Closure

Many of you will know that about a month ago our allotment plot was destroyed. We had not been the first to have had our plot torched. About seven years ago a handful of plots on the site had been torched. Early this year two other plot holders lost theirs, and I also learned from reading a local newspaper that two other plot holders have just had their set alight too. Unfortunately one of committees spokesman eluded that the fires were caused due to poor fencing implying that it was external arsonists at work, which I think is not so. As a matter of interest, not one of these plots torched belonged to committee members, their family or friends. Take my plot, snug between the Treasurers and the Presidents plot and neither of theirs had been scorched by the roaring flames. Would you not agree that this is interesting?! All I can say ‘hand on heart’ is that we have been open, honest and kind to people at the allotment site, where we have seen misdemeanours we would say so, where we may have noted unreasonable behaviour we would say, so much so that other people who did not have the confidence or courage of their convictions would come to us for support, D had even joined the committee in October. I think us standing up and doing the right thing has cost us our plot. There is so much wrong with this private allotment site, but one of the major issues are some of the committee and long term residents think they are sitting on a site worth millions and are just biding their time for when property developers make an offer. Hence don’t really care about what is going on the site.

I know D is still very upset about losing the plot, but I can only speak for myself. I am still really hurting, for the loss of the plot, the hut, the tool shed and the plants too. Those that did not survive such as my beautiful lemon verbena that was in the greenhouse. The loss of the growing plants too, that I cannot bring myself to go there and harvest such as: leeks, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, beetroot and my first lot of nine star perennial (white) broccoli. The daffodil shoots will probably be out too. We had accumulated so much gardening stuff. In the huts, spades, tools, the hoses, various sized seed pots, recycled materials, rolls of netting to keep the pigeons away, issues of Grow Your Own and Kitchen Gardening magazines and various other bits that amount to hundred of pounds. Of course I know all of these things are replaceable, but it’s the small garden related things that my nephews gave me, some handmade, that hurts me the most, they are not replaceable.
I know some of my fellow blog readers mention karma, and my mother often mentions something similar too, but a number of life experiences have made me unsure about such things for a while, and this experience has reinforced that even more. I am trying not to be negative but to keep a positive outlook, but it really is not that easy as small incidental things provoke me to close tears. For example, take this lunch time I walked over to the local supermarket and was reminded that Jerusalem artichokes were in season. In this supermarket they were costing £1.50 for 3 that is ridiculously expensive. This angered and frustrated me inside. If I had the will, I could go over to the allotment this evening and dig up a bucketful from my plot, but the truth is I don’t have the heart to go there. I have no love for the place or the people there now.

I was advised by fellow blogger to get in touch with the local council and explain the situation and maybe they would look at my case sympathetically. I did and the Allotment Officer advised as there are long waiting lists, I should basically stick to where I am as it is better than having no plot at all. I completely disagree. There was no understanding at all. So I am hesitant in registering at an alternative site right now, especially in this area. I may change my mind in the future, but right now I am just don’t have the motivation. Instead when good weather dictates, I will put that energy of growing into my tiny garden plot and pots. However, this does not mean I won’t refer to times at the allotment plot, the vegetables and fruit I grew there. We both have fond memories of our time at plot 11 and 45 and will remember them, but now to have some sort of closure on this matter, I share with you a film I made of the plot this time last year. Just follow this link.

R.I.P Plot 45

I was umming and erring whether to go to the plot this morning,
Then the decision was made for us, when we got a phone call from one of the committee members to tell us that she had some bad news. Our plot had been burned down.

You may remember, early in the year two other plot holders plots had been targeted. This time it was ours. About an hour or so later, after preparing ourselves for the worst, we drove over. As we entered the site, we could see smoke from the distant, as we got closer, it was certainly our plot - all the buildings: the greenhouse, the shed, the hut and the tool shed had all been been torched, set alight, burnt to the ground. There is no doubt about it we have been targeted for some reason, both the plots on our sides belonging to the Allotment president and the other to the allotment treasurer were not damaged at all, which is really ironic as they are pretty close.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know a little background and history of this private allotment site. If your interested you can read a bit about the thieving at the plot here and here; and the committee attitudes and behaviours here and here. Maybe our caring for the place, showing consideration to others and speaking up now and again, has made us some enemies.

We have to think a bit more about our participation and future at this allotment site, and will do so over the next few days. Right now, we are both completely heart-broken.

Ice puddles at the plot

Most of the snow had melted away, so we went over the allotment for a little while. Let me warn you in advance these images of my plot are not particularly pretty.
As we stepped in, you could smell the stench of rotting brassicas.

Look at my beautiful rainbow chard, now looking meek and sodden, maybe they will get a burst of energy and come back up.

I can't say the same for these cabbages which will be heading for the compost bin for sure. We stepped into the hut to see how the roof was holding up. You may remember rainwater was coming through one of the corners. It actually wasn't too bad at all.

We had stored some Orla potatoes in the hut in jute sacks. When I checked them, they had all gone saggy. We hadn't stored them properly. Such as waste and Yes we are disappointed, but it is a lesson learned for next time.

I don't think I will be getting a second burst of my amazing early purple sprouting broccoli, but the 'nine star perennial' white broccoli is looking good, there are some buds emerging. These leeks are looking okayish though.

Here's me in my sequin black hat and purple coat trying to pull some leeks out of the ground. I managed to pull out four.

I also harvested some sprout trees. There a little on the small size.

I decided to keep the healthier looking leaves of the Brussels sprouts plant too. I've never had them before, so the intention is to eat them over the coming week, perhaps with some mashed potatoes. I would have harvested some parsnips and beetroot, but I wasn't dressed appropriately, maybe next weekend.

The short visit was also a reminder of the work that has to be done. Remember our wind damaged greenhouse, if we can repair it we will, otherwise we will have to build one like the one above (see my header) with discarded window panes that can be recycled. I also noted that some of the bed panels had been dislodged, they too will need to be replaced. Ah so much work to do and I am not just talking about the seeds. Roll on springtime.

Cardoon Star

This time of the year, there's normally not much colour.
Surprisingly, we have some roses at the entrance, but they won't be blooming.

The cardoon heads have died down too, but they still look architectural and magnificent. (Above) I picked a few heads of purple sprouting broccoli (PSB) but I think they may be a bit tough to eat. I'll find out in time.

So this is the state of the flying greenhouse since we last saw it. It is mangled. Part of the roof is missing and if you look through the door the back is also missing and buckled. A job for next year. The strength of the wind even managed to bend my Brussels sprouts.

(From top left clockwise) Looks like we might have some parsnips for our Christmas dinner, but I will pull them out a couple of days before Christmas, just in case they are too oddly shaped and therefore not worthy of the 'Christmas plate'. The chard that I had moved from one bed to another has not done well, so that they were all together rather than dotted here and there are really looking limpy. So anyone thinking of doing this next year, I would recommend not too. The fenugreek (bottom left) has done its work as green manure and is now dying back and feeding the ground. The leeks are looking good too.

The last of the cabbage. The slugs and snails seem to be feasting on it, that is what you get with organic growing, plus its the wet weather.

This is my nine star perennial white broccoli. The leaves are growing thick and lush, but no signs of broccoli heads yet. Its the first time I have grown these, so I am looking forward to seeing what they look like and how they taste. Something still to look forward to if the PSB doesn't have a second burst of life.

Here are some close up shots of my berry bushes: red currants, black currants and a gooseberry buds.

Even though D fixed a patch in the hut that was leaking, we found another leek, this time coming through the top of the roof. Oh there is so much to do, but it will be sometime in February when we get round to it, fingers crossed it doesn't rot too much between now and then. The thing that is making our heart sink more is the additional work of the greenhouse, but what is making our hearts sing, is that we still have some, not much, but some of our vegetables to come from the plot...Brussels sprouts anyone, perhaps a leek or even a chard leaf...

Late Autumn day

The rain stayed away, so we spend a couple of hours at the plot. One of our priority jobs was to work on the hut where the rainwater was getting in, so D focused on that whilst I did the exciting job of weeding and harvesting.
Here's our harvest of the day. There are also some Jerusalem artichokes in there somewhere. I decided not to pick any chard today. I thought it would be better to pick it when we needed it and we have plenty at home in the garden plot too.

As well as being dry, it was relatively warm too.

I pulled out some purple haze carrots, this is the first one I have come across that has not grown straight.

Although the little Brussels sprouts are starting to plump up, I don't think they will be as 'fat' as those you find at the supermarkets, but I don't mind.

I can't remember the name of these cabbages and think they should really be harvested, but decided to leave it as we have enough to be getting on with for this week.

This is what the fenugreek looks like, all battered. I hope it grows a bit more...otherwise no fenugreek meals for me.

These are really small finale fennel. They seem to have self-seeded from the previous lot. A bonus for the winter!

I chopped of part of the leeks leaves, as some were getting to heavy and getting damp and soggy. If you look closely, you can see that they are all varying in size. I haven't harvested any yet.

This is the PSB from which I managed to harvest some more stems to eat. Oh yeah, that's me in the back too - weeding. I also cleared part of the strawberry bed. It really is a mess.

This is the last of the colourful lupins. I actually cut them all back today, as they have a tendency to self-seed. Oh the next picture is not a particularly pleasant one, so if you are of a nervous disposition or get squeezy easy, I would say stop reading. If not, please go on...

Whilst weeding and lifting stones up, I came across a number of slug eggs....eewwwww....I know...I don't them either, but this is a brilliant photograph take by D. Look closer and you can see some of the eggs cracked open. Amazing or what?!

This is my home-made compost bin. This is the first time every it has been overflowing. It will rot down eventually.

Okay that was my afternoon. Now I am off to enjoy the rest of the weekend or what's left of it.

Weeding, digging and raking over

We took advantage of the dry skies and spent a couple of hours at the plot.
The photo below taken from the back shows the plot. Things don't look particularly pretty this time of year. I have pulled out all the sunflowers and marigolds that were adding colour originally, but now looked like battered rag dolls.

I will start from the right. At the front of the plot, we have white broccoli growing, then fenugreek (my chosen green manure), then chard, parsnips and beetroot. The plot next to this had chard too, but I dug them all out and added them to the previous bed. I may be making a mistake by moving them over this time of year, but I am not too worried as I have so much of the stuff growing at home too. Then we have PSB and Brussels sprouts, that we never got round to tying up as they too have been knocked left, right and centre by the wind and rain. Then its the last of the legume bed, which I had just starting weeding and digging over. The bed on the left with the netting is covering some cabbages, what is not covered are the calabrese plants. The stems are starting to dwindle now, so I think on our next visit I will be pulling them out.
The shabby huts at the back belong to some of my lovely neighbours and may amuse you - each one is made from recycled material: discarded doors and windows to be more precise. I really like them, each and everyone unique. Talking of huts, my hut is leaking quite badly in places, so that really has to be looked at, otherwise its the beginning of rotting.
Here are the first two beds I had cleared last month. You can see the amount of standing water.

This is the last of the legume bed that I had been clearing. Its all been done now and covered.

The sprouts are not looking as good as I wish. Although they are quite tall, the sprouts are really small. Maybe they will bulk up.

The leeks are doing pretty good.

Still a load of cabbages growing. Some of which have been got by the slugs and some that will burst if I don't harvest them soon..

Progress photo shot of the fenugreek.

Here is our harvest: Carrots (some with signs of carrot fly), a cabbage, mint herbs

Chard, broccoli and a handful of baby lettuces. Not bad for a few hours work. And thank fully the rain stayed off.

The sunflowers and marigolds came and went

Look at this weekends harvest
We pulled out some carrots, some of which have signs of carrot fly, two cabbages, some PSB, sprouting broccoli, runner and climbing green beans, chard, about 100g of raspberries, herbs and some more lavender. I am leaving the rest for the birds.

It was a very short visit to the allotment yesterday due to the weather. For those of you living in the U.K will have heard that there were floods in some parts of Scotland.
The strong sideways wind have knocked all my dwarf sunflowers to the ground and the marigolds dead-headed not too long ago have all turned to mush due to the battering and downpour of rain.

Before leaving, I scanned over the plot, there is so much still to do. As a weekend allotment grower I can only hope we get a dry day next weekend.

We have ten beds, the two by the entrance are flower, herb and perennial beds. Two others have already been cleared, dug over and covered. Two have fenugreek and strawberries (which needs tidying). Meaning I have four beds to clear. These are the Legume bed 2 which I think may have given us our last runner and climbing beans. The other three are a bit of a mish mash, meaning half of each are cleared the other half still have vegetables growing it them. For example, leeks, parsnips, beetroot and chard. As much as I am loving my chard, I have planted them here, there and everywhere, so some of them will have to be dug out, dug over and covered for the winter. The sunflowers and marigolds will all have to be pulled out too. There time has come and gone.

The hut was also letting in water somewhere, so that will need to be seen to as well.

The good thing is we still have so much growing. There are leeks, parsnips, beetroot, various red and green cabbages, Brussels sprouts, curly kale, PSB, white broccoli and sprouting broccoli, Purple queen cauliflower (if they flourish), carrots in a plastic tub, Jerusalem artichokes, lettuces, fenugreek and various hardy herbs. So it's not all bad.

Winding down

Spent a few good hours at the allotment.

The sun was out, so we thought we would make the most of it at the allotment, after all no promises are being made for sun-shining days in the coming weeks.

As well as plenty of winter vegetables growing, there is also a lot of colour on my plot, which makes me happy. The dwarf sunflowers have decided to come out and play.

The roses are red, red, red.

There were even some raspberries. I had dug some raspberry canes last year from plot 11 and planted them in the border of plot 45, here are some raspberries growing, not many - but enough for some muffins I think.

Here are some purple beans I decided to keep and dry for next year. I haven't had much luck drying climbing beans, as twice they have rotted. I have come to the conclusion that perhaps I have not left enough room around them to aerate, so this time I will ensure I do that.

The potato and legume bed we had started clearing last weekend, got its final thorough weeding and digging over before we covered it over with some black sheeting. I found it quite tough removing the bean vines around the make-shift bean frame, all tightly twisted.

This is the first time we have burned weeds on our plot, we have never had to do it before as we had plot 11 and had allocated a 'corner' just for weeds. It was interesting to watch D lighting the fire, it took awhile shall we say... He ain't no fire-starter.