Allotments 4 All

...if the weather man says it's raining......You will never hear me complaining......cos I am going to the allotment regardless!  ;D

Haven't been to the plot since Chrimble, and am itching to get up there.  Been raining here in Essex for most of the day, but I have just checked metcheck.com and tomorrow looks bright and breezy, so have 2 pairs of thick socks at the ready, and 4 hand warmers, flask and new gloves.  Will bore you rigid with photos tomorrow.

Oh happy days.....oh happy days....oh happy days....oh happy days......the allotment lives....the allotment lives....oh the allotment lives.....hehehehe

I understand completely Emma, cabin fever is twice as bad when you have a lottie. I have been up every available day, even during these dull damp days when the chill just soaks in ... but then yesterday I pulled some leeks to make some delicious soup for tea, together with PFA chips, and I was in heaven again ...  :D

I was up the lotty yesterday. Blummin freezing it was and soggy wet. I sat and blew bubbles and watched some chicken antics. But....I have broad beans growing, woo hoo,tra la laah !!!!

You didn't know I could grow hair as fast as that did you. Just another of my many talents. ;D

The chooks seem fine thanks Wards, 7 eggs the other day and 5 yesterday.  Jessie James has Spring in his mind, a twinkle in his eye and has his own ideas about keeping warm!

I'm just grateful it is only a head and shoulders shot ;)

Emma, how excited are you to be going to the allotment i do hope you have enjoyed your day ;D ;D ;D

Had a wonderful day....one of those days when everything just goes perfectly!  Needed to redo some netting around my brassicas, and it didn't tangle or blow in the wind, so a very good strong job done in no time!  Did some digging, and thanks to the rain, the ground was soft, but not waterlogged, so digging was a breeze!  Dug up the last of my parsnips, and only managed to spear 1 out of 30, emptied my rainbutt, carrying the water to my other water containing vessels around my two plot, leaving the only butt that collects water from my shed empty and ready for the next downpour - all containers filled, so should have water a-plenty come spring!  ;D  Whilst I ate my lunch I watched 3 squirrels, I would guess one female and two lads, as two of them were chasing and fighting and chattering away, whilst the other one leaped from branch to branch taking very little notice!  I think spring is in there air!  :D

EJ. Quote. "I think spring is in the air"   Wehay!! Hope you are right ;D

I like your optimism, EJ! Just a few weeks to spring!! PLEASE! Sounds like you had a great day down the lottie.

I'm afraid it's weekends only for me for the next few weeks now I'm back at work and while I leave home and return home in the dark. :(

Watch it Lord Steve I could easily furnish you with a full frontal of my decidedly dodgey outfit! (Includes toe socks )

Today I nearly did my back in. "Digging?" I hear you cry. "Oh no." says I.  I was  stripping the covers off an embarrassingly dirty pushchair. Light beige doesn't go with an allotment does it.If you haven't had to do said task ,it is a proper mission and requires stamina,quick fingers and a brain. Since I don't have any of those I was twisted and contorted and pondering and tugging and pulling and aaaargh ! I got the cover off,put it into the wash,my back aching and promptly fell off my slipper whilst stepping into the gararge. Ow it hurt.  The covers are now drying out and I'll have to do the thing in reverse tomorrow. If you've not put the covers back onto a pushchair before,it requires a Krypton Factor of 9.  

I decamped to the lotty. Giving the hens a thorough clean out because they are dragging mud in. Wish they'd wipe their feet before entering their bedroom. I was just appearing at the shed door when I heard a loud "Whump" sort of noise. Hens scattering everywhere,my son shouting with fright. Some young man had thrown a wooden stake into the allotment and nearly taken out a large percentage of my chickens. Luckily my son was sat just far enough away from it putting on his wellies and even luckier my daughter was still in her buggy... it landed right beside her plastic house that she plays in and around.  

Not impressed,I had a look to see who the culprit was only to find two large groups of teenagers involved in a big scrap. So I said nowt.  I think I need a higher fence still and things to grow up it.

Hells bells Heldi!  That is awful!  Glad the kids are okay!  Honestly, people!  GGRR.

Went to the allotment as well today. Such a beautiful weather, blue sky, sun, no wind, haven't had any snow till now...... Still two rows of parsnips ;D, boerenkool and sprouts.  No digging to do, eveything ok, onions and garlic growing fine,, so only harvesting for a while..    In the meantime still collecting cartons for the broadbeans, runners and bigger tubes (half litres milk) for the tomatoes. Have big plans to grow lots and lots this year, Only a roof is still needed...

Heldi. I must say I am getting almost paranoid about talking "out of topic" just checked it is the shed, Before anybody thinks I am being funny I am not.
Heldi that is an awful thing to happen, what are these morons like? This evening all the people on our little estate of bungalows had put their wheelie bins out as our collection is very early morning. (mostly OAP's on estate) my daughter's partner heard a noise, went out front and three wheelie bins had been tipped over on to the pavement.. Unfortunately there is an alleyway in the corner and the person/persons had done a runner..What fun do they get out of their actions?

Heldi, it seems that you and your children had a lucky escape.  That stake could have seriously injured or even killed you or your family.  With such a large group of teenagers, I think you did the right thing by not saying anything for they might have turned on you and who knows what they would have hurled over the fence then.

I hope your back is better soon.

Lorna I don't think anyone minds a genuine conversation that has interest and humour. And it doesn't have to be about gardening when it's in the shed so keep doing what you are doing,you're fine. ;D

The kids today were all fired up and fighting. I mean really fighting..fisty cuffs and all.  I don't know if the post was thrown out of temper or deliberately into my lotty. I don't even know if they realised anyone was there. Luckily no one was hurt.
I really need to make the fencing a bit higher and more private. I worry about my hens being seen more than anything else. Obviously objects don't usually come flying over the fence so I generally feel my kids are safe.

I can't understand the attraction of pushing over wheelie bins. Anyway console yourself that they'll probably be emptying them in future years and getting annoyed at having to clear up any mess. Wouldn't that be great karma eh?!

Really envy all those who have managed to get back to their allotment.  There is no sign of Spring up here, so no lottie work or garden work has been done for what seems like weeks and weeks.  It is cold enough for snow here and very damp and misty, so the soil is very wet and unmanagable.  Have to just compensate by drawing plans and ordering more seeds.  Awful to think that even at this time of the year there are still people around who want to cause havoc. Must have been scary for you both.    busy_lizzie

Hi Pauline.

Too right I wouldn't say anything! I don't want any more attention brought to my allotment. It is on a pretty exposed site. A big bunch of angry teenagers is unnerving.

I think the realisation of what had happened gave me a real fright. Tomorrow is another day and I'll be burning that post in my bonfire!

Thanks for your concern about my back. I injured it years ago whilst "getting fit" in the gym. Typical isn't it! It niggles from time to time. It'll be ok after some sleep.

On a positive note my broad beans are looking mighty fine!  Only a couple of inches high but I'm dead chuffed. First crop I've grown on the lotty. Now I'm wondering what to do next.  :-\

I'm just a bit further up from you Busy. I'm water logged too so apart from mucking out the hens I generally sit on my bum and watch the beans grow. Oh and blow bubbles for my daughter.  I can't believe EJ has managed to do some digging.  :)

Heldi. The ground is fine for digging here in the Fens, so we are really lucky. We are getting some cold winds so it is dig a bit, indoors for cuppa, dig again!! Mind you I only have a garden so nice and easy to pop back indoors for another cuppa.. I really hope you do not get any more trouble on your allotment. Regards Lorna.