For years allotments were out of favour. No-one wanted them, and patches of mud with a shed at one end and weeds everywhere else went to waste. Then suddenly gardening became the new rock and roll, and everyone who didn't want to dig up their lawn wanted their own council-run patch of mud. The waiting lists grew faster than the cabbages. Now, after more than three years on a waiting list, Neil Shaw has been given his own patch of green and pleasant land.

Monday, 17 November 2008

Dig, dig, dig...

Two more days on the plot this weekend, and two days of solid digging.
The plot is well divided into different areas, so we're working on clearing them one at a time.
At the top, under the shade of a large tree, is a herb garden, followed by a fruit cage with a compost bin next to it.
After this is the area we've been working on, three beds which will be perfect for crop rotation.
We've cleared the middle one back to bare earth and the one above it is now being dug over, after the grass was cut back from four-feet high.
The manuals are divided on digging, with many organic gardeners recommending against it. But With so much vegetation above ground and so many roots below, I don't think we have a lot of choice.
The bottom patch is next on the list.
With so much greenery, and so much bindweed, the only option has been a bonfire.
So last night I burnt about half the waste. Now we just have to wait for a few dry, windless days to get rid of the rest.

No comments: