We've got soil!

Every time we go to the allotment recently I forget my camera, but since I have now got proof that people are actually interested in my blog (thanks for the comments) I thought I had better post an update.

Dad and I made a fence and door from old pallets so now the site is a bit more secure, not that there is really anything worth protecting yet but it seems to make it more ours somehow.

We have cleared all the undergrowth but not yet dug out the roots of the brambles etc. Since clearing it all we had some wet weather and all the dormant seeds seem to have sprouted, so instead of a bramble patch we now have a meadow. It is a bit disheartening to have got rid of one weed for it to be replaced by another.

I had originally planned to rotivate the whole plot before winter but after taking stock we found there are a lot of roots to dig out and stones/ bricks to clear. Decided that we will mark out small areas and dig one bit at a time, removing stones and roots as we come to them. So when we have cleared a bed we can then start to plant and at least we can see a bit of return for our hard work.

Yesterday was lovely and sunny so we had (hopefully) the last bonfire and Thomas started to dig. We decided that since he is 11 now it would be good for him to be in charge of his own little plot, he can plant what he wants and keep it weeded/ watered. Got him set up with a small area in a sunny corner and gave him a fork. What I forgot to tell him was when you dig up a weed you put it into a pile to be disposed of later, you don't dig them back into the soil! Anyhow he did a really good job (with a bit of help from Mum) and now we can see the soil. It looks really fertile, dark and crumbly, I think the fact the plot hasn't been cultivated for years has helped.

I cleared all the bindweed off the frame of the old greenhouse and found the door is still OK. I bought some bolts to replace the missing ones and managed to find enough unbroken glass to almost complete the roof. At least we now have a bit of shelter if we get caught by a sudden downpour. The hardstanding is in pretty good condition and I have cut the hedge back so the hawthorn is on the outside of the greenhouse rather than inside. Just need to price some glass up, I'm told it isn't expensive. Then we can think about seeds and compost and seed trays, I can't help but be a bit excited about it all now.