Day 23 - preparing to be prepared

Obviously, everything you do happens in the present, yet when working an allotment everything done is for the future. In the times we are in at present, planning for a better future might come as a relief.

We are both itching to grow, yet to grow you do have to prepare, the soil is quite clayey, so our lass has added grit, and dug over where the paths were for the frost to get to the soil, we should be getting some compost in the week, add more grit to the compost and place that in the last bed and around the edges in preparation of the raspberry canes.

Our final preparational work of the day is for the section by our neighbours fence, we had moved an old compost bin, fencing and triple layered carpet, only for our neighbour to put an open compost bin by the fence. Luckily we hadn't started on that section, so where as we was going to put an arch, we have used the side of the old compost bin to block this part of the fence, and as we have an abundance of membrane, used that as a screen. For the moment we have left the fake grass down, but it gives us an idea of the effect. Seating area with soil to plant around the edging, we await a bare root rose which will grow to cover the area. Bulbs and other flowers along the pallet fence, and our lasses experimental bottles stayed in place, so have been filled with a bargain find of 10 pence violas. 

Also don't forget the birds, with a bird feeder for the tree.

Our lass having gritted the beds, hoping to help with the drainage

Never ending supply of previous tenants bits n bobs to dispose of, and of course carpet

Before

Just Before

After

Experiment working, they have stayed in place now filled with bargain flowers 10 pence violas

Looking after the birds

Pretty flowers

Day 22 - Signs of a hedgehog and our lasses experiment

Our lass has always had the goal of getting wildlife into the allotment, I am sure there is plenty out there but if you can get the right sort, such as hedgehogs, they are quite unlikely to eat your vegetables but they will dine on the slugs, so all in all everyone will be happy. Today we had our first little message from a hedgehog, next week I am hoping to set up a motion camera which might catch any action when we are not about and of a night time, but for today we will have to settle for a number 2 in photograph number 2.

In other news, you will see tea break corner, and what might be a bargain if it works. Our lass is also trying to see if the pop bottle planter will stay in place before filling it with bulbs or flowers, we brought up some old hooks from the previous allotment and now our lass is trialling different things to hang from them.

The dark patches are where our lass planted bulbs not number 2's

A hedgehog number 2 at the side of the pond.

Chicken soup and a coffee break

Time will tell if that was 75p well spent, you do get what you pay for in life. This being a thermometer on a spring.

Our lasses experiment with a pop bottle