Topic: Year 1 lottie pix - including shot of controversial manure box

[Easywriter]

First, a rough, back-of-envelope sketch of my plot

The natural spring outfall, abou 100 yards from lottie, where we fill our watering cans.

View from lottie entrance

Tatties, 5 varieties

View looking north, including manure box in distance

Cabbages, well netted against pigeons

(I seem to have hit a message length limit now, but there's more to see in my Gallery)

[flowerofshona2007]

Wow you have done so well and those cabbages are brilliant !!!!

[Easywriter]

Thank you 'flowerofshona2007'.  :)

I don't know WHY they've done well, maybe the soil alkalinity is just right, by chance? I've lost the seed packet, so I don't know what they are. Savoy cabbage yes - but what variety? ???

[Bugloss2009]

first year we had our allotment, it was our Savoy Cabbages that were the marvels of the whole site. After that they were just normal. We put it down to some some Left Fallow effect.

this box of yours - what's controversial about it? The box, or the manure?  ;D

[Easywriter]

Apparently two people are complaining about the box - without being at all specific as to WHY. I think one of them may be saying that my 3' 6" high box is spoiling the view from his house (which abuts the plot at the northern end) :-\

[lincsyokel2]

its clearly a standard 1 pallet high, as are thousands of compost bins all over the country.

tell them to eff off and kiss your hairy yellow butt.

[detailista]

Back of an envelope sketch?!  you don't do yourself justice!  Your beautiful plot is an inspiration  :)

[powerspade]

Looking very good well done

[Digeroo]

Well done.  So neat and tidy and where are the weeds.  I certainly cannot see what there is to complain about.  Looks great to me.

However is the manure box right next to your neighbour plot.  I am not sure that it is quite right to put things right next to the next plot and thereby shade their plot and increase the chance of mice etc on their plot.  I was quite miffed when my neighbour sited his compost bit right against the boundary especially as he filled it is grew five inches into my plot with the weight of the contents.  If you put something on the northside of your plot it is the south side of theres.  Why do you not put it on the south side of your plot? 

[Easywriter]

Thanks everyone for encouraging comments. I was only kidding on the 'back of envelope sketch' bit, I did take a fair amount of time trouble over that, I think it was worth it.

Still don't know how the 'manure box problem' is going to resolve itself. It took a lot of work to put it up and fill it, so I'm not minded to move it. I could maybe compromise by growing ivy or something green up the outside of it, make it look 'greener'.

Some really nice people on Allotments 4 All, most of my fellow growers are really nice too.

 ;)

[Easywriter]

This was a new, pre-rotovated site, so no weeds at all to start with. They're coming now, but I'm there every other evening for a 'watering and weeding' session to keep things under control.

I deliberately orientated the box North-South so the shadow on my neighbour's plot to the North would be narrow (at the expense of having a wide shadow on my own plot, to the East of the box, during the afternoons).

I suppose in retrospect, siting the box at the far end (West) of the plot would have neutralised the main objection, but at the time it seemed a good idea for it to be in the middle, make it easier to distribute manure to either end of the plot when the time comes.

[Carls3168]

I cant see nothing wrong with that at all.... no different to the pallet 'boxes' your neighbours have in the pics. I'd stick to my guns, and grow something up it if there that anal, or stick a pumpkin in it next year and let that grow down it!   ::)

Alternatlivly build a HUGE shed infront of it from bits and bobs found in skips, along with a wood burning stove belching out smoke....  ;D  ;D  ;D

[Jeannine]

It's a lovely plot, manure box included, I would put the whole thing out of your mind, stop talking or thinking about the box as if it isn't there and spend your thoughts on your lovely garden...so with this thought in mind...

What are your plans for the next project, do you intend to put some perennials in, and what about a greenhouse for your toms. Do you have a favourite veggie?

You should be really proud of what you have done..well doe

XX Jeannine

[Easywriter]

Oh, get away Jeannine, you're embarrassing me now! :-[

Not really thinking any further ahead than autumn [do they say 'fall' in Canada, or is that just USA?] at the moment. I may put some winter shallots in in December ('Plant on the shortest day, harvest on the longest day'). I LOVE pickled onions, although my partner is not so keen . . .

I'll be putting peas and brussel sprouts in next year, something I didn't get around to this time. My partner says she hasn't finished in the fruit patch yet, although I'm not sure what here plans are. We're not allowed sheds or greenhouses on the site (it IS quite small really).

Other than that I just look at the "gardener's almanac' from time to time, see what to do next.

I'm still just a baby really when it comes to gardening  :P

[Robert_Brenchley]

If they're worried about the view, why are they complaining about the box not the beanpoles?

[Le-y]

got to say i love your plot i wish, wish, wish mine was looking as good or was as productive!

really great looking site :)

(can you come and do mine now please??)

[Easywriter]

Yeah, OK, I'll drop in next tirme we're going to Hunstanton.







(kidding! . . . . ) ;)

[lincsyokel2]

Yeah, OK, I'll drop in next tirme we're going to Hunstanton.

ooo Sunny Hunny, havent been there for years.

[cornykev]

As said , your plot is looking great, I had to look at the piccies a few times to find your eyesore,  ???  are all the boxes in the piccies yours or are they other plot holders.  ???  :-\      ;D ;D ;D

[Easywriter]

Hi cornykev, I hope all is well in sunny Enfield.

No, it's just the one (double) box that's mine, the other three belong to the neighbouring plot.