Week 5: Week Day Escapes

We’re making great progress in the allotment, and today was the day we planted our fist produce. Today is the day we plant out our early, chitted potatoes.

There is something wonderful about heading the opposite way to commuters on a Friday morning. As they all head one way over the bridge into central London and into work we’re off in the other direction – across the bridge and into the country (sort of). We probably look pretty odd with our wellies, our garden rake and most of all with our kitchen scraps in hand.

There's something brilliantly back to front about allotment life. Those kitchen scraps that start to go a bit pongy in your kitchen smell perfectly natural on a compost heap, bugs that you would squish at home are celebrated, and dirt – a substance seemingly as lethal as kryptonite when found on your carpet is cared for, nurtured and fed – it’s a substance that people of great intellect have written books about.

I’m enjoying subversive back to front days out on the allotment, days that should be for working but are really for idling, places where rubbish is turned into food, and where  mud is celebrated and revered.

Mr Middleton says: "Let us respect the good old potato and give it it's due; if we can make sure of an adequate supply we need not seriously fear Hitler and his U Boats"

Tom

Week 4: With this seed, I thee wed...

This week we didn't end up going out to the allotment, though this doesn't mean it was spent idly ignoring its existence. Not in the least. Instead it was spent reading and researching through some invaluable advice given from some old masters.

Namely C. H. Middleton,  E. T. Brown and Mr Harry Dodson. Making my way through the Handbook 'Make Your Garden Feed You', soaking up the advice from the printed lectures collectively titled 'Your Garden in War-Time' and watching both 'The Victorian Kitchen Garden' and 'The Wartime Kitchen and Garden'.

Each of these are filled to the brim with good, solid, golden olive branches of practical information on how to grow, where and why. Never skimping on the science of nature, or on tradition. Also, they share with you a world which today seems as relevant as ever, the world of thrift. In our current economical ditch prices are rising and money isn't going as far as we would like, and the 'Make do and Mend' attitude is upon us once more. As is 'Growing Your Own', and these books and broadcasts explain the methods adopted when money wasn't able to be flitted away on chemicals or manure, when it wasn't possible to spend on those exotic vegetables when other things were a necessity for survival. Even down to the ecology of recycling. You cant get manure, therefore make your own substitute from the kitchen scraps. 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying life is currently as bad as all that, but I really don't want to be forking out a fortune in order to grow some potatoes or other crop if it will be cheaper for me to buy a bag with my weekly shopping. Otherwise what would be the point?

Reading through these manuals gives me a sense of joy. To be able to grow, save money, feeling that I have gained a bargain AND get the added benefits from the pleasure that I grew it myself is marvellous.

With all of this new found old wisdom, I started with my first plantings this afternoon...

I have planted in a propagator Tomatoes (Gardeners Delight), Sweet Peppers (California Wonder), Broccoli (Green Calabrese) and Cabbage (Flower of Spring). All of which are sitting proudly on my window sill. Tomorrow we will be heading out to the allotment and planting our our first early potatoes (Rocket) and in a few weeks time we start to see the shoots turning into tiny little seedlings... this makes me extremely excited. I can only compare it to two things; that first viewing of the sea feeling when you drive to the coast as children and that sense of belonging to the one you love on your wedding day.

To think that I shall soon have an area of land to harvest that will be full of delicious and wonderful vegetables, that I will scarcely be able to move let alone carry home, and all from a small palm full of seeds. From small acorns come mighty oaks...

'Mr Middleton says: "A seed is one of the wonders of the world.'"


Dean

Week 3: Personal Rain Cloud.

This week was one for the soul. Feeling a little despondent over the gray, dull weather.... and generally feeling a little S.A.D., digging, pruning and the open air was to be our prescribed medication. The repetitive actions and therapeutic backdrops of nature were exactly what we needed, and more thankfully what our plot needed.

Giving the first section of 9'x18' a good going over, Tom and I split the work load. Getting rid of all turf and weeds, double digging and then a general 'fiddling' means we are almost ready with bed number one for a planting of early potatoes!! This target of 'first to be planted' has excited and encouraged us to go a little further in our plans for the coming weeks, and shortened initial time frames for jobs.

I then pruned 2 established plum trees that we inherited with the site. I say 'pruned', though I wouldn't be surprised if 'butchered', 'massacred' and eventually 'killed' become more accurate. Though in the golden sunlight of today, the plums looked glorious, and were surrounded by a halo of gleaming daffodils that lift the spirits stupendously.

I keep looking at the photos of the daffodils and they remind me that even in dull days, if they can lift their heads and shine radiantly then why cant I.

'Mr. Middleton say's 'Plum trees do not like the knife, which causes bleeding and gumming. The less you prune them the better."'


Oops!!

Dean