Here is No. 2 plot, picture taken from No 1 plot. It ends just beyond the shed on the left and goes across to the wooden box in the centre with the asparagus growing out of it! 50ft x 25ft in all. I'm amazed how good it looks in the photo - but don't be decieved by the apparent clean condition - the plot has been burnt off and the brambles are just beginning to shoot again after last weeks rain....
Today it all got just a bit disheartening :(
Every job seemed to be impossible - I couldn't move the manure heap because there was a bit of a blow and bits of straw from the manure was going everywhere except in the bin. I did manage to take down the runner beans despite the darn things fighting back...
The soil shows no sign that any of the recent rain was actually absorbed, so is still like concrete - not much digging possible on the strawberry patch - I gave up after three quarters of an hour with only one row half a spit deep, 6" wide and four feet across to show for it!
Then I went and looked at the soil on No 2 plot. It looks very compacted and I can't even begin to imagine how I'm going to get the fork into it
.....and after being swiped round the face for the fourth time by the apple tree with attitude, I finally got the secateurs out! I know, I know - it's not the right time of year......but I've got to admit to a moment of joyous (if fleeting) control! I've taken a 'before' picture of the inherited apple tree and I'll ask Dan to post it with the 'after stage 1 pruning' picture later in the winter.
Out with the hot chocolate - I'm expecting the return of optimism on the morrow (especially if it rains overnight!).