There is a new addition to the library (did you know we have a library at the allotment?) in the shop: a guide to using locally sourced materials to make mineral and biological extracts and ferments – rather than buying them in plastic bottles in the shops. After a disappointing summer, my allotment neighbour, professional…
Maintenance of footpaths between plots on the allotment are the responsibility of the adjacent plot holders. It’s really important that paths are kept clear and safe. Slips and trips are one of the biggest risks to members on the allotment and overgrown, uneven or obstructed paths can be really dangerous to other members who need…
At our first summer social (every 4th Friday of the month), we had a really interesting talk from member Matt Kellet all about aquaponics. This is a system of growing plants and fish a recycling water/nutrient system, often with the plants growing in a media bed. Matt showed us the system he’s set up on…
Plot Inspections… A brief explanation of what they are and why we do them We thought it might be helpful to try to demystify the plot inspection process. So this blog post is intended to explain why plot inspections are necessary and what actually takes place. Firstly, the why… Most simply, because it is a…
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’,…
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…
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…
#peatfree #greencharter #sustainability This week has seen a change in the weather and it now feels more like spring-time in England than the previous few weeks have. I for one have been grateful for the help watering the plot (although a little concerned about my seedlings being eaten by slugs and snails)! At our committee…
Having gardened for over half my life, digging the soil has always seemed an essential way of removing weeds, breaking up heavy soil and incorporating organic matter to improve it. I had until recently viewed no-dig gardening like a new age religion – something a bit waffly that I couldn’t really believe in. Then last…