this is out second year of having an allotment the first year we totally dug it all, had some spuds and carrots and raddishes from it didn't get to grow much as we got allotment in april. This year hoping to do alot more, we have 3 hens at the lotty and fresh eggs every day Lovely...
Now it looks like weed city and the enthusiam has gone, until today we spend about a hour over there trying to tidy it up again managed to put two rows of spuds in today, might go over there again tomorrow depending on the weather kids back at school so i can get stuck in.....
don't panic, just keep thinking of all that lovely fruit and veggies..if it was me, I'd try to get a couple of permanent beds in so something always looks o.k. when you go.. ;D
don't worry dawn, i got my lottie at christmas and it's covered in couch grass having been sorely neglected for about 5 years I'd reckon!! Am in process of making one decent bed for this seasons growing and spending rest of year planning, making permanant beds, greenhouse, compost bins etc...
I think as soon as you accept that it's a slow but worthwhile process the enthusiasm comes back!
My girls half term is this week, they can get bored pretty quickly but they're pretty good. Good luck this week!!
Hi Dawn,
It can take a while to really make a plot "yours". The ownership will creep up on you and you will have moments when you realise that you are digging soil you dug on previous years but have improved over time, when the earth is rich and dark and you know you helped it get that way or dig up spuds you missed a year ago. Its as if you develop a history with the plot, and a store of anacdotes for this forum and gardening friends. You will remember where you planted and harvested crops in past months, find tools you lost last season and see your little bushes and trees mature and make fruit.
You get the real feelings of amazement when the seedlings push through or you spot another new fruit or flower hidden between the leaves. You will have time to sit in the sun or shelter in your shed doorway as the rain drizzles past and just look at your plot knowing that its your happy place. You will find yourself talking to frogs and birds.
And you get the great privilige of taking the fruits of your labour home with you. Flowers in your windows, preserves in your cupboards and more fresh fruit and veg than you can possibly eat. And you get the pleasure of sharing this with family and friends. You will make huge feasts and feel proud that you grew everything on the plate.
All this comes from hard work, harder than people realise sometimes but
eventually you will have a sense that you can really manage the plot and see it as a series of small gardens and productive spaces rather as a bloomin` great field that is just an everlasting dig and aching muscles.
Unashamedly Zen, Col
:)