Did my last lottie trip today...

[Jill]

...to clear the shed and hand back the key.  It was a very hard decision to make, but I really couldn’t cope with the lottie on my own.  OH hasn’t the time to help and two sons wouldn’t.  :( The theft from the plot of my best tools, following blight and white rot, non appearing asparagus, pathetic courgettes, lettuce, beans etc, was the last straw.  I was gutted :'(

I love growing my veggies though, so I’m commandeering the back half of our small garden which was due to be levelled and turfed in the autumn.  It’s an area about 8m x 7m, which till recently had been a very poor, uneven “lawn” with concrete paths round the sides.  Most of the concrete has already been removed and used as hardcore under the patio which, together with raised beds, was constructed in March/April this year.  It’s not as big as the lottie but much more manageable.  Sunflowers and PFAs planted as space fillers prior to turfing will need to die back before I can dig it all over, remove the last of the concrete, level it off and start planting  â€" can’t wait.  In the meantime, I’m happy sitting at the table on our new patio drawing up plans and lists for the new beds. :)

[Jill]

[redimp]

Sorry to hear about the lottie Jill but I suppose if you are commandeering the back garden then we will not be missing you.  Good luck with the new project.

PS Did you harvest everything before you handed back the key.

[ellkebe]

Jill - hope the move proves to be everything you want.  It'll be great to be able to sit and look out on all your hard work and know that it's  immediately accessible, and not nickable or vandalisable  ;D 

[Jill]

Thanks both.  Went to harvest the raspberries to find someone else had had 'em >:(.  Haven't planted up there this year apart from green manure because of the previous year's lack of success, so hopefully my successor will inherit it in a better state than when we took over.

[katynewbie]

Jill,
How sad for you. Glad you still have somewhere to grow stuff tho!!
Keep us all posted on the plans and how it all works out.

[busy_lizzie]

It's a sad day for you Jill and you are bound to have mixed feelings about it.  There is a lot of emotional input as well as physical work when you have an allotment.  However, you have obviously thought long and hard about giving  up and I am sure that after all your consideration you will have come to the right decision for you at the moment.  There is no point in being stressed or exhausted all the time when after all it is supposed to be a leisure activity.

You have every reason to be happy  to be growing your veggies in a much more controlled and safer way, so you won't have to worry about anything. Just  enjoy your new growing area.  :) busy_lizzie 

[wardy]

Sorry to hear that Jill  :'(   I hope you have success with your closer to home "lotty"  :)  Let us know how you get on.  What are you growing first ?

[TEL]

Hi Jill
Sorry about the Lotti they can be hard work i know with no help.
Hope your garden will prove to be the right place for you & best of luck not that you need it you will do well.

[Jill]

Thanks, peeps, for your kind words.  Went out and had a look at my new 'plot' in the back garden today and now feel much more positive.  With the bindweed and thistles it is just like the allotment, and I realised that my shed must be the 'in' colour since Wardy's and Lottie's are the same ;D.

[katynewbie]

That looks great!! Terrific shed too! ;D

Lots of possibilities and the security of having it literally on your doorstep!!

Have fun!!

[wardy]

Oh yes Jill very hip and happening we are  ;D

[undercarriage plan]

Very brave and gutsy decision, hope it works well for you. Looks like lovely area too!! Just told my OH I needed more help, hoping his stomach will lead him to right decision......! As for shed, what a marvelous colour!! Only the best peeps.....  ;D ;) Lottie