Glorious abundance 29/07/2011

I haven't got a lot to say for this post, I just thought some pictures of how great the plot is looking at the moment would be quite enough...

Matt

Pests 26/07/2011

So as nothing is really happening at the plot except everything getting bigger and fatter and more excellent. 

So I thought I'd mention our counter terrorism measures, against the ongoing threat of PIGEONS! 

I have to be honest I thought it was slugs at first causing havoc but I have been assured that this swede  damage is classic pigeon. Notice the leaves stripped leaving only the spine of the leaf, whereas slugs aren't so picky...

We have therefore resorted to a swede tent to keep our lovelies protected. 

A few pea sticks and some net and the pigeons are foiled!

We also harvested some of the smaller (!?!) beetroot to leave space for the others to grow!

All exciting stuff...

Matt

Potato Flowers 06/07/2011

After a slow start the courgettes and beans are finally starting to do something! Although the courgettes have the smallest leaves I've ever seen flowers are emerging. The beans we planted from seed straight into position seem to have done far better than ones raised in pots and transplanted so we now have too many beans on some poles! A good problem to have...

The plot is looking very tidy at the moment, just keep picking away at those salad leaves...

The potatoes are clearly enjoying the sun, rain, sun, rain, sun combination...

Matt

More green than brown! 28/06/2011

Look at all this green! The plot is really getting into its stride now thanks to days of bright sunshine followed by almost tropical afternoon downpours.

Rich supervises the first harvest of baby Swiss chard leaves.

Close up...

And the result... Perfect salad fodder.

Today we had 3 people asking us about the plot, all very impressed with how it's going and how nothing has been knicked or damaged! (Touch wood)

Matt

First Harvest! 14/06/2011

The first Harvest! Wahoo, 5 beautiful radishes, juicy with a smart little kick at the end.

Chris was so keen he tried his leaves/roots/soil and all...

Other big news is permission from the council to use the garden of Chatterton house, adjacent to the plot. The council leader Barbara Janke suggested it initially and the lease is now signed!

On the condition we keep the front of the house weed free, a small price to pay...

At the moment we have a sea of woodchip covering weed membrane with weeds growing all over the path and on the membrane, so looks bad but shouldn't be too much work to get it into a beautiful kitchen garden.

Matt

A celebrity visit! 09/06/2011

What an honour! The Leader of the Council Barbara Janke spent her lunch time visiting our humble plot.

I think it's fair to say she was impressed and made a few suggestions about how we could use Chatterton house to our advantage, such as; water butt, compost bin, fruit in the walled garden, chickens...

Ok, maybe not chickens.

After a brief tour we had a group photo and I was blown away with the response from the office, absolutely fantastic so many people came down to support us. Thanks again!

And finally somewhat cheesily we had the leader of the council and the leader of the allotment shot. Very nice.

Matt

Beautification 08/06/2011

So tomorrow's the big day; the day our little allotment (might) make it into the press!

In preparation a few of us spent lunch time doing a bit of tidying/weeding.

Getting rid of leaves and dead grass, cigarette butts and other litter meaning the plot now looks much lovelier...

Matt