Another one!

[markp2511]

Hi all,

the missus (mpdjulie on here) and I have just aquired the plot next door, making our 'double plot' 25m x 20m.  It's the one in the background to the right in the photo - currently completely covered in brambles, and with several mature apple and plum trees.



The brambles seem to put alot of people off, but I'd rather clear brambles with lovely clear soil underneath than dig out grass.  There's a couple of tumble down sheds and a fair bit of rubbish dumped around them behind the trees, but once the brambles are down it shouldn't take much more than a clear weekend to move the rubbish, and one of the sheds looks repairable.

The plan is to clear the front half or so in front of the trees and use it for spuds this year, then once the planned other 10 raised beds are in on the existing plot (along with a cold frame, compost bin and patio area) we'll, or should I say 'I', will start to extend the raised bed area over the new plot.

Another bonus is that the next plot on has also been taken, and is now cut down and looking pretty tidy.  Add to that the fact that we move house in 3 weeks time to a place just 200 yards from the allotment, and things are looking good for this year. 

[Paulines7]

Welcome to A4A Markp2511.  Sounds like you have your work cut out.   

[saddad]

Go for it! 

[emmy1978]

Woohoo...another bramble clearer! Lovely second plot-better than an upgrade to business class. 

[1066]

Congratulations on the extra plot, and the house move. What a great start to a new year. Looking forward to seeing some progress pics 

[shirlton]

Another blank canvas (apart from the fruit trees that is). Nowt like a new challenge

[Sparkly]

Sounds brilliant. Good luck with it! 

[tomatoada]

Keep us updated as you do it.

[markp2511]

I'll get some photos up when I start work on it - hopefully in a week or so.  The plot in the pic was grass and brambles this time last year, and now has twenty 8' x 4' raised beds, with bark chipped paths and a home made 3m x 2m greenhouse - all that took me until about mid May.  

With moving closer, just nipping over little and often will be easier.  Most of the work last year was done between 7 - 8:30am before work - nice and quiet and a great start to the day.  

[Old bird]

Looks really good and what a bonus with fruit trees too!

Good luck - will be interested to see the before & after piccies.

good luck with the house move too!

Old Bird

 

[sunloving]

How fabulous!

good luck and take care of your back!
 x sunloving

[cornykev]

Nice one Mark and don't forget the house warming.   

[james1]

Woohoo FREE apple & plum trees whos a lucky allotmenteer.
looking forward to see how you get on,

[elvis2003]

what lovely news,im very pleased for you,and more than a tad jealous 
great start to the year

[markp2511]

Started on the new plot on Sunday.  Had to replace the (stoopid idea of a) wooden water butt stand first before it rotted away to nothing with 240 litres of water in it, but then got to play with the brambles.

I've put some photos up in the gallery, but for those too idle to go look   :

Contemplating a start:


The half of the plot that needs clearing first:


A tiny bit of the rubbish stashed by one of the sheds:


Made a dent in it:


I noticed the bloody stuff is starting to grow again, so I recon if it's not cleared within the month, it'll overtake my efforts and win.  So it's 7am starts weather permitting and a goal of clear by the end of March!   

[markp2511]

Another couple of hours this morning, and I've hit the motherload - otherwise known as the other side of the plot!!  The pathway through narrowed down to about 6' wide in the end from more than double that, but I just wanted to see the daylight at the end of the tunnel. 

From our other plot:


From the other side:

[1066]

Nice one you've made a great start - what with the light at the end of the tunnel anorl

[shirlton]

Well worth the effort

[markp2511]

A bit more done this morning.    

I realised that the brambles grow towards our existing plot, so attacking it from the other side now I'm through means I can chop off clumps at a time from the ground and yank out lots at a time, instead of just snipping off what's in front of me.  Combine that with making a pile on the bit I've already cleared to save on the walking and fitting it into a barrow, and it's going at a fair old rate. 

I widened the cut through all the way through this morning...now I just need a dry day and a match....

[Digeroo]

Well done.  But it has a nasty habit of sprouting back from a point a few inches below the soil.  But at least it will be easier once all those nasty thorns have gone.

Are you allowed a fire to burn off all that prickly stuff?

Keep up the good work.

I must say I am impressed by all those raised beds I must get and build some this year.