Image

Life on the allotment !

Have some quality recovery time from health & safety and chit chat in here about anything that doesn't fit into any other category.

Moderator: Moderators

Fletcher
Grand Shidoshi
Grand Shidoshi
Posts: 2515
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:03 am
13
Industry Sector: Retired
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Fletcher »

Well my plot is a marvellous wild garden though the potatoes are doing great and we made about 5 lbs of gooseberry fool and raspberry fool over the last couple of months, with rhubarb crumble as the alternative.
User avatar
Alexis
Official HSfB Legend
Official HSfB Legend
Posts: 48798
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:52 am
20
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisHSfB
Location: West Lothian
Has thanked: 2779 times
Been thanked: 334 times
Contact:

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Alexis »

Fletcher wrote:Well my plot is a marvellous wild garden though the potatoes are doing great and we made about 5 lbs of gooseberry fool and raspberry fool over the last couple of months, with rhubarb crumble as the alternative.
Not sure if you said that tongue-in-cheek or really mean it Fletcher. :lol:

Just as well you don't live up here or you would have froze to death tending those fools. Good you harvested such an amount!
"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle."

Image

Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
User avatar
acko 338
Grand Shidoshi
Grand Shidoshi
Posts: 2176
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:36 pm
17
Occupation: From July 1st - Director / Owner of Black & White (UK) Ltd as well as Glyn Atkinson Safety Services - self employed Health and Safety Consultant / Advisor / Technical Author.
Location: GRIMSBY TOWN - I NOW KNOW HOW TO DEFINE OPTIMISM !!
Contact:

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by acko 338 »

With 3 grandchildren as picking slaves last weekend, and extra hands all over both plots, we lifted 7.4 kilos of gooseberries, 10.1kilos of redcurrants, 3.8kilos of blackberries, and 5.4 kilos of jostaberries...... jam, anyone ????

Good job we have four large storage freezers in my workshop, as well as 50 jars of jam made over the last weekend !

Been averaging around 2 kilos of raspberries every week, but the strawberries were not so prolific this year.

Next rainy weekend will be puddings and crumbles week ready for the winter nights!

Just need a Bird's custard plant now !!!

next lot of potatoes should be ready to dig up by next week, so no rest for the wicked !
http://atkinsonsafetyservices.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
User avatar
Waterbaby
HSfB Moderator
HSfB Moderator
Posts: 4714
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:53 am
12
Industry Sector: Medical
Location: Ireland
Has thanked: 216 times
Been thanked: 472 times

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Waterbaby »

../. Perhaps stating the obvious !

October 30th, 2015

"Just half an hour in the allotment can have physical and mental health benefits"
http://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/just-half- ... -benefits/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/ ... ealth.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Gardeners have long extolled the virtues of losing an afternoon digging and weeding but now scientists have confirmed that tending an allotment is good for your mental health.Just 30 minutes a week spent pottering on the vegetable patch can boost feelings of both self-esteem and mood by dissolving tension, depression, anger, and confusion, a study found."

https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-ma ... /gardening" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WB
#DrowningPrevention, #RespectTheWater
User avatar
Alexis
Official HSfB Legend
Official HSfB Legend
Posts: 48798
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:52 am
20
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisHSfB
Location: West Lothian
Has thanked: 2779 times
Been thanked: 334 times
Contact:

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Alexis »

Waterbaby wrote:../. Perhaps stating the obvious !

October 30th, 2015

"Just half an hour in the allotment can have physical and mental health benefits"
http://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/just-half- ... -benefits/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/ ... ealth.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Gardeners have long extolled the virtues of losing an afternoon digging and weeding but now scientists have confirmed that tending an allotment is good for your mental health.Just 30 minutes a week spent pottering on the vegetable patch can boost feelings of both self-esteem and mood by dissolving tension, depression, anger, and confusion, a study found."

https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-ma ... /gardening" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WB
Works for me every time. ./thumbsup..
"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle."

Image

Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
User avatar
acko 338
Grand Shidoshi
Grand Shidoshi
Posts: 2176
Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:36 pm
17
Occupation: From July 1st - Director / Owner of Black & White (UK) Ltd as well as Glyn Atkinson Safety Services - self employed Health and Safety Consultant / Advisor / Technical Author.
Location: GRIMSBY TOWN - I NOW KNOW HOW TO DEFINE OPTIMISM !!
Contact:

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by acko 338 »

In deference to three score and nearly one years of age, i have been enclosing the space between the shed and greenhouse with floor decking, the back of an old shed, the side of an old shed, a built framework that now holds a wooden glazed door and a three panel uPVC window to seal off the area to make a winter refuge - storm light fitted to roof, and we have cut in a Velux type window to the 1st shed for more natural light.

For cosy heating we have put some heating pipe up through the roof and attached the top cowl of our chimnea to it, so we will now have a warm dry area when the weather is foul, and we need shelter from the elements or a warm up in between winter work.

It also keeps all of the chair covers clean and dry, and because we have sealed up the entrance to the greenhouse and removed the sliding door, the heat from glazing in any sunny periods makes it a relaxing place to munch lunch when we're there at the weekends.

Our little allotment empire will be expanding in December, as a gent next door is leaving the area and the son of my wife's cousin is taking over the adjacent plot - not the long term rogue plot - see previous posts in the thread - we're dealing with that ourselves by making as much of the redundant area as possible either polythene wrapped and held down with bricks against weed spread, or by making the remainder a fenced off area for a compost heap with all of this year's orchard cuttings going into that area, and surrounding plots also putting their compost materials into the heap - at least it is now controlled.

Because it was neglected for a year or so, we are going to jointly dig over the third plot and plant early potatoes in the spring - tree pruning to control the orchard part of the plot, and train back the back fence of brambles into submission. We'll also try carrots as they don't like our raised bed soils for some reason - brassicas no problem, so we will be able to spread and rotate the crops even better next growing season.

I'll try to post more next year, just been so busy expanding the businesses to date - no chance to come on here, read or comment !
http://atkinsonsafetyservices.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
User avatar
Alexis
Official HSfB Legend
Official HSfB Legend
Posts: 48798
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:52 am
20
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisHSfB
Location: West Lothian
Has thanked: 2779 times
Been thanked: 334 times
Contact:

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Alexis »

Hi Acko! .cheers

Really good to see and hear from you as always. :lol:

Fascinating to read about the hut. I badly need mine sorted! :lol:
"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle."

Image

Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
Fletcher
Grand Shidoshi
Grand Shidoshi
Posts: 2515
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:03 am
13
Industry Sector: Retired
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Fletcher »

Due to family health and other commitments I had to give my plot up as I just could not give the time it required.
I did bring the gooseberry bush back home and it is doing well so more gooseberry fool this summer.
User avatar
Alexis
Official HSfB Legend
Official HSfB Legend
Posts: 48798
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:52 am
20
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisHSfB
Location: West Lothian
Has thanked: 2779 times
Been thanked: 334 times
Contact:

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Alexis »

So sorry to hear this Fletcher, but I am sure you agree, it's just as satisfying seeing things like your gooseberries, my tatties-in-a-poke, veg between the flowers and herbs grown for eating in even the smallest of gardens close to home. :D

This year, I intend to remove some decking and grow as many vegetables as I can in the removed decking space. :D
"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle."

Image

Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
Fletcher
Grand Shidoshi
Grand Shidoshi
Posts: 2515
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:03 am
13
Industry Sector: Retired
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Fletcher »

Good for you, there is something very satisfying about eating something you have grown, picked, washed and possibly cooked, plus they seem to taste much better
User avatar
Alexis
Official HSfB Legend
Official HSfB Legend
Posts: 48798
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:52 am
20
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisHSfB
Location: West Lothian
Has thanked: 2779 times
Been thanked: 334 times
Contact:

Re: Life on the allotment !

Post by Alexis »

Agree Fletcher! They DO taste better! :D

I'm going to try and get a hold of a few old tyres for the potatoes and have started making some boxes to hang on the fence for the herbs.

I saw some easy ways to hang "anything" on to the fences at the Harrogate Autumn Show last year and looking forward to trying this. :D If it works, I'll post a photo or two in the summer months.
"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle."

Image

Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
Post Reply

 

Access Croner-i Navigate Safety-Lite here for free

HSfB Facebook Group Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook Find us on on LinkedIn

Terms of Use Privacy Policy