a weblog with an allotment attached
27 March 2006
Our trip to the plot in the rain on Saturday was successful in that we laid the first two sheets of large black plastic, covering about half of the rotovated ground. It has been slightly nerve-wracking since then as the weather has been pretty windy and we’ve both been worried that the sheets would […]
Filed under: Baby plants, Hard labour, Sowings — Clare @ 6:21 pm
25 March 2006
(or, the hitherto unrecorded Battle of Warstock Lane)
Owen and I have a curious relationship, frowned upon by many northerners. I was brought up in Yorkshire, he in Lancashire. I should, perhaps, mention that neither of us can claim full pedigree of our respective heritages since I was born in Wells and Owen was […]
Filed under: Hard labour, Seasons - spring — Clare @ 6:31 pm
25 March 2006
I’ve practically forgotten what the allotment looks like, it’s been that long since we were there, what with rehearsals and the concert and generally being sociable.
But all that’s about to change. We’re just about to head down to reacquaint ourselves with the plot, to do some final levelling and to lay the black plastic. […]
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 3:19 pm
20 March 2006
The vernal equinox today may mark the first day of spring, but we’ve still not had the first spring day.
Filed under: Seasons - spring, This much I know — Clare @ 11:54 am
16 March 2006
Wishing you all a happy St Patrick’s Day - not only the patron saint of Ireland, but also of organic gardening. I think that means we can safely assume that he did not make use of pesticides when he rid the Emerald Isle of serpents.
Hey, St Pat! Any chance you can put that pint of […]
Filed under: Mulch — Clare @ 6:28 pm
13 March 2006
What’s the weather like in your part of the world? Here it’s absoutely freezing. It’s too cold to even think about being down the allotment - though it’s not as if I actually have the time to go there anyway. It is the kind of weather that elicits cravings for comfort food, […]
Filed under: Recipes - P'soup, Seasons - winter — Clare @ 9:12 pm
12 March 2006
We’ve had another fine, but tiring weekend having final rehearsals for our big concert next weekend. We’re all starting to get a bit nervous, but we’re also all playing together in a much more polished way now and starting to sound like a trio rather than three separate musicians who happen to be tootling at […]
9 March 2006
The Vermicious Knids were not, as previously thought, inspired by Cnidaria, but by Pink Fir Apples. Scram, indeed.
Filed under: This much I know — Clare @ 10:47 pm
8 March 2006
Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
And charging along like troops in a battle,
All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
All of the sights of the hill and the plain
Fly as thick as driving rain;
And ever again, in the wink of an eye,
Painted stations whistle by.
Here is a child who […]
Filed under: Enthusings — Clare @ 6:27 pm
6 March 2006
(A title chosen specifically to score me brownie points with my darling gardening assistant)
The sun was shining today and later on I managed to haul myself down to the plot to do a little more levelling of the rotovated soil in readiness for marking out a whole host of new beds and covering with black […]
Filed under: Hard labour, iPlot — Clare @ 5:42 pm
4 March 2006
(Or, what becomes amusing when you should be rehearsing hard for a concert only a fortnight away)
Irish washerwoman (five times, fast).
Mo’ slow mo snow (this actually came up in conversation).
An inanimate object (not exactly a tonguetwister, but it somehow proved very difficult to say).
My somersaulting clarinet mouthpiece is unstoppable (it’s best not to ask).
Filed under: Mulch — Clare @ 5:59 pm
3 March 2006
I received a phone call not about half an hour ago from Owen’s Dad (Hi there Gareth!) telling me that Gardeners World was featuring allotments in Birmingham, including the wonderful allotments on the street where we live (the ones we were not able to get a plot at unless we waited for at least two […]
Filed under: Fallow — Clare @ 8:34 pm
3 March 2006
Allotment mud is able to insinuate its way into the most remote parts of your home, even though you’re vigilant about removing your boots at the door.
Filed under: This much I know — Clare @ 10:59 am