Plot 60

 This is my second year at the allotment.  My first year was fun, lots of learning, we had more to eat than we needed and I had a wonderful time, we have also made some great friends with fellow plot holders and, as you will see in my short video, the volunteers made a beautiful shelter last year so our get togethers could be all year round!  We have a pizza oven, wood burning stove, sheltered seating area and a kitchenette/bbq area.  I have done a little video to show you how lovely it is.

I am going to do a monthly video on my blog so I can see how things progress throughout the year and look back next year to see if everything I did worked or could be done differently.

I bought a ton of manure last Autumn, delivered to the plot by lorry, it wasn't the best quality but I had enough to cover the area and I gave the rest to fellow plot holders.  I covered and left it over the Winter and it has rotted down really well.  I think the soil is now ok to be left alone until planting.  I don't dig unless it's virgin soil, so this year will be easier, I only need to rake it over.

I have bought my seed potatoes from the local allotment shop where they can get our seeds and plants in bulk at a discount, as it's non profit making and run by volunteers, prices are really low, all the seed potatoes, including my jersey royals, were £1.65 per kilo.  I am storing them in crates in the garage where it is cold and dark and not chitting them until late February and planting in March.  

At this site everyone shares and unwanted items are left to be taken.  My water butt is an old ad-blu drum and it has an old kitchen tap, my wooden manure store was made for me from palets and my two compost bins were given to me.  All my tools came from the recycle centre at £1 to £3 each apart from my fabulous hoe which my neighbour gave me!