My First Dig & Weed of 2012

As the weather was dry today, I decided to visit Plot 144 and get Digging & Weeding, however, as all allotmenteers know, if you say you are going to the allotment for an hour, you really need 2 so that you can get all the chatting in too, especially when the weather is favourable and more plot holders are on site!

So when I arrive I find a "Dalek" type composting bin by my wooden compost bins.  I was mine, once, but I gave it to a fellow plot holder as he was just starting out.  He happened to be there and told me that he didn't have a need for it any more, so I decided to put it to good use by putting anything new from kitchen scraps to weeds in there from now on, which meant that my current 2 composting bins - the wooden ones - could have a rest and the bits that are already in them will have a good chance to get on an make me some compost!

I then had to take all the kitchen scraps that I had put into the wooden composters and move them to their new  home

I then got to weeding the Garlic in the 1st raised bed.....

 And the onions next to that.....

And then I dug the patch next to that and weeded it at the same time

So a good 2 hours spent there today and a good third of my plot weeded and dug over!

Hooray

When you can't get to the Allotment....

...Due to injury  or the weather, it's best to find alternative things to do like, potting on, to keep one sane and to dampen the urge and need to get to the Allotment on a daily basis come rain, shine or foot operation! 
Withdrawal symptoms are setting in fast, and although I am crocheting to save the planet (see http://www.macscrochet.blogspot.com/ ) and watching loads of good DVD's you can't beat a visit to the lotty.
As you can see, all three varieties, big beefsteak ones, Roma's & Cherry's are all doing well in their starter pots with John Innes No. 1 , but now that the have a few leaves, they need potting on!

 So I was kindly chauffered to the Garden Centre to buy some larger seed cells and some potting compost.

 So in the potting compost went, and the plants were individually and lovingly transplanted from the black cells to the green ones.  However, after about 20 minutes, I did have to have a sit down and put my foot up, so it was done in 2 stages!

As you can see, this little one looks very happy in its new home

And they have all settled in well (I checked this morning and no casualties)

Dedication......

This is what I call DEDICATION

Working on my compost bin in the snow!

It was FREEZING

I couldn't feel my fingers or my toes at one stage.

&

My Twirly is missing!! Someone has nicked it. However the mystery is solved......

Derek was there with Laddie and he told me that two sheds had been broken into the night before. Then Nigel came along and asked if I was missing anything - of course, I said yes, my Twirly!! It had been thrown into his rear garden and was now safe and sound. Phew.

It was so cold, even the water tanks were frozen up.

And finally......

This is Ron's plot - can you see what he's growing on his tree's?

It's seasonal and popular at this time of year......

It's green with little white berries

and you can get kissed under it!

Yep - he's cultivating MISTLETOE!!!

What a FABULOUS job so far......

The Compost Bin

My darling Husband, Ian (above), has been working very hard

He has been very dedicated to the task in hand

And even worked most of his day off yesterday to get to where he has got so far.....

Yes, it's the construction of my COMPOST BIN !!

In the meantime, I myself have not been idle.....

I have been shovelling loads of wood chips with Dereks Shovel and Ron's Wheelbarrow to plot 144 - it took about 10 shovel loads to fill one barrow and 6 barrow loads for each pathway - Gym - who needs a Gym when you have an allotment!!

It's looking better and better each day!

As I mentioned earlier, Ian even worked on my compost bin on his day off, and I got a bit worried at around 3.30pm when he hadn't come home but it was getting dark already!

I text him to make sure he was ok and his text back was "All fine, just a couple of little bits to do and I'll be home."

So I go there this morning to see progress and .........

So far really good eh?? I think its well posh!

Sweet Peas, Funny Carrots & the ones that don't want to die.....

At last - the sweet peas are in bloom

They are going to look SO pretty with a little more sunshine

Ah - the carrots - maybe a bit more thining needed?

I am not going to chuck them - I will just wash away the soil and chop them up for tonights dinner - I will then start again but this time I will remember to thin them more!

A quick peak in the compost bin this morning was a pretty sight indeed - yes the Nasturtiums that were thrown in there last week some time are refusing to die and continue to flower - how special is that?