on…
It is August, and here is an update on my first no-dig experiment. I have now cropped all my potatoes and here are the results: I grew three varieties: Arran Pilot, Nicola and Anja, all first and second earlies. The Arran Pilots were planted in the dug section of the bed, where I had added…
This month at our formal committee meeting, we welcomed five new co-opted members to the committee. It was great to have some fresh enthusiastic members on the Zoom call this week and we’re all looking forward to working together on behalf of all members! Please take a look at the Committee page. As you will…
This week, water was a big topic of conversation at our informal meeting. Apparently, it’s been the sunniest May on record and I’m sure that’s something we’ve all been aware of as we’ve been lugging watering can after watering can around the plot trying to get our plants off to a good start. Water is…