Allotments 4 All
General => News => Topic started by: wardy on December 04, 2005, 15:39:10
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Been up to my plot today for a potter about and to pick some veggies for dinner. It was lovely and warm and not a breath of wind so actually had to peel some layers off as I was getting a bit hot under the collar. All my sheet mulch was blown all over the place so I got all that dragged back into place and weighted down - again!
No-one about except me and a flock of partridge. Came face to face with the great big alsation at the bungalow next door but I clucked at him and called him "a beauty" and he wagged his tail and wandered off. Phew ;D
Dug up the last of the celeriac and washed it clean under my water butt tap. That skip find has been worth its weight in gold :) My carrots, spinach, mixed chinese leaves, winter lettuces and cabbages are all still a bit small but look very healthy. The onions and garlic are growing away nicely so hopefully there'll be plenty of good eating soon. It was still lovely and warm as I meandered home :)
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I planned on going to the Lottie this afternoon but it started to rain so I chickened out.
You are lucky Wardy..they turn our water off and drain the pipes in October until March in case the pipes freeze up
Derek
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Yes I was one my plot this afternoon as well, it started of warm and bright. Digging for a couple of hours, then the weather turned darker, so I called it a day. Not bad after a wonderful morning's skating too. My next task now is to start off some parsnip wine ...
Derekthefox :D
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I waited until the rain had stopped and then went and raked up some leaves to make leafmould. Then the heavens opened again and I got so wet that it was dripping down my collar. I gave up in the end and came home - very frustrating as there's so much I wanted to do like digging a nice place for the raspberries I've ordered, but the soil is so wet it would be impossible at the moment. Came to look at A4A as that's the only way to get my allotment fix for today!
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I went up for half an hour just to put some stuff in the compost bins really. Still looking at piles of leaves and rueing that fact that I do not seem to have the time to do anything at the moment. Feeling very demotivated with all aspects of life that do not involve the lottie.
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Derek I meant my own water butt which harvests water off my shed roof. Love it :)
Clang - you sound fed up :( If I feel fed up with non lotty stuff then a trip to the plot usually livens me up and makes me feel more positive so I can get on and do those jobs which I hate and constantly put off. It gets irritating though when the non-lotty stuff gets in the way of going to the plot. I am terrible and I put off everything else and just bog off to the plot :)
Vee Sorry to hear it's so wet in your neck of the woods but you can't really do much when it's that wet as you do more harm than good. Oh well you've got A4A :)
Derek the Fox Glad you got your digging done. Know how much you love it :)
Drinking parnsip wine sounds far more fun :)
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No allotment for me today. Dug the first two beds on our school veg garden. The gentleman whose house overlooks the site said he didn't like the idea and was going to write to the headteacher. :-\
Told him to get a spade and help out, or shut up ;D
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Good for you TM. I think your response was quite restrained in the circs ;D
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Thanks Wardy. I can't abide people who are the first to complain but the last to get stuck in and help. I regret to say my native Yorkshire has too many of these old scrunters.
I'm good at helping out AND complaining! ;D
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It can be a very gloomy time of year I find, so I am sorry for all those peeps that are a bit down. I have yet to find something to do in the winter that gives me that great feeling of well being I get in the rest of the seasons at the allotment. However, we managed to get up this afternoon and it was paradise to be back.
Our intention was to just go for half an hour and pick some produce but once there it is so hard not to do some work. So I did some weeding and shoveled some bark chippings up and placed it around the outside of our plot to try to keep the weeds down. We dug up the rest of the beetroot. I picked some spinach and dug up one of my parsnips, which thankfully looked quite big and not too forked for a change. Had a good examination of the rest of the stuff we have still growning, then had a walk around to see how everyone else was doing on the Site. It was fantastic. It was a really good boost to the morale, which like lots of other people has been very low recently. :) busy_lizzie
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Glad you were inspired BL :) Good to have parsnips - I wish I had. Still, there's next year.
I think just a visit to the plot, no matter how short, cheers you up as there's always something new to see :)
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Thank you Wardy, yes I do enjoy my fix of digging ...
The parsnip wine has just started today, so it will be a few months before it is ready ... but hopefully well worth the wait !
Derekthefox :D
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I have yet to find something to do in the winter that gives me that great feeling of well being I get in the rest of the seasons at the allotment.
To Busy Lizzie, and fellow SAD sufferers, I recommend the following:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890132276/qid=1133718452/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/202-8741717-1642220
It cured me of winter blues.
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In what way? Eg you spent all winter curled up eading it or the book does what it suggests and keeps your plot productive 365 days a year?
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Both really. It has to be said that it's written from a US perspective and relies on the fact that much of the US is on a similar latitude to Southern Europe. But it has really useful info & inspiration even for those of us shivering up here.
I reckon there is a worthwhile harvest to be had all year even here - and I'm trying to prove it.
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I've got the book as well TM, but the impression I get is that it's not the temperature thats critical but the amount of daylight per day and that we in the UK just don't get enough during the winter season.
Yes? No?
MikeB
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TM I don't think I'm doing bad either in North Derbys. Still getting food off the plot (my first year) today. Should do even better next year :) I've still got food growing which is not ready yet, eg onions, shallots, garlic, cabbage, carrots, spinach (although I have been eating the baby leaves which are delish, ditto lettuce, and the oriental veg are growing very well and I'll soon be able to start picking those :) I've just picked the last celeriac but got loads of leeks left.
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All the family trooped to the plot today, only a 10 minute walk, thats me, OH and 2 daughters, can you imagine the face on the fella who doesn't like women being on the site ;D ;D
Thats 7 of the female species he has to cope with now!!!!!!!! ;D Not bad when you consider there are 101 plots and only 4 are occupied by women :D
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I bet he thinks it'll all end in ruination of the plots ;D
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poor guy - What is the World coming to, Women growing veg, scandalous!!!!!!!! ;D
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Shocking behaviour, Delilah!! Well, I would have got to the plot if I hadn't been wasting my time cooking!! Grrrrr....but I'm hoping to get there tomorrow PM after work... fingers crossed. My membrane had all blown off last weekend, Wardy, luckily the fence had stopped it!! But it was full of rain, and took forever to put back. It's now covered with bricks, large lumps of concrete, a stern look and a finger waggle.....Glad you had fun!!
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Ha ha wetting myself laughing here, I am very much in favour of anyone tending plots, just keep them occupied and productive. So many plots seem to be allowed to stand idle, and then become difficult to reclaim ...
Derekthefox :D
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I've got the book as well TM, but the impression I get is that it's not the temperature thats critical but the amount of daylight per day and that we in the UK just don't get enough during the winter season.
Yes? No?
MikeB
Hi Mike - Yep spot on IMHO. It's the light that counts. Our light levels are lower than much of the US. But a number of our herbs and vegetables are of woodland origin and can cope, albeit with slow growth rates. This just means sowing early enough i.e. early autumn.
My adaptation of his ideas is to grow as many 'woodland' plants as I can over the winter in the greenhouse and coldframes - they become my winter allotment. Right now I have lots of the following in there:
Vegetables:
Winter lettuce (5 types)
Orientals: mustards, pak choi & assorted greens
Mibuna
Mizuna
Witloof chicory
Grumolo chicory
Endive
Lamb's lettuce
Winter purslane
Spring onions
Herbs:
Chervil
Parsley
Mitsuba
Rosemary
Coriander
French Tarragon
Bay
I concede no-one is going to get a weight problem eating this stuff, but it just keeps the wheel turning so to speak. The greenhouse allows gardening whatever the weather and keeps the crops clean.
(Sorry to bang on about this BTW)
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Well Wardy I've had a good weekend. Yesterday OH was being decisive which I do like rather alot. He phoned some numbers and before long we were off down into Durham where I bought myself six new hens. Three Blue Belles and three Cuckoo Morans. Absolute sweeties. Then when they were deposited on the lotty it was off to a four year old's birthday party. Cousin twice removed or whatever...I dunno. Anyway they move in very posh circles but I was delighted to see that toff mothers wear holey socks.
Today I have been at the lotty most of the day. I don't feel very well(violins please) but I had to check on the new girls and the old girls and boys. They are having a bit of argy bargy but were getting on better by roosting time. OH was supposed to be busy doing modifications to the shed and hen area but spent more time gossiping with other men off the plots. He even ended up moving someone's daughter's furniture in his van ::). Meanwhile I mucked out,laughed at Dennis crowing. So much effort for so little,he misses out the "doodle" an all,and I then sat and shivered whilst blowing bubbles for daughter's entertainment.Anyway top news is...I've had two eggs today!!! Woo hoo! Also I have about ten beans up. Way hey!
New names for hens. Chiana is a small Blue Belle who looks silvery grey. Zhaan is a large blue Blue Belle and Aeryn Sun is a fiesty Cuckoo who laid one of the eggs and has pecked me and my daughter. She's great though with a floppy comb. Three left to name...I will try to put Wardy forward but I may be overruled!
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A definite Farscape influence then !!! Aeryn will be my favourite without any question ... ;D
Derekthefox :D
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Congrats to you Heldi - new hens AND eggs, what more could a girl want? :D
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Derek I'm most impressed. You a fan?
Delilah I am a happy chick right now ;D!
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A closet fan Helly, I 'discovered' Farscape ...
Derekthefox :D
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Heidi You must call one of your chooks Wardy and one Lottie - it's the law! ;D
I'm just waiting for dog to snuff it so I can get some hens of my own. Poor little Russ has not been too good today, he's been very leaky so am thinking he might have an infection. His old head is red hot! :( He's due for his annual check up from the neck up so will haul him off to vets :(
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Wardy. I know Russ is an OAP but hope he is brighter tomorrow. Have a grand time tomorrow evening.
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Erm, is OK Heldi, you call you're lovely new chooks what you will.. really..... if I'm in run with Wardy....well...she can be bit feisty, may get me feathers pulled.... ::) ;)
Wardy, nother huge hug for Russ, hope he feels brighter in morning...
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I hope he does anorl Lots. I'm fed up of cleaning bleepin carpets. How I ever get any repeat guests I don't know ;D ;D
Don't worry about the two of us in a run together, we'll be fine ;D
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Helly, can I join the list for one of your feisty chicks to be called Derek then ... ? ;D
Perhaps the ugly one ...
Derekthefox :D
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Wardy, I hope Russ is a bit better tomorrow. Shame when they get old (just like us). He cant help it if he wees your carpets. I remember my mother putting a pair of knickers on her Boxer dog when she was in season once. ahem.. my mother used to be daft! she too is old now and has lost her spark!
Can't imagine what would happen Derek the (FOX) if you were put with the new chooks...... Dead chooks me thinks.
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thinking of little Russ - keep us informed Wardy
Can't imagine what would happen Derek the (FOX) if you were put with the new chooks......
Feathers flying everywhere methinks ;D
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OK, Wardy, will go in the chicken run with you, but any pecking and I'll stop laying...... and am not broody!
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Aww come on guys, I am quite cuddly really !!!
Derekthefox :D
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Derek you never know your luck...I'm being asked to change Jessie's name. I'll put Derek to my son and see what he thinks. Funnily enough Jessie is the one most interested in my digging.
Wards and Lottie. My son has wanted to call the last blue hen "Blueberry" Well he's only 8! That means there are two unamed birds left. Both got speckled chests, pinkish faces and Dennis likes to mount them. Would these two be fitting? Heh heh heh!
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I am waiting with baited breath ... :)
Derekthefox :D
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Erk, second thoughts call em Elsie and Doris ;D
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Tee hee!
How's Russ today Wardy ?
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He was still in his basket at 11.05 am. I did check him when I got up about 8.30 and tucked him in. Checked him again, then again and he seemed ok but showed no interest in getting up. At just after 11 though I lifted him out of his basket and took him downstairs. He had a good stretch and went out for a few minutes and then curled up on the sofa. I made him minced beef with couscous for brekky as out of his meaty chunks. He ate it all, had a drink of water and is back in bed now (2.47 pm) He's been out a few times but is very quiet. He's going to the vets this week for his check up and boosters etc. I think he's like us though not enjoying dark mornings and cold weather so he's gone into hibernation ;D
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Wardy. Glad to hear Russ seems Ok. Hadn't you better go and rest with him? Ready for this evening!! ;D
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Russ has just thrown up all over the stairs! Just cleaned it all up. Seem to spend all my time cleaning up after his accidents - three yesterday. Poor old duck - him, not me ;D
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Oh poor thing! (I suppose that's both of you) Hope he's feeling better soon.
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Vegetables:
Mibuna
Mizuna
Must confess I had never heard of these. Looked them up on the internet, where do you get the seeds from?
MikeB
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King's Seeds stock mizuna ...
Dark green leaves on long white stems. Used raw in salads or in stir fry. Sow broadcast and pull whole plants or individual leaves. Sow all year
Not seen any listings for mibuna ..
Derekthefox :D
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Thanks DTF
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Here's mibuna:
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=mibuna&search_in_description=0&x=18&y=11
I'm trying this too BTW:
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1485
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Aw Wardy,your poor doggie :( . I hope he feels better today.
Had one egg this morning,don't know which hen provided it. I need a covert camera installed so I can watch henny high jinks.
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Freshly laid eggs from your own chooks - what could be better :)
Russ just ate breakfast (12.19 am) He's very quiet indeed but I think he's ok :)
Mike B I grow Oriental seed mixes which contain mizuna and mibuna, komatsuna, rocket and spicy red mustard. Most seed catalogues stock these either separately or as a mixture which I prefer. They are delish in a stir fry or lovely straight from the plot :) I have some growing now and they're a bit small but I shall start picking them soon
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That sounds a good way to go Wardy, an oriental mix, then I will be able to try several of the varieties all at once. Yet more seeds to get ...
Derekthefox :D
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I love stir fries Derek and once you've started growing this stuff you can't get enough of it. The last time I stir fried some with garlic etc it didn't make it as far as the plate as my OH and I thought we'd try a bit straight from the pan and before we knew it - all gone ;D I've got two tubs of it growing in a garden frame and some growing with a patch of spring onions on the lotty.
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Yes, I am a fan of stir fries too, any sort of one-pot meals are winners in my book. Just had a simple lunch to bolster my flagging spirits, being overrun with a heavy cold. My curry sauce, with added chillies, raw onion and prawns, and boiled rice. That got through to my taste buds !!!
Derekthefox :D
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I'm doing yet another one pot job tonight. A sweetcorn and noodle soup, oriental style with soy and chilli sauce and with tiger prawns in :P
Oh darn! I forgot the crusty bread :(
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You never fail to get me dribbling Wardy, talking about my favourite subject ...
Derekthefox :D
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Hmmm, at least I will fall asleep with a big smile on my face ...
Derekthefox :D
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Been up the plot today to pull some leeks for dinner and found mole hills everywhere :( In my link a bord raised bed, in my onions and garlic and the darn thing has followed the onion rows and lifted em all up
Went to shed to get me fork and there's mice in there :o There was a right stink and it was milk which had gone off. Milk which was in those little individually sealed pots. Mousy had eaten in to them all and the milk which had drained out had gone off :-X
Mouse droppings all over the place. Mind you the bar of Kendal mint cake was untouched ;D
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Oh no Wardy what a downer........ :(
Mind you the bar of Kendal mint cake was untouched ;D
theres always a positive side though, just gotta find it!! :D
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I'm taking the pest control operative with me to shed tomorrow. I've buffed up his specs and told him what' s expected. He's on full alert as you can see ;D
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The pests won't stand a chance, Wards....look at that killer instinct in his eyes, the feroscious snarl, ready to tackle anything ......you've obviously trained him well.... ::) ::) ::)
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;D ;D ;D
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Have you checked his vital signs recently, Wardy?
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He's been up and out, had his photo taken at the pc, went to sleep but he's up again now and looking for brekky. I think I won't feed him which might make him more inclined to catch mice later on ;D
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I truly admire your optimistic outlook on life, Wards.... Good luck, Russ.....have a feeling you may need it., mate... ;D ;)
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Lucky you Wardy. I do love to see an animal POISED for action. Your shed visitors will soon be dispatched. ;D
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Wardy
It sounds like you are taking this wildlife gardening a bit too far. Moles are bad news had them at home last year in the lawn, managed to scare them off with water
Good Luck
Chris
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Have you had him practicing Wardy, perhaps with sugar mice ... ?
Derekthefox :D
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Wardy can I borrow your pest control operative? Mine is a bit faulty.
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Heidi With pleasure! He's ok with the vermin if he spots it! Getting him to see it is the problem. He has a good nose still so that should help. He's being a tad unco-operative this morning and won't get out of bed! It's very very windy and cold here and he's by no means daft. I waved his coat at him but he just groaned and went back to sleep. Doesn't bode well for my planned expedition :-\
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My dog was running around the grassy bit on the sand dunes. She stopped and didn't even notice a little rabbit cowering inbetween her front paws. She did notice a headless seal on the beach though unfortunately...yeeuk!