The noob allotment adventures..

So I'm just waiting to sign the contract on my first allotment. Will add my updates and pics to this thread. Can't wait to get started! Have started making plans already. I'm so excited!

Nipped down today to have a mooch and take some more pics. I didn't realise the first time I went down that there was a couple of compost bins there already.

Loads to work with!

 

Are your bins full or have anything in them? Because you could use this to improve the beds you make.

Now would be a good time to go round and introduce yourself to other holders. I've found lots of them are keen to help out in anyway they can. I was given a lot of produce in my first year, as I couldn't grow anything as I was too busy clearing. As well as pallets and lots of wood too.

 

The bins are about half full so will be putting them to good use

 

Signed the contract today! It's officially mine!

 

Nice one Sarah

 

Really pleased. Managed to get a garden table and 3 chairs off freecycle for the allotment! I also grabbed a tall bird feeder for £6.99 in a sale too!
Unfortunately we're not allowed to have sheds :(

 

Made this today

 

Nipped up to the plot for half an hour. There's a central section which appears to be clear bar leaves and loads of weeds so think I'm going to start with that and clear it bit by bit in sections.
Can't wait to get stuck in properly!

 

I need to carve myself one of them.

 

I used cheap cladding for the wood and then burnt the text stuff on using my pyropraphy iron

 

Took some stuff up to the allotment today, fixed a broken bird table leg and plot sign. Ordered some tarpaulin and tent pegs so I can start killing off the grass and weeds as well.
Planning on spending the afternoon up there tomorrow

 

Lots done today even with an iffy back (ouch!).

Raked up about 4 wheelbarrows worth of leaves, cleared some huge dead I-don't-even-know-what along with some dead corn shoots. It's starting to look better already!

Whilst clearing I found lots of goodies, including loads of various size bamboo canes, bricks, rope, an old rusty wheelbarrow (complete with a hole in it) some wire greenhouse shelving and odd bits of wood.

I even meet the neighbour on the next plot today. He was nice and offered advice/help if ever needed. He also let me know about a manure pile donated by a local farmer every week that everyone is free to use. He also warned me about greedy pigeons and rabbits!

Apparently the plot has been untouched for about a year. It was dug over with a few odd bits added, but the guy who had it was in poor health so soon gave up.

I'm lucky it's bit in a worse state then!

 

my goodness you've been busy it's looking really good

 

Hi Sarah,

You have made a great start and I wish you luck with it, its very satisfying as I have found out with my plots.

Your head is probably spinning with info, thoughts and ideas right now so I will stick to one piece of advice for now.

Make a habit now of grabbing a couple of wheelbarrows of manure from that free muck heap every week from now on. I say start it now as when it gets to Easter, more plot holders will be out on their plots and I bet the muck heap wont be there for long!

Good luck!

Steve...

 

looking good Sarah...

Sadly the only goodies for me left from previous owner, is compost bins, but they've chucked goodness knows what, so at some point I'll need to drag it out and sort it.

From the time I viewed the plot in December and then officially took over in January, a pile of old potting compost found it's way onto my plot, irritating as it has old string, label, metal and other rubbish mixed in with it... So needs sorting before digging it in.