Too hard to Plot

Some of you may remember me mentioning my Dads allotment plot.  Sadly my father has decided to give up this plot.   Not for not wanting, as he really is keen on growing some of his own vegetables; and its not the hard, back-breaking work of digging and weeding that's putting him off- he was well aware of all that before taking it on. 

Its actually the location of the allotment plot.  Its at the bottom of a steep Welsh hill.  His plot is the only one down there.  He had come to terms with the fact that it was at the bottom of the hill, carrying tools back and fro.  But its the access to the water that is adding to the expected hard work of owning an allotment plot.  Even two water hoses attached together would not reach to the end of his plot.  I have to point out though, they are not allowed to use water hoses there, so you can imagine walking up and down a steep hill with bucket loads of water for a95 foot by 40foot land can only last so long; even the energetic kids have had enough of it; squirming their way out of going with their GrandPa to the allotment.  To add to this, my mothers has difficulty in walking, so has not been accompanying him to the plot either. 

My father is being realistic and envisages it getting much worse when the heavy rains and snow, making the downhill (or uphill) path slippery and therefore dangerous, so he made the decision to hand back the keys.

I also feel a little guilty - I was mean't to share and maintain the plot with him.  But my move down south has been hampered by circumstances, so he was not getting the shared interest and enthusiasm from the others in his growing ventures.  It has however dawned on me now, why these particular plots on this site were/are available - location and access to water.

Its not all bad news, he hasn't given up totally.  He did a little research and has registered with another allotment site.  Just have to wait and see when he gets a new plot; and his growing ventures begin again; and hopefully this time I will be able to be a bigger part of it.  

The New Allotment Plot

When I registered my interest for a plot in Wales, I ultimately did so for myself.  I did not think my father would be that overly interested in it, but I have been taken aback by his reaction, or should I say actions.   

With the help of my two younger nephews ((aged 11) who were on their half term school holidays), he leaped right in with enthusiasm and determination transforming the 95 foot by 40 foot land.  Here are some photographs of progress. 

They first chopped and cut down the sharp lengthy brambles, stinging nettle and weeds.  Then my father hired a rotavator and turned the soil to reveal deep red, hard, clay soil.  I know using the rotavator is not a good move as you shred and turn the weeds in.  In time these multiply and you have more tough weeds to contend with, but with the growing season passing us by, he was keen to get something in the solid ground now.

Well this is how I found the plot last weekend.  Here I am standing under the apple tree.

Our allotment plot is at the bottom of a steep sloping Welsh hillside.  Its not one of those allotment sites, where you can gab at your allotment neighbour over the fence.  These allotment plots are staggered, a bit like terraces you find on tea plantations.  

As the allotment plot is so big, my father has divided it into three.  The above photograph shows the left side where my mother has already thrown in some spinach, fenugreek, coriander and radishes.  As there is no shelter on the allotment plot, my father plans to build a shed right at the back.  In the middle where my father is walking he has marked out two vegetable plots/beds  - the rest of this middle land will remain as it is.

The photograph below is the right side of the allotment plot.  This is the side I have been given.  To be truthful, this is really now my fathers allotment plot.  I am happy to be a part of it as this growing venture will only bring us closer again.  I am genuinely really, really happy about that. 

Anyway, unlike my fathers higgledy plot beds, I have carefully marked out 8 x 9 foot by 9 foot neat plots and staked them for when we can find, buy or acquire wood.  For now they have been tied with jute string as a marker and reminder to nephews not to tread.  As I have not yet made my move to Wales yet, I have only planted in two plots.  I have given one over to my two helpful nephews.  The other 5 to my parents to do with as they wish for now.

As you can just about see, I have planted some vegetables that I purchased at reduced price.

As well as some herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme, chives and marigolds, I was able to plant some peas, butternut squash,

courgettes and sweetcorn,

There were some raspberry canes on the allotment plot, that I dug up and transferred.  I don't know if they will take, they look really thirsty.  Every time I watered them, the water just seemed to disappear. The ground is really hard and parched.

Below: my nephews plot.  They both have a strawberry plant each, two butternut squashes and some marigolds.

I have sneakily set them a challenge: to see who grows the best and biggest butternut squash.  This challenge will hopefully encourage and motivate them to go with my father to the allotment plot, as well as help with the watering.

As we were leaving, opposite my fathers plot is a overgrown plot that does not belong to anyone.  We all spotted some dark berries gleaming, as I pushed back the stinging nettle I realised they were ripe blackcurrants.  One of my nephews pulled off a berry and popped it into his mouth.  I was waiting for a 'err' reaction, but he smiled and said 'its nice'.  So I decided to cut of the ripe stalks and twigs to take back to their grandparents home for a sweet dessert.

The following day, we made Blackcurrant Crumble. Every member of my family had a bowl with custard, and every one of them pulled that soured puckered face upon tasting the sharp blackcurrant berries.

Words and Weeds

I’m beginning to feel a little disheartened on the job front; and wonder when I’ll get my foot back on the ladder of employment, especially doing what I enjoyed. I’ll still keep trying, filling in those application forms, but it does get all rather depressing when you continue to receive letters of rejection; sometimes there are no letters - all you can do is just take a deep breath, sigh and move on.


Welsh poppies growing in the West of Scotland

 With nothing keeping us in Scotland, paid employment was going to determine our new abode. Now we just have to make a firm decision of where to move, as travelling back and fro is beginning to take a toll on us mentally, physically and financially. The choice was between Essex (near D’s family) or Wales (near my family). We have decided on Wales as the rental of properties there are more within our budget. This would mean it would take us around 3 hours to travel to see D's mother, as opposed to 8 x 2 hours drive.

As we have decided to make Wales our home in the not too distant future, I decided to go on the local council website to check out the allotment sites. Waiting for an allotment could take up to a 2 years, so I thought I'd go ahead and register my interest.  I noted two allotment sites in the area that we are considering moving to.  However, as I am not a resident there yet, I had given my fathers details knowing he wouldn’t mind as he has recently got back into the flow of gardening.

Well, guess what my father got a phone call from one of the allotment secretaries. We, albeit through my father are now the owners of a brand new allotment. I’ll share more about the allotment when I get to see it, but I have been told by my father that it is a blank canvas.  Other than an apple tree, there is nothing on it, no buildings, no raised beds or plants.  Its a large piece of land on the hillside with lots of weeds and brambles. Knowing my Dad, he will have started work on it already. Oh I am so excited.