tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130689062024-03-08T03:22:32.538+00:00Hoe Hoe HoeTo own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds, and watch the renewal of life - this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do. - Charles Dudley WarnerJim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-19374603994850184482018-11-18T10:03:00.000+00:002018-11-18T10:03:53.187+00:00Where did five years goWell after five years in the wilderness we are back blogging. We still have the same allotment but have changed and added to it over time. The reason the blog stopped is that my laptop conked out but I am now retired and have a brand new shiny one. So will start again and see if anyone is interested in our allotment adventure. I shall also be posting pictures but first have to remember how all Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-80323661440836817752013-04-23T11:39:00.001+01:002013-04-23T11:39:36.208+01:00That's more like it
Had a lovely day on the plot on Sunday, the sunshine bought a lot of people out and the site was really busy working there bit. The birds seem to be getting through a lot of seed and nuts at the moment and seems that there are a lot of them pairing up so hope fully the nest box will be well used this year.
The bluebells are getting bigger and look like that they will soon be in bloom.
Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-55463419238299776722013-04-15T12:59:00.001+01:002013-04-15T12:59:35.901+01:00Unusual Big Shiny Thing In The SkyWell we went to the allotment this Sunday. It was Jim's turn to man the trading shed and I intended to put in some onion sets and sow salad seeds in our cloche non of which happened as I saw people that I had not seen for ages down here so being polite had to chat to them all !!!
Running through the site is the river Beck and we have seen a couple of mallards and moorhens courting so hopefully, Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-52612739997452183112013-03-31T14:21:00.002+01:002013-03-31T14:21:33.741+01:00Easter SnowDecided to go to the plot today whatever the weather. The sun came out just before we left but as we arrived and were unlocking the gate, guess what, a few flurrys of snow started. Not to be put off we started work on our plot.Re-planted a current bush that we had been given buy another plot holder and started to dig and clear a strawberry bed that we shall be using for something else, and Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-74493581285419722032013-03-17T08:57:00.003+00:002013-03-17T08:57:31.778+00:00Update
New bird table, my eight year old log pile seems to be home to loads of insects.
Have been breaking the ice on the pond often recently still waiting for our first frogs though.
Normally take down bean canes but going to replace this year with long straight plum tree runners.
Managed to get to the plot last week between the snow, rain, hail and a bit of sunshine. I can Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-117150010791143332013-03-15T13:04:00.002+00:002013-03-15T13:04:49.935+00:00More RainEveryone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it. - Charles Dudley Warner.Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-85674418463628581742013-02-23T18:54:00.001+00:002013-02-23T18:54:45.821+00:00Crocus
Now that the pictures seem to work this is our first flowers of the year on the plot. We will post others during the year as and when they appear. These crocus were planted a few years ago but is the first time in ages that they have flowered. The next should be our daffodils and bluebells but hopefully won't be to long before we have flowers on our veg.Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-29499771992235610072013-02-23T15:01:00.001+00:002013-02-23T15:01:55.682+00:00Pictures from computer
Managed finally to get a card reader from PC World this morning. Trying this as a test for future posts so hope that it works.Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-79988938707979349882013-02-17T15:06:00.000+00:002013-02-17T15:06:40.325+00:00A Sunny Sunday At LastWe went to the plot today and spent about three hours working. It was a bit windy but at least the sun was shining and as soon as we arrived our robin was there to greet us. We took some food for the birds that we had made ourselves from lard ,peanuts and raisins it was left to set overnight and I smeared it all around the branches of some of our plum trees, the birds loved it.
We have a couple Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-48678069026866928672013-01-29T08:50:00.002+00:002013-01-29T08:50:55.411+00:00Why does it always rain on meMore and more rain today. I wonder when the hosepipe ban will start this year?Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-64585072161924753912013-01-28T15:03:00.000+00:002013-01-28T15:03:11.602+00:00Bird WatchHave just sent the results from our birdwatch to RSPB. We saw eight different species on the plot but shame we could not count species that were flying past as it would have added a few more. Really wanted the pheasant to turn up but no luck there, hope that the fox didn't catch up with him. The weather forecast said it would be milder today but was greeted by a heavy ground frost when I arrived Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-7358047933829137512013-01-27T15:48:00.001+00:002013-01-27T15:48:05.251+00:00We went to the site today to pay our annual rent. As we have two plots we pay more than most but it is worth every penny. Next time I have to pay I shall be an old age pensioner ( hate the sound of that) so will get a big reduction in the cost. We were greeted as usual by the robin and found a fox sniffing around our shed. I topped up the feeder and hung up a fat ball but next week will Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-71516567868976924302013-01-25T13:07:00.000+00:002013-01-25T13:07:01.752+00:00The Compost Song
For ages Barbara has been obsessed with sorting out our compost heaps. She has been trying to get me to help her turn them and use it on the plot but I have been putting it of for ages. The compost now is about five years old and is really good so a few weeks ago we started to sort it and use it.I found this video on You Tube and not only does it look like Barbara it shows how enthusiastic she Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-33338823689995052482013-01-25T12:54:00.001+00:002013-01-25T12:54:52.498+00:00Went to the beautiful Kelsey Park in Beckenham to feed the birds with a loaf of Mr Warburtons finest brown seeded. I was soon surrounded by all sorts of ducks,geese,pigeons and gulls. The blackheaded gulls are just beginning to get there black heads so spring must be on its way. The most impressive of the ducks was the Mandarin which is really spectacular. The swans also let the Canada geese knowJim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-22538191709422542782013-01-21T18:04:00.000+00:002013-01-21T18:04:10.647+00:00Just my luckReally started to get in the swing over the last couple of weeks. I have retired and Barbara had two weeks holiday. We spent quite a few hours on the plot and I was able to coppice all the plum runners that I had been meaning to do for ages. Barbara spent time sorting out our compost heaps and we have loads of good stuff which has spent a few years rotting down. Now it is covered in snow and put Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-71366969023187192312012-05-02T11:36:00.002+01:002012-05-02T11:36:23.749+01:00We are back "AGAIN"Well after a looooong break from our blog we are back again. We still have the allotment and as I have now retired I hope to spend a lot more time working on it to get it back to how it was a long time ago. I met a friend called Marion who has a plot on our site who said that she enjoyed reading the blog and would I be doing it again, so even if nobody else reads it at least I will have one Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-18709409864963371992009-03-28T17:56:00.001+00:002009-03-28T17:58:33.015+00:00Who Can Grow the BiggestAfter the success of last years largest pumpkin competition our quest this year is to see who can grow the biggest marrow.Free seeds are now available either from Clive or the trading shed on Sunday mornings.The judging will take place at a social gathering on 20th September when marrow soup(yummy!!)will be available.Please bring along anything you may have made from marrow or squashes (jam,Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-38371877603162766262009-03-28T13:16:00.000+00:002009-03-28T13:18:14.762+00:00Talk on Organic GardeningHello everyone:We are very pleased to announce that Jack Dudley Swale of Spa Hill and the Spa Hill Organic Gardening Group will be talking on organic gardening on Saturday, May 9th at 3.00pm at the Forster Road Allotments Community House.Jack has much experience in this area; he says that "the secret is in the soil". There'll be lots of time for questions and it is free of charge. Coffee and tea Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-59533542681372830572009-03-28T13:08:00.002+00:002009-03-28T13:13:01.715+00:00Coffee Morning and Seed SwapEverybody is welcome to come along to the Forster Road allotments Seed Swap and Coffee morning. Bring a long any seeds that you no longer need or want, and add them to the "Seed Swap" table. Then have a rummage through the table to see if there is anything you fancy... you never know what you will find.Tea's, coffee's, cakes and maybe even bacon sandwiches will be available for the duration. Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-82519705187747321172009-02-16T14:50:00.003+00:002009-02-16T15:11:20.812+00:00I Do Like Monday'sThis is Simba our "Bengal" which is a cross between a domestic cat and a wild Asian Leopard Cat. Simba is three generations away from the wild cat but is a real softy though he has his "mad half hour moments"I don't know this persons name but rain,snow or shine he(or she)is always there.As it is now warming up the bees are beginning to be more active.As I took this picture I should really have Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-56022460744864421362009-02-16T08:58:00.002+00:002009-02-16T09:19:36.165+00:00On Our Way At Last We were really looking forward to Sunday to finally get some work done on the plot. When we arrived I discovered that I had a puncture and spent the next half hour changing the wheel,not a very good start to the day.The metal pole that Barb is holding I have been trying to remove for the last five years and yesterday finally succeeded as the ground was so wet. We are trying to level off the Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-37925025226972826852009-02-14T15:37:00.003+00:002009-02-14T16:50:25.411+00:00A Kipper Month An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.- Martin BuberNot much happening at the moment.I went to the allotments this morning just to top up the bird feeders and hang up a peanut ring that my grandchildren gave me.It was their birthdays this week my granddaughter Cassie was five and Rhys was nine.They were both born on February 11th 2000 and 2004.I went to the garden centre Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-42720244079152597902009-02-08T16:17:00.006+00:002009-02-08T21:12:28.308+00:00Trading Shed It took a supreme effort to get out of a warm bed this morning to go and man the trading shed. I really did not think that we would see anyone but when we arrived Mike was already underway in the site hall giving one of his bee keeping lessons to quite a few people. We did have a few visitors to the shed. Some to pay rents for the next year and I sold a few bags of John Innes and even some slug Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-53391535785438734512009-02-07T09:48:00.012+00:002009-02-08T21:24:48.307+00:00Another Frustrating WeekIt is hard to believe that only a short while ago we were sitting here in the sun having our BBQ and sipping wine. I really do love our seasons even though I am itching to do some allotmenteering. It is our turn to man the trading shed tomorrow so hope we have a customer or two but if it stays as cold as it is I doubt it. "There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter.OneJim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-69441985212848852022009-02-03T09:20:00.004+00:002009-02-03T13:45:06.668+00:00What a difference a day makesThis picture was taken from my kitchen window yesterday morning.I was unable to get my car out of the garage and as the trains and buses were not running I reluctantly? stayed at home.Barbara had already booked this week as holiday but as she works at a hospital was waiting for a phone call to ask her to go in but she wasn't needed.We would have liked to have visited the allotment to take Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0