Caked in Dirt

Finally, we have had a couple of dry days - the weather went so far as to show a hint of blue sky and sunshine in between the clouds. With yet more rain forecast overnight, I headed down to the plot to see if it was dry enough to do some prepping for the new...

Unrelenting Rain

When I walked down to the plot this afternoon, I knew what I would find. Storm Katherine came through yesterday evening and overnight, bringing with it a torrent of rain and high winds. I knew the plot was going to be awful when I let the Topknot Gang out in the garden this morning to...

Spring Walks

Feeling a little bit at a loose end, I decided to take advantage of the dry weather and go for an explore. There is always something so beautiful about the spring, maybe it's the vivid green of the new leaves after so many months of bare trees and rain, or perhaps it's the crocuses and...

Easter Sunday on the Plot

This afternoon, we both strolled down to the plot to get going on some jobs before the forecast washout for the rest of the week. It's frustrating as the plot is only just beginning to drain after the last deluge. Our first job was to check on the new girls in the Main Coop. There...

New Additions

With the rain of yesterday over, I went down to the allotment this morning to see how the plot had faired after yet more rain. I'm not hopeful that we'll be able to start off any of our crops for another two to three weeks as it will take at least that long for the...

RIP Maude

Before work, I headed down to the allotment, blissfully unaware of what awaited me in the Omlet. I always begin with Maude and Mavis when checking the chickens as their coop is right by the shed. When I arrived, I spotted Maude on the floor. I rushed over thinking she might have injured herself only...

Chickens, chickens everywhere

Yesterday, I ambled down the plot to catch up with everyone and feed the chickens. The sun was out, the sky was blue and there was more than a hint of spring in the air. It was lovely to see the site busy, with people appearing after their winter hibernation. Despite wind, rain and snow,...

Goodbye Gertie

Over the past week, Gertie has become increasingly withdrawn and has lost weight. I've been trying to tempt her with a range of different treats including the failsafe, scrambled eggs. Yesterday she was so weak, I brought her inside and kept her company while I worked. At lunchtime, I took her into the kitchen and...

Slug Attack

Slugs are the bane of an allotmenteer. However, what happened at home in the garden two nights ago has gone down in history as one of the most spectacular slug attacks I have ever seen! I got home late after training and went out to shut the girls in and transport Gertie to the Purple...

Unpacking Seeds

With the demise of the Allotment Federation and Wilko's, it's severely limited local options to buy seeds. I am loathe to go to B&Q as they are really expensive and only have the usual selection of seed varieties. However, on a recent visit to my parents, we ended up wandering around a garden centre which...

RIP Asperitas

When I went out into the garden at lunchtime today I discovered Asperitas huddled in the run by herself. The rest of the Topknot Gang were out exploring the garden and even Gertie was out pottering around. Asperitas was out of reach, halfway down the run so I had to move the nest box and...

Tilling the Plot

With a couple of dry days (finally!), I managed to get down to the plot and finally start sorting out the growing beds. Grabbing my trusty Wolfgarten tiller, I began on the top bed by the pond. I decided due to the heaviness of the soil, which was still holding a lot of moisture, I...

Storm Incoming…

With the next storm rolling in, I went down to the allotment this afternoon to check on the chickens and to make sure everything was tied down ready for the very high winds which were coming. Maude and Mavis were tucked away in their nest box avoiding the wind and rain. As I checked over...

Gertie Goes for a Sleepover

With temperatures significantly below zero, I have been worried about Gertie getting cold overnight on her own. Despite my best efforts to winter-proof her coop, it's really not ideal for a lone hen in these temporary. I had thought about boxing in her perch but I worry that she would struggle to get in and...

Bailing out the Quail

This morning, when I walked out into the garden, I discovered that the quail were in rather dire straits. The deluge of rain and wind we have had over the last two days has been unbelievable. The garden and plot are absolutely saturated. A single drop more rain and both would turn into a lake....

Small, Medium and Large

There's nothing like celebrating the New Year than with coop cleaning. Somehow, the Christmas holidays have disappeared and with work beckoning tomorrow, I could no longer procrastinate. The only thing stopping me from doing all of the coops was the distinct lack of fresh bedding. Before I started, I judged there would only be enough...

Rounding off 2023…

It's always worth pausing at the end of the year to think about what has happened and to plan for the next year. Looking back on the allotment year, it's been eventful with the arrival of new chickens and quail as well as a new roof on the Main Coop. We have welcomed Qwerty, Quinta...

Battling Against the Cold

Over the past couple of days the temperature has barely lifted much above zero. With the water now off on site, it's back to lugging numerous containers full of water down to the plot, trying to bully frozen fingers to work properly. The gate and padlock this morning weren't frozen (thankfully!) however, they were so...

Bedding Down for Winter

Finally, after weeks of being unwell and the weather conspiring against me, I managed to spend some time on the plot today. Others on site have been busy, clearing their plots and covering their beds with tarpaulins to stop the weeds. With all of my autumn jobs still to complete, I cracked on with the...

Good News

Over the past few weeks, I have been worried about Gertie. She's been spending the majority of the day huddled on her perch. I kept bringing her down and encouraging her to eat. She would eat a little bit quickly lose interest. I've tried her on layers mash which she begrudgingly is eating although without...