Saturday 14 August 2010

We are now beginner allotment holders... with sore muscles!!

On Wednesday I received the keys to my allotment.When my husband came home the four of us trooped up there and set to work. When we first saw it I could see my Man thinking 'Oh good grief!!!What has she done now??!!' We couldn't even see the boundaries of the garden because it was so overgrown with nettles, couch grass and brambles...


However, after a couple of minutes I could see his mind starting to work... I could see him accepting the challenge and beginning to get excited!We discussed what sort of tools we needed for the job, other than those we had brought along, and he went off to get them. Meanwhile son #2 and I started to work.My Man must have been away for nearly an hour and I was beginning to wonder if perhaps I had mis-read him... maybe he had gone off to the pub...




But no... he came back laden with thick gloves, a petrol strimmer, scythe and weed blankets.We worked for another 3 hours and by the end we had cut down and cleared the plot.Of course, when I say cleared I mean we got rid of the surface stuff.We found a huge pile of rubbish - plastic, steel barrels, bottles, old wheel barrows, carpet... horrid. And also a massive pile of garden rubbish right in the middle.




But we also found amazing things - like this slow worm.We found 4 of these in just those short hours. I have only ever seen one before in my life! They are legless lizards I think...




We went back yesterday and the day before and used the thick plastic sheeting we had found to cover the area we cleared.My Man started to burn the garden waste in one of the old barrels we found.I love the way we have been able to recycle - instead of going out to buy a burner. All this stuff was dumped, but we are using it.




One of the other plot holders came over to chat and gave us some runner beans as a welcome gift! Our next job is to start digging. As the weed blankets/plastic slowly kill off the grass we will work on small sections, digging out the roots of everything bad.
We have a long journey ahead of us, but we are doing it together.My sons are loving it and my youngest especially has been working like a trojan!! My husband wants it to be the best allotment in the garden and I have started carrying a garden fork and gloves in my car at all times in case I want to have a quick dig!!
I did film the plot, but it won't upload. I will keep posting photos though!!


9 comments:

Gail said...

This is doubly wonderful since the whole family is involved.

I can see it now...oh, the plants you will grow!

Julia Christie said...

isn't having your hands in the dirt HEAVEN! I am happiest when in a bit of dirt growing and tending things.

Congrats on your lovely lovely project!

Smiles

Caz said...

What a great idea! I wish we could do something like that over here:( That slow worm looks like a snake!!! Have fun and I can't wait to see it as it progresses.

Sharon Longworth said...

We've had our allotment 3 years now, and I still love every minute I spend there - so there will be much happiness in store for you, I'm sure.
And slow-worms are great aren't they - we've got some living in our compost bin at the moment. Gives me a shock every time I open the lid, makes me feel a bit guilty when I throw the tea-bags on their heads, but generally promotes a feeling of wellbeing

Marlene said...

What a wonderful way to have family time. This will be something your sons will always remember.

Elisabeth said...

I'm from Australia and when I saw your allotment I thought for a minute it could be anywhere in downtown suburban Melbourne. It has that dried out Australian look. But no, we're in England. Wonderful. It's a great tale you tell. I look forward to hearing more.

I'm here via Chris of Scraps from a Scrapbook. It's good to meet you.

Razmataz said...

What a wonderful activity for a family. Wait till they start picking veg, they will be so excited.

Kelly Hudgins said...

I'm so excited for you! It's still so hot here, and everything is shriveled!

Kelly Hudgins said...

I'm so excited for you! It's still so hot here, and everything is shriveled!