Life on the allotment !
Moderator: Moderators
- acko 338
- 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:
Life on the allotment !
Definitely into the recovery room area after a full weekend of fighting the plot to see the land underneath.
40 metres by 15 metres in size - totally overgrown and full of "horse's tail" weed. This all needs to be carpetted over after being weedkilled.
We're then erecting raised beds on the rest of the plot, along with a large workshop / shed and greenhouse joined by a hardstanding of decking to sit out on in between grafting like trojans !
Well, it's now all down to close cut grass, and weedkillered all around the perimeter so that all of the stuff will die back and reveal the glass and stones left behind from the previous occupant.
Spent Saturday and Sunday with the other half and my daughter building a wood fence c/w palleted composting area and a fenced area for dropping off delivered top soil or bark chippings - dug up a hardstanding for a greenhouse, but it's at the wrong end of the plot !
The wife discovered her best friend's brother in law two plots away, and when we went across to the community hut, her long lost cousin has the next plot to the hut ! they're all doing it, you know !
Allotments seem to be the trendy hideaways now from the pace of modern life if you have little spare space to garden at home !
The daft thing is... I've met and spoken to more nice people in two weeks than I have in my own neighbourhood in 11 years. When houses sell nowadays, they seem to be lived in by ghosts - you just don't see anyone out gardening or tidying up.. they go shopping at all hours, wash cars after midnight, it just beggars belief. The house opposite me has gone up twice in a short time (newest ones - divorced within six months of marrying !) and I've not talked to either occupant.
Might even get some cheap fresh vegs eventually !
40 metres by 15 metres in size - totally overgrown and full of "horse's tail" weed. This all needs to be carpetted over after being weedkilled.
We're then erecting raised beds on the rest of the plot, along with a large workshop / shed and greenhouse joined by a hardstanding of decking to sit out on in between grafting like trojans !
Well, it's now all down to close cut grass, and weedkillered all around the perimeter so that all of the stuff will die back and reveal the glass and stones left behind from the previous occupant.
Spent Saturday and Sunday with the other half and my daughter building a wood fence c/w palleted composting area and a fenced area for dropping off delivered top soil or bark chippings - dug up a hardstanding for a greenhouse, but it's at the wrong end of the plot !
The wife discovered her best friend's brother in law two plots away, and when we went across to the community hut, her long lost cousin has the next plot to the hut ! they're all doing it, you know !
Allotments seem to be the trendy hideaways now from the pace of modern life if you have little spare space to garden at home !
The daft thing is... I've met and spoken to more nice people in two weeks than I have in my own neighbourhood in 11 years. When houses sell nowadays, they seem to be lived in by ghosts - you just don't see anyone out gardening or tidying up.. they go shopping at all hours, wash cars after midnight, it just beggars belief. The house opposite me has gone up twice in a short time (newest ones - divorced within six months of marrying !) and I've not talked to either occupant.
Might even get some cheap fresh vegs eventually !
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.
Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
- acko 338
- 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 !
Well, I got the news that Mum in law's replacement little shed is arriving on Wednesday, so the weekend will consist of erecting the new shed, sealing it from the weather, putting in shelves and drawers to suit from the big work shop, then commencing to strip out and dismantle the big work shop ready for moving to the allotment.
I will also be dismantling the donated greenhouse as well , ready for that to go in one trip with the workshop.
Keep watching for the latest instalment of.... "Life on the allotment !"
I'm most happy to see if any safety or handy tips / additions come on here - eg - weedkiller advice, treatment for horses' tail weeds, or just tell me if the thread is boring and I'll stop!
The allotment site will also become a satellite working area for my wife's NVQ teaching at her horticulture college, working with adults with disabilities and learning difficulties - they always need areas for practical assessment , and our roses and plants can only stand so much pruning in one calendar year !
I will also be dismantling the donated greenhouse as well , ready for that to go in one trip with the workshop.
Keep watching for the latest instalment of.... "Life on the allotment !"
I'm most happy to see if any safety or handy tips / additions come on here - eg - weedkiller advice, treatment for horses' tail weeds, or just tell me if the thread is boring and I'll stop!
The allotment site will also become a satellite working area for my wife's NVQ teaching at her horticulture college, working with adults with disabilities and learning difficulties - they always need areas for practical assessment , and our roses and plants can only stand so much pruning in one calendar year !
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.
Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
- superscaff75
- Snr Member
- Posts: 479
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:45 pm
- 16
- Occupation: contracts manager (scaffolder)
- Location: united kingdomn co durham
Re: Life on the allotment !
acko ive just gettin an allotment 4 weeks ago been trying to tell you in a few posts youre right about them being friendly places you cant get work done for people talking to you have to go now speak later
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, Therefore, is not an act, but a habit. aristotle
- Alexis
- Official HSfB Legend
- Posts: 48845
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:52 am
- 20
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisHSfB
- Location: West Lothian
- Has thanked: 2821 times
- Been thanked: 340 times
- Contact:
Re: Life on the allotment !
I like this post Acko, so just keep on updating us and like you, I will be watching out for those little tips.
Scaffy, I wondered when Acko would notice your posts on your allotment too.
Scaffy, I wondered when Acko would notice your posts on your allotment too.
"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle."
Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
- Ian Rienewerf
- Grand Shidoshi
- Posts: 2859
- Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:09 am
- 17
- Occupation: Risk Management Systems
- Location: Morpeth, Northumberland
- Been thanked: 39 times
- Contact:
Re: Life on the allotment !
Well done Acko,
I admire your enthusiasm.
It sounds like hard work for me.
I'll just stick with my Bonsai trees - gardening you can do from your armchair.
I admire your enthusiasm.
It sounds like hard work for me.
I'll just stick with my Bonsai trees - gardening you can do from your armchair.
http://www.irems.co.uk
Risk management for companies with 5 to 50 employees
Risk management for companies with 5 to 50 employees
- acko 338
- 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 !
I look at it this way - you don't have to go out and kill yourself digging or working every night or weekend, there WILL be an end result, plenty of fresh air and exercise built into the setting up and working on the plot, and a really good atmosphere while down there.
I've even started listening to Terry's (don't remember his surname) top tips section on the Jeremy Vine Radio 2 programme from his allotment in Wales.
I'm probably very sad in some people's minds, but I'm really enjoying time down there, and creating something from a lost wilderness left by the last dim and distant occupier.
Some kind people have mentioned that this plot would also be a good place for me to practice on my drum kit,.... but I know their names and where they live ... !!! G-rrrr !!!
Sorry to miss your posts, Scaff, I've now looked through and found them ! Hidden under a bag of compost, no doubt !
I've even started listening to Terry's (don't remember his surname) top tips section on the Jeremy Vine Radio 2 programme from his allotment in Wales.
I'm probably very sad in some people's minds, but I'm really enjoying time down there, and creating something from a lost wilderness left by the last dim and distant occupier.
Some kind people have mentioned that this plot would also be a good place for me to practice on my drum kit,.... but I know their names and where they live ... !!! G-rrrr !!!
Sorry to miss your posts, Scaff, I've now looked through and found them ! Hidden under a bag of compost, no doubt !
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.
Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
- acko 338
- 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 !
Well, I thought I had a night off watching footie for once, but as per usual, something went wrong.
The shed delivery to my Mum in law was a disaster - the firm delivered to 41 not 42, and the houses do not follow in line over the road. I thus had to go and collect the shed from 200 yards down her road with only a small sack barrow to use as a mechanical manual handling aid.
Did I also mention that the heavens opened up while I was moving the parts?
Or that the owner of 39 with the linking passage to the rear yards had parked up his quad bike and gone out, so all parts had to be slid past without any damage to the machine?
Oh, and my potential glamourous assistant, (5 brownie points for Acko), the wife, was caught in an accident back lash queue when leaving the Lincolnshire Show, so no roof rack to help in the move or another pair of hands.
No phone signal in the village to call up any troops on the mobile either !
Thank God for quick grip clamps, and luggage straps + a good bit of prep thought into the move. Got the whole shed and other bits moved over an hour of rainfall.
If anyone goes to church and has any pull over the man upstairs, could I possibly have two dry days over this weekend, please, I have one shed to build and fill, one shed to strip out and dismantle ?
Pretty please?
The shed delivery to my Mum in law was a disaster - the firm delivered to 41 not 42, and the houses do not follow in line over the road. I thus had to go and collect the shed from 200 yards down her road with only a small sack barrow to use as a mechanical manual handling aid.
Did I also mention that the heavens opened up while I was moving the parts?
Or that the owner of 39 with the linking passage to the rear yards had parked up his quad bike and gone out, so all parts had to be slid past without any damage to the machine?
Oh, and my potential glamourous assistant, (5 brownie points for Acko), the wife, was caught in an accident back lash queue when leaving the Lincolnshire Show, so no roof rack to help in the move or another pair of hands.
No phone signal in the village to call up any troops on the mobile either !
Thank God for quick grip clamps, and luggage straps + a good bit of prep thought into the move. Got the whole shed and other bits moved over an hour of rainfall.
If anyone goes to church and has any pull over the man upstairs, could I possibly have two dry days over this weekend, please, I have one shed to build and fill, one shed to strip out and dismantle ?
Pretty please?
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.
Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
- Alexis
- Official HSfB Legend
- Posts: 48845
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:52 am
- 20
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisHSfB
- Location: West Lothian
- Has thanked: 2821 times
- Been thanked: 340 times
- Contact:
Re: Life on the allotment !
This is the fun bit of gardening Acko and God is just testing you to see if you have what it takes to grow his natural goodies and nurture his little insects.
I once built small walls out of paper mache. No manual handling problems there, environmentally friendly and they lasted for years and years. The little bugs loved them too.
I once built small walls out of paper mache. No manual handling problems there, environmentally friendly and they lasted for years and years. The little bugs loved them too.
"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle."
Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
Hundreds of FREE Health & Safety Downloads Here
- superscaff75
- Snr Member
- Posts: 479
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:45 pm
- 16
- Occupation: contracts manager (scaffolder)
- Location: united kingdomn co durham
Re: Life on the allotment !
ive been demolishing the old shed on my plot this week too acko it is an absolute pit full of alsorts to do with pigeons including the mess . but im not buying a shed im gonna build one therefore easier to manually handle into the garden but prob not easier to get built and filled in a day
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, Therefore, is not an act, but a habit. aristotle
- acko 338
- 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 !
Best of luck with your new build, I did the same when designing and making up a secure drum store for my rear garden - once finished it looked just like an add on pent shed attached to the main workshop with no visible signs of the value of the contents within. the big BBQ is parked in front of the store and it merges completely into the background, whilst being made to measure for removing either my smaller reheasal set up of my drums or taking out it all out in one go for bigger gigs.
Shed staining at Mum's this afternoon before picking up loads of carpets ready for spreading over the remains of the weeds on the plot - shed assembly with lucky "volunteers" tomorrow, weather permitting!
Have a good weekend, to anyone gardening, DIY'ing, or working on allotments everywhere !
Keep digging, stay healthy !
Shed staining at Mum's this afternoon before picking up loads of carpets ready for spreading over the remains of the weeds on the plot - shed assembly with lucky "volunteers" tomorrow, weather permitting!
Have a good weekend, to anyone gardening, DIY'ing, or working on allotments everywhere !
Keep digging, stay healthy !
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.
Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
- acko 338
- 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 !
Progress over this weekend -
One load of discarded carpets delivered to site from my carpet fitter friend,and more to come when I can fit another trip in to him !
One 6 x 4 shed completed and filled with remains of old shed contents still required at Mum in law's house.
Workshop nearly cleared out, just need to decipher how many long nails my late father in law managed to hide / bury to hold his bench up !!! Three cross struts to remove then the shed can be split into sections again.
Just got the tin sheeted woodpile to go through at the back of the shed to finish the area off and remove all sleeps and slabs to the allotment ready for the shed to go on and extension to the joint pathway betwween plots.
Throw in a bit of rolled and levelled topsoil where the shed stood and some hardy grass seed and the job's a good 'un !
The other half is going to look at the newish greenhouse we've been given today to suss out size and ease of transporting the empty frame.
I would like - in a perfect world - to be able to borrow the company flat back truck next weekend, put all of the shed sections, paving slabs, sleepers, and the greenhouse frame on it in one go, and deliver everything to the allotment ready for a week of putting up and fixing together on site. The glass can be wrapped and travel separately, arriving intact if possible.
Onegood thing, the aching of the unwilling body is starting to fade more with each day of work, so this graft MUST be doing me SOME good?
Or else my body receptors have stopped working ??
Or the Ibuprofen gel is doing it's thing on the hurting / aching bits ??
And now, back to the desk job !
One load of discarded carpets delivered to site from my carpet fitter friend,and more to come when I can fit another trip in to him !
One 6 x 4 shed completed and filled with remains of old shed contents still required at Mum in law's house.
Workshop nearly cleared out, just need to decipher how many long nails my late father in law managed to hide / bury to hold his bench up !!! Three cross struts to remove then the shed can be split into sections again.
Just got the tin sheeted woodpile to go through at the back of the shed to finish the area off and remove all sleeps and slabs to the allotment ready for the shed to go on and extension to the joint pathway betwween plots.
Throw in a bit of rolled and levelled topsoil where the shed stood and some hardy grass seed and the job's a good 'un !
The other half is going to look at the newish greenhouse we've been given today to suss out size and ease of transporting the empty frame.
I would like - in a perfect world - to be able to borrow the company flat back truck next weekend, put all of the shed sections, paving slabs, sleepers, and the greenhouse frame on it in one go, and deliver everything to the allotment ready for a week of putting up and fixing together on site. The glass can be wrapped and travel separately, arriving intact if possible.
Onegood thing, the aching of the unwilling body is starting to fade more with each day of work, so this graft MUST be doing me SOME good?
Or else my body receptors have stopped working ??
Or the Ibuprofen gel is doing it's thing on the hurting / aching bits ??
And now, back to the desk job !
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.
Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.
- acko 338
- 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 !
I've now just got the joints for the roof to part company with the frame, then I can start dissembling the frame work - but - ha !
Then I find that my late Dad in law, God bless him, decided that a six inch nail is far better and more permanent everywhere than long woodscrews that can be extracted easily ! I am now going to have to slightly spring the 1/2 roof sections and hacksaw through each nail to free off the roof sections - with no accidents or incidents!
Oh joy, just because I've re-discovered and reclaimed everything that Dad borrowed over the years as I'm sorting through the shed ! He will now be having a good chuckle somewhere watching me struggle to part the roof sections and split up the frame.
I'll be glad when this is re-erected on the plot to start some gardening work and storing tools on site at last.
Then I find that my late Dad in law, God bless him, decided that a six inch nail is far better and more permanent everywhere than long woodscrews that can be extracted easily ! I am now going to have to slightly spring the 1/2 roof sections and hacksaw through each nail to free off the roof sections - with no accidents or incidents!
Oh joy, just because I've re-discovered and reclaimed everything that Dad borrowed over the years as I'm sorting through the shed ! He will now be having a good chuckle somewhere watching me struggle to part the roof sections and split up the frame.
I'll be glad when this is re-erected on the plot to start some gardening work and storing tools on site at last.
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.
Also sole director of Black & White (UK) Ltd - looking for more training and consultancy work.