Topic: Thank you all

[ciderself]

Thanks for all the encouragement  -it really helps. Have managed to take some more piccies -It IS hard going as you all know but fellow allotmenteers are THE kindest people. Thank you Dan for doing clever things with my photo's Think I've got it now.
http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/susandelahaye
Very hard to be patient as I can't wait to eat all that fresh veg. Off to scour phone book for stables.

[Hyacinth]

I've just looked at your pix - you're certainly cracking on - look forward to the next set. Cheers! Lishka

[ciderself]

Cheers Lishka
Things certainly are moving  - Have the chance to inherit a shed now!!!! Bit scared about dismantling and re-erecting it though. Would be tooooo embarassing if it blew down in the wind

[teresa]

Hi Ciderself
Have you far to move the shed, if its on the lottie, two strong ropes underneath it and four people and walk it to your lottie will save pulling it to pieces.
and you are digging through it, the soil looks good  is it,loved the photos.
Teresa

[ciderself]

Hi teresa
No not far. When I had a squint at it - looked like it was held together with screws so that would be better than pulling out nails. We could certainly try your idea - we have some polypropylene rope.
It will be good to have somewhere to shelter in the winter and make a cuppa. Am using neighbour allotmenteers shed at mo for spade etc. I think they took pity on me.
The soil looks good enough to eat in places. Not like at home.

[Palustris]

If you do decide to move the shed without dismantlling and you are mouse-phobic, get someone to lift the shed onto four bricks and then give the mice time to escape before you start. We moved a shed for a lady and she nearly caused mulitple hernias by dropping her corner when a mouse ran out. Just a thought. The bigger the weeds the better the soil and the best way to improve the fertiity of a soil is to ignore it completely for years.

[ciderself]

Thanks Eric I will bear that in mind
Not too bothered about mice - especially woodmice except of course when they eat my bulbs/seeds.
Had one in the car once on the way to the tip I never knew what happened to it.
Your comment did make me consider rats though which I'm not very keen on especially when they get into the roof.

[ina]

I really enjoyed seeing your pictures. Thanks for sharing them with us. -Ina

[ciderself]

Hi Ina
Took me a while to sort out, bit of a techniphobe  especially when things go wrong.
Havent yet managed to fathom out  Dan's instructions of how to include the picture straight into message.  
Have just received Allotment society letter. P'raps wrong place to discuss it but apparently theres a bit of a rift over ----- hosepipes------.

[teresa]

HOSEPIPES
if our committe heard that they would have a fit.
They fill large tanks and butts up with spring water and it takes them some time to do it.
So at the last meeting they said they were going to educate us on using water  ??? or the lack of it.
I was using milk 6pt cartons and transporting water by car to lottie this summer just to keep thing growing.
Hence I tried to find out about Luna gardening in desperation might bring that up at the next meeting.
If you dont attend you dont find out anything
sorry for the rant :-[
Teresa

[ciderself]

Well Teresa some people have even been using sprinklers apparently - hope it doesnt all get nasty.
Do you remember seeing that chap on the allotment GW who NEVER watered - he said we had enough rainfall in this country. I'd like to know what kind of soil he had. His plot looked extremely verdant.

[teresa]

Yes saw GW and the chap who said he did not water.
That is why I am looking into Luna Gardening ( gardening by the Moon) crazy who me no.
When the Moon is full to New Moon the level of water in the soil is the highest. So say you plant a cabbage plant and water it in to settle the soil around the roots.
Then the plant will send the roots Down to find more water and as the moon moves the level of water in the soil goes down and the roots follow it.
Ment to make for a stronger plant and one which should survive.
If you water everyday the roots will be just under the surface and will need regular watering or will wither.
As long as their is manure/compost moisture retaining in the soil the plants will adjust and all should be fine.
Well thats the idea. This year I had no manure or compost to put into the ground but all I watered on a regular basic was the runner beans.
The rest of the plants just got watered for the first week and that was it.
Thats why I am mad when the men on thelottie are going to explain to me about using water. Hence I am trying to find all I can about gardening with the moon so I can confuse the hell out of them.
Teresa

[ciderself]

Yes I read something about that recently and its going to bug me where.
Doesnt it all tie into stuff thats been handed down. Like sow your broad beans on Nov 5th etc.
Found it - hubby bought me Gardens Illustrated for pressy and it had an article on biodynamic gardening-and a small bit about anthroposophy - fascinating stuff. Times when different plants should be sown and gathered. So for instance you dont break your back when harvesting parsnips.
So I must be barking as well then!

[Ceri]

vaguely on topic!... I remember hearing that many years ago all the kids in the countryside would have the day off school on 'dock day'.  Apparently there was one day when docks and similar long tap rooted weeds would be much looser - don't know when or why!  All the children and families would go into the landlord's fields and get paid for pulling out the docks etc.

[ciderself]

That would fit in with Teresa's lunar influence on roots.
(If thats when the earth is breathing in)
There's sposed to be certain times when the earth exhales and thats when its easier to pull roots.
I think this allotment is doing strange things to me.

[mellie]

We must have quite an advanced lottie because iI have seen you all talking about the lake of water and how you have tanks and stuff on your sites. Does anyone else have mains water like we do or are we strange here in the south? :-/

[Doris_Pinks]

Mellie I have mains water, and the tap is right next to my lottie!! ;D Big bonus!!! But have to say that I often dip in to the tank under the tap with my can because sometimes it is just easier, and I do not then feel so wasteful! ::) Plus when the posh lot at the top of the lotties get watering (they have the best sites!) our's becomes little more than a dribble  :(  But then I am in the South too, maybe mains water is a thing perculiar to us! Wouldn't want it any other way! ;D Dotty P.