Woot! Back in the growing game!

[Winnie]

Hurrah! I have just acquired an allotment. I'm not sure if you have them over yonder. They are parcels of land owned by the local council. Residents can rent them on an annual basis, and each allotment is the size of a doubles Tennis Court. I have one half. The rent is £20 per annum, which includes insurance and membership to the Allotment Association. And..... I can keep Chickens there too!
I am going to view the plot tomorrow, will take photos. I'm pretty excited, I've missed not getting my hands dirty something awful. I expect to have to clear it, but at least it's the right time of year to get it done.

[Sarge47]

Nice! Congrats Winnie! Will you be planting any Zuchinni?

[grrlscout]

Congrats, Winnie!

Many urban areas have allotments that can be rented, but they are generally called "community gardens", and the plots are quite smaller.

Happy growing!

[crashdive123]

Woo Hoo! Looking forward to pics of dirty Winnie. Wait. That didn't come out right.

[1stimestar]

Yes, we have a community garden but the plots are smaller and they are not for chickens, just gardening. But since we have so many houses built in areas of permafrost as well as so many people in town without enough space for a garden, they are really nice.

[BENESSE]

SO happy for you. I know what it's like not to be able to get your hands in the dirt and play.
Hey, could you get your girls back or have they all been served?

[Winnie]

The girls went to a therapy farm for disabled children, and are living the life of Riley.
What I'm really looking forward to is taking myself off to the allotment and kitting out the shed(yes it has a shed!) with a chair, table, kettle, stove and one or two other essentials. I may even have to get a playpen for Bobcat. I won't be sitting in this crummy old flat much that's for sure!

[Pal334]

Good for you Winnie. A lady farmer again

[jfeatherjohn]

Great news!

[Winnie]

Well, I went and had a look yesterday. It needs some work, but part of it was cultivated this year, so I hope to have a good third under cultivation for a spring garden. I will get the rest into working condition a bit at a time. I should have a good winter garden. No photos... It was raining and I wasn't hanging about. Oh the shed is in good shape, plenty of room for tools, a chair and one or two other home comforts. There is also a rain barrel, along with the one I have here will be good for water. Jack and Ellie have already begged a bit, so I shall sort them out with a little patch each.

[crashdive123]

I can picture you out by your garden plot, sitting in front of the shed with a pot of water on the boil over your camp stove, getting ready for some tea.

[Winnie]

Well it's been a while, but I have some photos from the start.

How it looked at first.

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After a little tractor and cultivator gave it a going over.

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The Indian garden going in

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The Indian garden planted up

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The fruits of the harvest picked today.

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[BENESSE]

WOW, Winnie, that's so exciting! The produce looks picture perfect.

[hunter63]

Wow, very nice,...... it's great to get back in the dirt isn't it?
Thanks for the pic's.....Outstanding.

[Rick]

That is so cool. It's nice to eat from the work of your hands (and back)!

[crashdive123]

That's fantastic!!!!!

[Winnie]

It certainly is good to walk down there and survey the estate, it's even better now I'm harvesting. I've had a few disasters, but I was expecting that. The fact I have anything is a bonus.

Oh and proof Winnie jnr exists! (he's hiding behind the netting)

[grrlscout]

WTG Winnie - looks fab!

[woodsman86]

Winnie that is a wonderful garden plot you got. Make sure to keep us updated.

I hope to have one going this following spring as I have missed a regular garden due to living in the desert.

[Winnie]

I just harvested about 25lbs of greenish tomatoes. I knew I might be pushing it. I have put them on newspaper in the bedrooms. I'm getting some Bananas to put amongst them today in the hope they will help along the ripening process.
In total I had 25 Corn Cobs and I also picked 15 Bell peppers. The Summer Squash are still going, but that's about it for this year. Next year, I hope to more or less keep us in veg from the plot and have enough to preserve.
I bought a new spade, I have a ton of manure to dig in.... my back is groaning already.