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Rochford Allotment Association
Maureen goes on to tell me about a Potato Day coming up in February (see our “Growing Stuff” page) and we then survey her other allotments.....
This doesn’t happen by looking at it! (Right) Maureen is an organic gardener. Across the end of this patch she grows Lavender to attract the bees and the butterflies and on the end is a Buddleia bush, one of my favourites for attracting butterflies. I must grow some more Lavender. We reflect on the damage that foxes and badgers sometimes cause across the allotments.
There are quite a few more people around now, some doing the hard work and others doing the encouraging!
Eventually I leave her to her digging and amble over to the club hut where the ever-sociable members ply me with a coffee. Thanks chaps.
As a morning for gleaning from the experts it was good; I’m just sorry that I haven’t got the fruits of it recorded to pass on to you. Having listened to the recording, if anyone is interested in ten minutes of the wind blowing on the microphone......
Perhaps another day!
This doesn’t happen by looking at it! (Right) Maureen is an organic gardener. Across the end of this patch she grows Lavender to attract the bees and the butterflies and on the end is a Buddleia bush, one of my favourites for attracting butterflies. I must grow some more Lavender. We reflect on the damage that foxes and badgers sometimes cause across the allotments.
There are quite a few more people around now, some doing the hard work and others doing the encouraging!
Eventually I leave her to her digging and amble over to the club hut where the ever-
As a morning for gleaning from the experts it was good; I’m just sorry that I haven’t got the fruits of it recorded to pass on to you. Having listened to the recording, if anyone is interested in ten minutes of the wind blowing on the microphone......
Perhaps another day!
Ambling among the Allotments (5th February 2011)
For those who don’t see the light of day until midday, Saturday was grey and somewhat windy. During the previous week, I had run across Paul Nice one of the Allotment Association Committee, I believe, and was reminded that I hadn’t visited the Allotments since the end of last October. Good intentions had been cast to the wind or, to be more precise, overcome by snow!
Thus it was on Saturday morning that I found myself wandering among the allotments to see if anyone was around. At first glance there were not too many enthusiasts about and I reflect that an empty allotment in the beginning of February is not the height of beauty.
For those who don’t see the light of day until midday, Saturday was grey and somewhat windy. During the previous week, I had run across Paul Nice one of the Allotment Association Committee, I believe, and was reminded that I hadn’t visited the Allotments since the end of last October. Good intentions had been cast to the wind or, to be more precise, overcome by snow!
Thus it was on Saturday morning that I found myself wandering among the allotments to see if anyone was around. At first glance there were not too many enthusiasts about and I reflect that an empty allotment in the beginning of February is not the height of beauty.
As I wander around it is clear the some people have been busy clearing the ground (left))
Peering into his polythene tunnel I find the chairman cleaning up timber pieces to makes tables for a Show. (right)
It takes an eagle eye to find colour at this time of the year - but there are little bits of it on one plot!
Allotment holders are a friendly bunch and an enquiry after the quality of the soil started a conversation with Maureen. As you’ll see from the photos Maureen is a little reticent about being photographed but permitted these side-on ones.
Maureen shares that she has three allotments. I am impressed! (We chatted for about ten minutes but the wind makes recording almost impossible) On two of the allotments she has plenty of fruit bushes of all different kinds. She comments, “Once you have fruit bushes the allotment is very easy to maintain Once you’ve done the pruning there’s very little to do.” I see the point.
Peering into his polythene tunnel I find the chairman cleaning up timber pieces to makes tables for a Show. (right)
It takes an eagle eye to find colour at this time of the year -
Allotment holders are a friendly bunch and an enquiry after the quality of the soil started a conversation with Maureen. As you’ll see from the photos Maureen is a little reticent about being photographed but permitted these side-
Maureen shares that she has three allotments. I am impressed! (We chatted for about ten minutes but the wind makes recording almost impossible) On two of the allotments she has plenty of fruit bushes of all different kinds. She comments, “Once you have fruit bushes the allotment is very easy to maintain Once you’ve done the pruning there’s very little to do.” I see the point.
She points out the various compost bins she keeps. “I grow pumpkins in that one and courgettes in that one.” And I thought compost bins were just for rotting down material! She adds, “Because you water the plants so often, that helps rot down the compost.” Obvious when you think about it!
The bed on the other side of the hedge has been largely dug and at the near end are fruit bush cuttings waiting to be burnt on a day with wind blowing away from the houses
(Left)
The bed on the other side of the hedge has been largely dug and at the near end are fruit bush cuttings waiting to be burnt on a day with wind blowing away from the houses
(Left)