tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3884156327766312482024-03-21T20:13:10.936-07:00Bobs Allotment DiaryBobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-25333863502319367302013-01-02T12:34:00.000-08:002013-01-22T04:35:28.340-08:00History and about Bebington Road Allotments.<strong><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary</u>.</span></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bebington Road allotments are in Rock Ferry, Wirral (CH42 4QE). </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The site has 260 potential plots it's the largest site in North West, England. The site is surrounded by the houses on Bebington Road, Alexandra Drive, Princes
Boulevard, Cavendish Drive and a little bit of Borough Road.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>The main access is hidden between 184 and 186 Bebington Road, (this is the entrance that I take) a second is equally
well hidden between 65 and 67 Alexandra Drive and a third on Borough Road between
847 Borough Road and 1 Kings Way, less hidden but used only for pedestrian
access. </strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The site has a heavy soil; on virgin plots it's 25 cm of claggy fertile soil
over brick making quality clay, on worked plots it varies, with the best being
excellent.</span></strong> <br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>The Council purchased the site in 1929, so some plots could have had over 80
years of more or less continuous cultivation, others have laid dormant for many
many years! Some still do, but for someone up for a challenge they're available.
The site has an Allotment Society with an active, if somewhat introspective,
committee whose activities include, amongst others: organising social events,
tool hire and running the shop.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>The plan above shows a total of 260 available plots, with a further 11 plots worth of community space. The plan is slightly out of date but is 99% accurate. I have highlighted my plot, number 342.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Of the 260 plots 20 or so are in such a bad state that no one has taken them up
in recent times, though occasionally some pioneer plot holder will take on one
of these plots and bring them back into the mainstream.</span></strong> <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">History.</span></strong> <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Bebington Road Allotment site was acquired by the Council on 24 July 1929
from R. G. Orred , deed reference O.5.17. That land included not only the
allotments but also the land where houses are now built on Bebington Road and
Alexandra Drive.</span></strong> <br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Prior to 1929 the site was farmland, possibly a farm specialising in pig
breading. Prior to 1929 the site was farmland, possibly a farm specialising in pig
breading. The map below shows how the area looked in 1889, with the allotment site
comprising fields 74, 76 and 77.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>There are stories about the site being owned by a railway company for its
workforce back in 1907/08, but there is no known documentary evidence for this;
perhaps the company rented land from the farm. There are also stories
that railway carriages were used on site during the 2nd World War.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>More detailed information can be found on </strong></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.beballot.co.uk/">www.beballot.co.uk</a> </strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Quite an interesting read! It makes me really proud to be apart of the allotments and to be part of the history in years to come.</span></strong> <br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>I hope you enjoyed reading and maybe learned something new.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>My next post, Excited about seeds.</strong></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Bob.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"></span><br />Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-54423424307092464912013-01-02T12:30:00.000-08:002013-01-02T12:32:06.230-08:00Preparation for the new season.<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary.</u></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Welcome 2013! A brand new start. Lots of preparation to be getting on with. In a way, I feel somewhat behind already. I suppose when the new season begins, the list of jobs is greater and time is precious. Ok, here is what I have been upto so far.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Forcing Rhubarb.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>I noticed that my rhubarb had started to make an appearance after being dormant for several weeks. I was pleased that something was starting to show on the plot. I cleared round the base of the crowns, taking away any little weeds. Using a bin, I placed it over the rhubarb to exclude the light. Hopefully they will be ready to harvest in about eight weeks. </strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Just a quick peek at the shoots that have been forced for about a week now.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Planting Garlic.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A few weeks back, I planted my garlic cloves. I have noticed that a few have come through and the rest have yet to join in. I hope to get some good bulbs from this years crop. I tried to grow them last winter and had no success, sadly. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Planting Onions. </span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>About the same time as I planted my garlic, I also planted my onion sets. Slowly but surely they are rising. Ready to harvest by the summer. Japanese onion sets<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> usually provide a harvestable crop in June, a month or two earlier than spring planted sets.</span></strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Not the best picture, a bit blurry but you can see a section of my onion sets.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Starting leeks off.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I have been saving the cardboard insides from toilet rolls (something my missus, Hayley has been shouting at me for... leaving them around the house!). Eventually, I took them to the allotment so I could use them to plant my leeks, giving them a head start. The idea of using the cardboard insides is so I can pick them up as they are and plant them straight into the ground without disturbing the roots. The cardboard will soon rot away. Iv'e never done this before, so it's a little experiment...</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They are currently in my friends greenhouse. After several weeks, if they have taken off, I Should be able to transplant them safely into one of my beds.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I bought Hayley a pair of wellies and she is made up. We can head down to the allotments together, it will be good to get her involved and she will learn more about how vegetables are grown. Think she will be shocked that they don't come already wrapped like in the supermarkets! </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, History and about Bebington Road Allotments.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A bit of bed time reading!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob. </span></strong></div>
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Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-56828863722267792832013-01-01T11:27:00.000-08:002013-01-01T11:31:19.778-08:00Coffee beside the log burner at the allotment.<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary.</u></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">During the winter season of 2012, most of my time was spent in the shed with my good mate Carl. After the jobs were complete, we put the kettle on and lit the log burner. It has truly turned into an allotment tradition! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The trouble is, once you are settled in your chair with a hot drink and the warmth from the fire going, It's hard to want to do anything else! Carl made the log burner himself, by using recycled materials. He is a very talented man. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The materials used, as you can see in the picture are: an old gas bottle, a steel pole and chopped up logs to make the fire. It doesn't half give off some heat! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The kitchen area in the shed. Nothing beats a nice hot cuppa!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Carl has been kind enough to make me my own log burner for when I manage to get a new shed, hopefully this year. Check out the masterpiece below...</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A friendly warning to anybody who is thinking about making their own log burner using these materials. Be careful, without good knowledge and the correct equipment, it could be dangerous. Please message me or leave a comment if you have any questions. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, Preparation for the new season. Lets get started!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob.</span></strong>Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-20306504244952774922012-12-30T14:53:00.000-08:002013-01-01T08:15:00.020-08:00Frosty allotment in December. <strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary.</u></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I didnt expect the allotment to look like this when I pulled up to my plot! It had been cold for a few days and the grounds were frosty. I hadn't gone to do any work, only to feed the chickens and let them run around the plot.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It was beautiful. Peace and quiet, just the sound of birds and the crunch beneath my feet. A blanket of white dust. It was one of those mild days, not too cold. It made me happy, a new season was shortly about to come. All of this would soon be just another allotment memory. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My chickens didn't seem to be bothered by the frosty ground, infact they were curious to explore!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have enjoyed my first year at the allotment, turning ideas into actions. </span></strong></span></strong></div>
<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I feel like my plot is telling a story, each chapter gets better and I can't wait to turn the page. To all my readers, have a wonderful New Year and all the best. </span></strong></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Keep reading for more adventures down at the allotment!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, Coffee beside the log burner at the allotment.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></strong><br />Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-50908388080915602572012-12-30T13:15:00.001-08:002012-12-30T13:16:49.428-08:00D.I.Y runner bean frame.<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary.</u></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This was a quick and easy little project. The runner bean frame. Probably took me a day to build. I was going to go with the normal kind of frame, made with canes and string but I came across some cable wire dumped in a skip. This gave me an idea, I guess nobody wanted it so finders keepers, I took it home. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The other materials I used were from the freecycle website that I picked up, not intent for the frame at the time. I just pick stuff up that may come in handy!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I buried two long wooden posts into one of my beds and strengthened each side with skinny sticks of metal for support. I cut out notches in the top of both posts for the scaffolding bar to sit on. With sharp scissors, I then cut long pieces of the cable wire and made sure they were near enough all the same length. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I wrapped the cable wire round the pole and secured it with a knot at the bottom onto bent pieces of metal and placed them firmly into the ground. This is probably a good idea, considering how windy it gets. More sturdy than using string! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And thats how easy it was! Originally, I built this on the right side of my plot (above picture) but moved it to the left in October to be closer to the greenhouse (which is an ongoing project).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As you can see, my plot is coming on nicely. It's taking shape now. All in preparation for the new season 2013. A big difference if you go back to my first blog of when the allotment was a mess. Can you spot my my mate Carl? </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Only a few more tasks to do now, finish the ongoing greenhouse project, which you can see behind the runner bean frame. That should be finished next year. I need to plan what is going where regarding the location of crops and what seeds I need to put in the ground straight away. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Its nearly New Year. Hopefully we will get some good weather!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, Frosty allotment in December.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob.</span></strong>Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-46596178384725438212012-12-30T10:08:00.004-08:002012-12-30T10:08:56.691-08:00Meet my allotment buddy, Carl. <strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary.</u></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When I first got my plot at Bebington Road Allotments, it never occurred to me that I would meet or become friends with anybody. I thought it would be smile and nod, the odd hello there. Maybe because it was me, thinking I was only 23 and too young to hang out with the grandads. (No offence, I love the old - they know their stuff!) </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But actually, I quickly realised that the community was full of all ages, ladies and gents too. I made myself familiar with the allotment grounds and which route to take to get to my plot. I think there must be over 260 plots at Bebington road site. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">At the allotment is where i met my buddy Carl. He had not long joined the allotment himself. I think it was October 2011 when he got his plot. He's alot like me, so of course he got stuck into it. His plot is looking pretty fantastic and is ready for the new season of 2013. Here is a picture earlier on this year... Carl's Plot. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Since getting to know Carl and his lovely family, I consider him to be a great mate of mine. My missus Hayley gets on really well with Carl's other half Julie. They also have two daughters, Lauren (who is our little helper down at the allotment) and Katie, the cutest little girl. She calls me Rob the chicken man! We often get together at Carl's house in the evening to have a few beers and talk business! The women chit chat over a glass of wine or two, three. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We basically talk to each other everyday, either in person, on the mobile, on facebook and recently on our Blogs - he felt left out and made a blog not long after I did! All part of the allotment fun, eh mate! Check him out, here is the link to his blog site. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://carlsallotmentdiary.blogspot.co.uk/">http://carlsallotmentdiary.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This is Carl! He got himself in a sticky situation here! At my plot, helping me out with planting some fruit bushes. We both can't wait for the New Year, looking forward to the journey ahead, sharing our handy tips and tricks, playing the Chuckle Brothers - 'to me, to you'! Just a quick shout mate to say thanks for all the help this year. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, the D.I.Y runner bean frame. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></strong>Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-85353878695371825762012-12-30T07:18:00.000-08:002012-12-30T07:25:33.654-08:00The ever-growing compost heap.<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u>Dear Diary.</u></strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I knew I wanted to have good soil for 2013, so in the beginning of January 2012, </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I started to save my kitchen scraps and take them down to the allotment. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I threw all sorts onto the heap... potato peelings, vegetables, egg shells e.t.c</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To make the compost heap, I found some old pieces of corrugated metal sheets lying around the allotments. I thought this would be great to use as it wouldn't rot away like wood. To start the heap off, I managed to get hold of some horse manure from a friend. </span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>It soon started to pile high. My grandad keeps pigeons and he asked me if I wanted the pigeon poop for the heap. It's a natural compost breakdown accelerator and supposed to be twice as potent as chickens. So it all got thrown in! </strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I collected grass cuttings from my local bowling green, they were happy to give it to me for nothing. So for about 10 months, the heap has been breaking down into lovely rich compost. A task for December was to spread it out onto the beds for 2013. </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I was surprised how much compost it made. </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I even gave some to my allotment buddy, Carl. He said it was good stuff! </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I can't wait for the new season to begin. I hope the compost does me proud! </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Just need to start over and pile that heap high for 2014!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, Meet my allotment buddy, Carl. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob.</span></strong></div>
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Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-80751739976575184252012-12-29T16:42:00.002-08:002012-12-30T06:16:25.243-08:00The chicken house project.<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary.</u></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This project was an exciting one. It meant I was going to have some little friends on the allotment, chickens! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">First off, I had to be given the OK by the Council to keep chickens on my plot. The conditions had to be just right. Each bird needs at least two foot square of land to iteself. The home needed to be secure enough to keep the Foxes away and general welbeing of the chickens kept to a good standard. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I was planning on making the chicken house from scratch but then I found something on Freecycle, a fantastic website that gives you the option to search your local area for items that people no longer want. Basically free shite! You can get some bargains on there. <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">www.freecycle.org</a> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I picked up an old wooden dog kennel from a lady who wanted to get rid. It suited me down to the ground as it was quite a decent size. I was going to turn it into my chicken house with a bit of work. Actually alot of work.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is the foundation for the chicken house. I needed to make sure that it was rain proof, so the first task was to fix the roof and to secure the area, making a fence with plastic chicken wire. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As you can see in the photo, the fence secures the chicken house and the broken flags prevent the foxes from digging. The materials kept behind the house were all recycled bits that I had picked up. All of this was being used to build the outer nest boxes, each side of the house. It took me about 4 days to build. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Looking more like a chicken house now. Inside, I made divisions in the nest box area and a stand for the chickens to sit on. I built the nest box roof with hinges to access the eggs without climbing inside the house. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The next job was to make the doors for the front of the house to let the chickens in and out. Also to gain access when cleaning out. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Almost complete, just a few more final tasks. I needed to build the roof of the run to prevent any foxes from climbing in. And a steady door to enter the area. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Eventually when things start to grow, the idea is for the brambles to cover the entire roof space. Adding a more woodland character to the house. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The build is complete. The biggest allotment challenge so far! It was a fun project and I am really proud of how it turned out. Welcome home chickens! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The chicks have settled in and love their new home. There are 8 all together and they are the best of friends! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The finished home! I gave it a paint and added some chicken accessories. Enjoy!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, the ever-growing compost heap.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob.</span></strong>Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-33183065216848413732012-12-29T13:53:00.000-08:002012-12-29T13:56:06.907-08:00The raised beds challenge. <strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Dear Diary.</u></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My journey to making raised beds for the allotment. First, I needed to get my hands on a load of timber. I would of prefered to use scaffolding boards but trying to get hold of these proved quite tricky. In the end, I made do with bits of long narrow fencing boards. All of the materials again were given to me, so thankfully I didn't have to dig deep into my pockets! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am happy with the way the beds turned out, although in the future they will need replacing. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the progress of building my small raised beds. I was good at estimating the width between beds for walking space. A good size for the wheelbarrow too. The bits of carpet helped to kill off the weeds. A good friend of mine drops woodchip off in his truck to cover the pathways on my plot. In return I give him a few quid for petrol and a couple of cans! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Quite exciting, watching the plot come together. Different sized beds to break the allotment up into sections for future crops. Just needed to dig away at the weeds. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am very lucky to have a large plot. Lots of space for beds up and down on both sides.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Luckily the weather was by my side during the days of construction. Of course, the rain came a day or two later, which meant holding off on filling the beds with soil.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As you can see in the photo, the rain filled the plot. Still managed to get other things done though, I custom made a piece of old worktop to fit inside my little shed. Put up some hooks so my tools have a home and gave it a good tidy.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A great place to gather my thoughts, chill out and read a book, or even take a nap!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just need to add a gas stove to make a cuppa tea and life will be good! </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></strong> <strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, the Chicken House project. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></strong><br />Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-5040662187793166912012-12-29T10:22:00.000-08:002012-12-29T10:25:14.383-08:00From the beginning... <br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u>Dear Diary.</u></strong> </span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A look back at my allotment in the very early stages. I'm glad I took a few photos. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The plot was a mess and it took me quite some time and a hard grafting before I was able to start any real tasks. Over grown weeds and brambles mostly. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As you can see in the photo, the fence was basically about to fall down. That was another task in itself. I used bits of carpet and plastic to cover the ground to kill the weeds. This was the end of January of this year 2012. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Starting to repair the fence surrounding my plot using old wooden pallets. Most of the materials I used were either already left on the plot or given to me. I didn't go out and spend money on new wood because the idea was to recycle and save. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not a bad job for someone who has never built a fence before. When it was finished to an ok standard, I lay woodchip down to create paths. The spaces between the paths would become raised beds, which was my next task! </span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>I completed most of this work within a week or two. Getting up early and digging until dark. Quite an <span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">accomplishment looking back at the photographs and comparing them to the plot now. </span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My next post, the raised beds challenge. Fun at the allotment.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Bob. </span></strong></div>
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Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388415632776631248.post-40882176448972973752012-12-18T17:07:00.001-08:002012-12-18T17:15:11.012-08:00My first blog post.<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Dear Diary.</u> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">My first entry. Writing this at midnight, I probably should be asleep but I was too eager and wanted to make it official. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">It was my girlfriend who actually encouraged me to start documenting my allotment journey. A good idea to share with you, the reader. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I can look back on my posts for inspiration, something to be proud of.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I live on the Wirral, just outside of Liverpool. To have an allotment, you have to apply to your local council. There is a waiting list depending on what area you choose to have your plot. I was on the waiting list for 12 months before I was given my own bit of Earth. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">I remember looking at the large empty space, so many thoughts and ideas popped up. I couldn't wait to start. I got out my notebook and in no time at all I was sketching layout designs. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">I worked hard for the first couple of months, building my raised beds and making my own chicken house. All on a little budget.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I took photos along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">This year was mainly an experiment, to gain experience and to learn from mistakes. I probably rushed into growing a few things early because I was excited to see the outcome. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">My next post, I will upload photos of my journey so far. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">But now it's time for bed.</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bob.</span> </span></span></span></span>Bobs Allotment Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10206287862871651423noreply@blogger.com0