THE-ALLOTMENT.NET

MEET THE CHICKENS THE "SUPREMES

2013-04-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

WE HAVE OF COURSE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE CHICKENS ON THIS NEW PLOT
ONE THING WE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED

THE ARE NAMED AFTER THE ORIGINAL LINE UP OF THE MOTOWN SUPREME

WE ABSOLUTELY ADORE THEM

THEY ARE NOW PRODUCING EGGS AND THEY HAVE NOW BECOME QUITE CHEEKY

THEY ALL HAVE THERE OWN CHARACTERS

BETTY IS THE CRAZY ONE

DIANA IS THE SENSIBLE ONE

FLORENCE IS THE BOSS

MARY IS THE BABY

BACK ON THE BLOG

2013-04-21T09:18:00.001-07:00

YEP WERE BACK
CHRIS AND DEBZ ARE BACK ON THE BLOG
WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE BUSY DEBZ IS STILL RECOVERING FROM HER ACCIDENT AND IVE BEEN BACK IN TRAINING AS A JOUSTING NIGHT

SO WE ARE AT OUT NEW PLOT CHICKEN ARE FIRMLY SETTLED IN AND WE HAVE A GREEN HOUSE NOW WHICH WE WEREN'T ALLOWED ON THE LAST PLOT

SO WE HAVE STARTED TO UTILISE THIS AND WILL SHOW YOU VERY SOON

WE HAVE ONIONS AND GARLIC PLATED OUT SIDE WITH SOME POTATOES THAT HAVE GONE IN TODAY
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS WILL BE ON LINE AND WEBSITE UPDATE THIS WEEK

SO KEEP LOOKING FOR US

WE ARE HAVING CHICKENS

2012-11-26T06:19:00.001-08:00

OK SO SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE EXCITEMENT
CHRIS AND DEBZ ARE HAVING CHICKENS

AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE MOVED ALLOTMENTS TO A BETTER MAINTAINED SITE WHICH ALLOWS LICE STICK IE CHICKENS

SO PREPARATIONS HAVE BEGUN

THIS IS THE COUP AND RUN WE HAVE BOUGHT
WE HAD IT DELIVERD DIRECT TO THE ALLOTMENT CAME IN 4 FLAT PACK BOXED AND WE HAD TO USE TORCHES AS IT WAS LATE EVENING SO THE DELIVERY MANY COULD DROP IT OFF AT THE PLOT

THE CAME THE TASK OF ASSEMBLING IT YEP WE WE LIKE LAURAL AND HARDY
BUT IT UP NOW AND I S A WAITNG FOX PROOFING AND PAINTING PINK AS DEBZ SAID THE CHICKEN IN NEED OF GIRL POWER

WE ALSO HAVE CHOSEN OUT CHICKENS WE WENT TO A BREEDER WHO WE DISCUSSED WHAT WE REQUIRED

SO CHICKENS ORDERD AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN WE GET THEM NEXT WEEK HOW SIMLPY EXCITING

WE ALSO ARE UPDATING OUR WEB SITE WITH DETAILS
SO KEEP AN EYE OUT AND OUT FACE BOOK AND TWITTER

COURGETTE AND SUN DRIED TOMATO BREAD

2012-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

HERE IS THE RECIPE

FOR COURGETTE AND SUNDRIED TOMATO BREAD

WWW.THE-ALLOTMENT.NET
COURGETTE AND SUN DRIED TOMATO BREAD

1 /12 CUPS OF WARM WATER
3 TABLE SPOONS DRIED SKIMMED MIL MILK
2 TEA SPOON OF SALT
3 TBL SPOON OF SUGAR
3 TABLE SPOONS OF OLIVE OIL
1 COURGETTE GRATED AND DRAINED
1/3 CUP SUN DRIED TOMATOES
4 CUPS FLOUR STONG WHITE OR WHOLE MEAL
11/4 TEA SPOON YEAST
ADD TO BREAD MACHINE SETTING 1

OR WORK AS NORMAL WHITE LOAF

HTTP://WWW.THE-ALLOTMENT.NET

NEWS FLASH! WE ARE MOVING ..PLOTS

2012-09-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

OUT OF THE BLUE
DEBS MET AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN AND THEY GOT CHATTING
HE INFORMED HER OF A AN ALLOTMENT SITE HE WAS ON,
INTRIGUED BY THIS CHRIS AND DEBZ WENT ON A WONDER TO VIEW THESES ALLOTMENTS LIKE A SECRET GARDEN

ON ENTERING THE SITE WE WE GREETED BY A BEAUTIFUL WELL KEPT SITE WHICH HAD ALSO WON AWARDS

WE SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF GUYS WHO IN TURN TOLD US THAT THERE MAY BE A PLOT GOING   AND GAVE US A NUMBER OF A MAN CALLED DAVE

WELL AS WE ALL KNOW PLOTS ARE GOLD DUST SO DEBZ PHONED DAVE AND HE   CONFIRMED HE HAD A PLOT WE COULD GO AND LOOK AT
SO THE FOLLOWING DAY WE MET UP WITH DAVE AND THE CHAIRMAN   WHOM IS ALSO A CHAMPION GROWER OF LOTS OF THINGS FLOWERY AND VEGETABLE

WE ARRIVED AT PLOT 10B SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN LENGTH BUT A LITTLE WIDER THAN THE ONE WE HAD   AND OVER GROWN

WE SAID WE WOULD HAVE IT IT HAD AN OLD SHED !
WE SPENT A GOOD 3/4 OF AN HOUR TALKING WE WERE ALLOWED CHICKENS HOW EXCITING WE THOUGHT

THEN WHEN THEY REALISED WE WERE BEE KEEPER THEY WERE OVER JOYED AND WANTED US TO HAVE BEES

THE FOLLOWING DAY WE WENT TO REMOVE ALL THE RUBBISH ON THE PLOT AND GOT A RUBBISH REMOVAL MAN TO COLLECT ALL THE UNWANTED PILE
THE GIRLS FROM 10A WERE ON THE PLOT TOLD US THEY WERE LEAVING!

SO WE ASKED IF WE COULD HAVE IT AND THE MANAGER SAID YES   !!
WE NOW HAVE 10A AND 10 B   ONE HAD A GREEN HOUSE AND ONE WITH A SHED
WE WILL BE BRINGING OUR SHED FORM THE OTHER PLOT WE HAVE 4 MOTHS LEFT ON THE OLD PLOT TO MOVE ALL OUR STUFF UP TO THE NEW ONES AND HARVEST WHAT WE HAVE LEFT

SO EXCITING ......

TOUGH ON THE PLOT

2012-09-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

THIS YEAR WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF THING DUE TO RAIN AND BLIGHT
NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE WEEDS AS THE PLOT IS SURROUNDED BY UNKEMPT PLOTS AND ALLOTMENT GARDENS
WE WE VERY DIHSRTEN EVERY TIME WE WENT DOWN BE CAUSE WE HAD NOT TIME TO TEND TO PLANT WE AHAD TO ERRADICATE WEEDS
TIME COMSUMING AND WASTING

GLYPHOSATE

2012-09-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

GLYPHOSATE WHATS YOUR OPINION

Posted by Chris and Debz at 00:00, September 28 2012.

Glyphosate fact sheet Glyphosate is claimed to be the world's biggest selling herbicide by its manufacturer Monsanto(1). It is also said to be highly effective at killing weeds, safe to users and members of the public and harmless to the environment. Is it the perfect product that herbicide users want and that anti-pesticide campaigners can find no fault with? What is glyphosate? Glyphosate was first reported as a herbicide in 1971. Three related products are now manufactured under the name glyphosate: glyphosate-isopropylammonium and glyphosate-sesquisodium patented by Monsanto, and glyphosate-trimesium patented by ICI (now Zeneca). In pure chemical terms glyphosate is an organophosphate in that it contains carbon and phosphorous. However, it does not affect the nervous system in the same way as organophosphate insecticides, and is not a cholinesterase inhibitor. Glyphosate is a broad spectrum, non-selective systemic herbicide. It is effective in killing all plant types including grasses, perennials and woody plants. As a herbicide glyphosate works by being absorbed into the plant mainly though its leaves but also through soft stalk tissue. It is then transported throughout the plant where it acts on various enzyme systems inhibiting amino acid metabolism in what is known as the shikimic acid pathway. This pathway exists in higher plants and microorganisms but not in animals. Plants treated with glyphosate slowly die over a period of days or weeks, and because the chemical is transported throughout the plant, no part survives. Usage Glyphosate is sold around the world and is formulated into dozens of products by many pesticide companies. Glyphosate product sales are currently worth approximately US$1,200 million annually and represent about 60% of global non-selective herbicides sales(2). The total world herbicide market was worth about US$14,285 million in 1995(3). In UK arable agriculture, glyphosate was the 12th most extensively used pesticide active ingredient; the 5th most extensively used herbicide by weight with 251 tonnes being used; and 38th most widely applied herbicide, being applied over 334,529 ha annually in 1994(4). In the US nearly 8,500 tonnes was being used on 5-8 million hectares annually in the years leading up to 1991(5). Acute toxicity The acute toxicity of glyphosate itself is very low. According to the World Health Organisation, the oral LD50 in the rat of pure glyphosate is 4,230 mg/kg, or 5,600 mg/kg according to Monsanto(6). The low acute toxicity of glyphosate can be attributed to its biochemical mode of action on a metabolic pathway in plants (called the shikimic acid pathway) which does not exist in animals(7). However, glyphosate can also disrupt functions of enzymes in animals. In rats it was found to decrease the activity of some detoxification enzymes when injected into the abdomen(8). In general, controlled toxicity tests report adverse symptoms from exposure to glyphosate only at extremely high doses, ie several grammes per kg body weight. While glyphosate itself may be relatively harmless, some of the products with which it is formulated have a rather less benign reputation. Marketed formulations of glyphosate generally contain a surfactant. The purpose of this is to prevent the chemical from forming into droplets and rolling off leaves which are sprayed. Some of these surfactants are serious irritants, toxic to fish, and can themselves contain contaminants which are carcinogenic to humans. The most widely used type of surfactants in glyphosate formulations are known as ethylated amines. POEA (polyoxy-ethyleneamine) has been frequently mentioned as a surfactant, but in fact it refers to a group of ethylated amine products used in glyphosate formulations. Members of this group of surfactants are significantly more toxic than glyphosate. They are serious irritants of eyes, the respiratory tract and skin, and have been found to contain dioxane (not dioxin) contaminants which are suspected of being carcinogenic. Accordingly, the UN FAO has set standards of 1ppm for levels of the contaminant 1,4 dioxane which may be present in POEA surfactants. Monsanto states that all surfactants used in its glyphosate formulations fall well within the FAO standard. However, being aware of the irritant and toxic potential of the surfactants in general, the company has now developed new surfactants which have none of these toxic effects. Products containing the new formulants are sold in the UK and elsewhere and are recognised by approval authorities as being non-irritant(9). Currently in the UK, all garden products contain the new surfactant, and most local authorities are using it. However, the new formulations are more expensive and as long as there is demand for the cheaper, old formulations they will continue to be sold. Currently these are available in UK agriculture and horticulture and for professional amenity use(10). In the UK, a local authority was prosecuted after a child was accidentally sprayed with a glyphosate formulation and suffered allergic reactions. Recently there have also been claims from residents of St. Just in Cornwall that they have suffered severe reactions following application of glyphosate for weed control(11). In the UK, glyphosate is the most frequent cause of complaints and poisoning incidents recorded by the Health and Safety Executive's Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP). Between 1990 and 1995, 33 complaints were received and 34 poisonings recorded including a single death by suicide in 1990(12,13). In California, glyphosate is one of the most commonly reported causes of illness or injury to workers from pesticides. The most common complaints are eye and skin irritation(14). The US authorities have recommended a no re-entry period of 12 hours where glyphosate is used in agricultural or industrial situations. No such recommendation exists in the UK. Chronic toxicity Some literature suggests that glyphosate can cause some chronic health effects and birth defects in certain test animals when administered at high doses over prolonged periods(15). Chronic feeding studies have shown reduced weight gain, blood and pancreatic effects, but no evidence of carcinogenicity to humans. A US EPA report says: "Effects on pregnant mothers and foetuses included diarrhoea, decreased weight gain, nasal discharge and death of mothers and kidney and digestive disorders in rat pups"(16). It is extremely unlikely that human users or members of the public would be exposed to doses as high as those used in the trials, but extrapolating toxicity data from rats, mice and rabbits on which trials are run, to humans can be inaccurate and misleading. Glyphosate in the environment Glyphosate is inactivated when it comes into contact with soil since it is adsorbed onto soil particles. This mechanism is not fully understood, but in part glyphosate binds to soil in the same way as inorganic phosphates(17). Un-bound glyphosate is rapidly degraded by microbial activity to carbon dioxide, and bound glyphosate is degraded more slowly, sometimes remaining un-degraded but inactive in soil for years(18). Glyphosate has been found to inhibit anaerobic nitrogen fixation in soil(19 ,20). Because of its adsorption to soil, glyphosate is not easily leached and is unlikely to contaminate ground water. However, glyphosate is used in water for the control of aquatic weeds, and it can be carried with eroded soil into surface waters where natural breakdown processes are much slower. On rare occasions glyphosate has been detected in water, but generally it is not looked for because it is extremely difficult to isolate and is not considered to be of major concern as a water contaminant(21). The Forestry Commission believes that glyphosate and other herbicides commonly affect hedgerow trees causing die-back. In the US it has been suggested that herbicides, including glyphosate reduce winter hardiness in trees and their resistance to fungal disease(22). It has been suggested that damage to maple trees increases during the second year following treatment with glyphosate, and that clover planted 120 days following treatment showed reduced nitrogen fixation and growth. This implies that glyphosate which is bound to soil particles can remain active and may be released from soil and taken up by plants(23). The US-EPA has also stated that many endangered plants may be at risk from glyphosate use(24). There may also be cause for concern where glyphosate is used extensively in programmes to eradicate drug producing plants such as coca, opium poppies and marijuana. Glyphosate is sprayed indiscriminately over vast areas and will inevitably kill non-target vegetation some of which may be endangered. The toxicity of glyphosate to mammals and birds is generally relatively low. However, its broad spectrum of herbicidal activity has led to the destruction of habitats and food sources for some birds and amphibians leading to population reductions(25). The Houston toad is an extreme case in that it is now an endangered species due to destruction of its habitat by glyphosate(26). Fish and aquatic invertebrates are more sensitive to glyphosate and its formulations. Its toxicity is increased with higher water temperatures and pH. Some soil invertebrates including springtails, mites and isopods are also adversely affected by glyphosate. Of nine herbicides tested for their toxicity to soil microorganisms, glyphosate was found to be the second most toxic to a range of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and yeasts(27). However, while glyphosate alone has low toxicity, the formulation of glyphosate with the surfactant polyoxyethylene amine (POEA), which is widely used, is significantly more toxic. In Australia most formulations of glyphosate have been banned from use in or near water because of their toxic effects on tadpoles and to a lesser extent on adult frogs. There is also concern about non-lethal effects of the herbicide on frogs. New non-irritant formulations such as Roundup Biactive are excluded from the ban(28 ,29). Resistance Crops with genetically engineered resistance to glyphosate are being developed so that weeds can be controlled in fields where the crops are growing without harming the crop plants themselves. This strategy will make farmers more dependent on particular pesticidal products and will probably lead to increased use. There is also concern that the genes which display glyphosate resistance may be transferred to non-crop species including weeds. Recent reports in professional journals indicate that resistance to glyphosate has developed in annual ryegrass in Australia(30,31). Anecdotal evidence from users in the UK suggests that similar signs of resistance in annual ryegrass and knotgrass have existed for some time. Conclusion Glyphosate can be an effective tool in weed control programmes and is relatively less harmful than many of the products which compete with it in the market place. There is nevertheless evidence of toxic effects on humans as well as environmental toxicity, indirect environmental damage and resistance in some target weed species. Since glyphosate is being marketed as a safe and environmentally friendly product and its use is so extensive, there is a danger that damage to non-target plants including endangered species will increase. Habitat damage and destruction will occur more frequently and more instances of weed resistance will appear. Cultivation of glyphosate resistant crops will potentially exacerbate these problems. So while glyphosate provides a welcome move away from chemicals which are highly toxic to humans and other non target organisms, and from chemicals which cause direct and lasting damage to the environment, it may be introducing more subtle indirect forms of damage of which users need to be aware. References1. Monsanto advertising supplement, Farmers Weekly, 5 June 1992.2. Zeneca to manufacture glyphosate, Agrow, No. 230, 14 April, 1995.3. British Agrochemicals Association, Annual Review and Handbook, 1996.4. Pesticide Usage Survey Report 127: Arable Farm crops in Great Britain 1994, MAFF, 1995.5. US-EPA R.E.D. Facts: Glyphosate, September 1993.6. Monsanto Company, Toxicology of glyphosate and Roundup herbicide, 5 June 1985, Department of Medicine and Env. Health, Monsanto Co. Missouri, US.7. Carlisle, S.M. and J.T. Trevors, Glyphosate in the Environment, Water, Soil and Air Pollution, 1988, 39:409-420.8. Cox, C., Herbicide factsheet: Glyphosate, Part 1: Toxicology, Journal of Pesticide Reform, September 1995,15:3.9. Pers. com., Colin Merritt, 10 May 1994.10. Pers. com., Monsanto UK, 8 August 1996.11. Radio 4, You and yours, 1995.12. Health and Safety Executive, Pesticide Incidents Investigated in 1990/1; 1991/2; 1992/93; 1993/94; 1994/95, HSE.13. Pesticide Monitoring Unit - West Midlands Poisons Unit, Surveillance of human acute poisoning from pesticides, November 1993.14. Op. cit 5.15. Pre-harvest use of glyphosate, Discussion Document D91-01, 27 November 1991, Pesticide Directorate, Food Production & Inspection Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ontario.16. Op. cit.5.17. Environmental Health Criteria 159: Glyphosate, WHO, IPCS, Geneva, 1994.18. Op. cit. 7.19. Op. cit. 7.20. Esty Dinur, Roundup - is it good for you and your environment? Article posted on internet conference gn.en.pesticides, 23 December 1991.21. Pesticides in water: Report of The Working Party on the Incidence of Pesticides in Water, Department of the Environment, HMSO, May 1996.22. ENDS Report, No. 193, February 1991.23. Op. cit. 20.24. Op. cit. 5.25. Op. cit. 7.26. Op. cit. 5.27. Op. cit. 7.28. Our frogs: are they heading for the last round-up?, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 September 1995.29. Aus water ban on glyphosate, Agrow, No. 259, 28 June 1996.30. First case of glyphosate resistance? Agrow, No. 260, 12 July 1996.31. Australian ryegrass resists glyphosate,

POOR DEBZ

2012-09-28T07:12:00.005-07:00

2011 WE CLOSED OUR SEASON EALRY THIS YEAR DUE DEBS BEING IN HOSPITALALOT HE BACK HAS STILL NOT GOT BETTER SINCE HER CAR ACCDENT Friday, February 10, 2012, 4:33:33 PM

WE PASSED OUR BEE COURSE

2012-09-28T07:09:00.003-07:00

WE ARE THE BEES KNEES

Posted by Chris and Debz at 15:20, July 21 2011.

Well we did it we passed the Bee course the theory and practical

we are now proud owners of bee keeping certificates picture upload soon

as for the bee they have not been able come to the plot this year as funding from the parish council is limited so the area cannot be made safe and level and fenced properly

The bee's set up cost are slightly higher than they thought over 2000 pounds

But we hope to raise th issue next year again as all the allotment holders agreed to bees and are happy we have just got to play a waitng game now till the the full parish council will release funds

ALOT AT TH PLOT

2012-09-28T07:09:00.001-07:00

ALOT ABOUT THE PLOT

Posted by Chris and Debz at 23:00, July 20 2011.

There is alot going on at the plot

we have so much to tell you ,its been a while

we planted out carrots cabbages parsnips and for some reason they have all died

then we had last year,s potatoes appearing all over the place

so a bit of a bad start

We had a death in the family and Debz has been in hospital twice

Chris manged to plant potatoes replant cabbages and salads and keep thing going for a while

when Debz was feeling better so in between she managed to sort the peas beans and tomatoes

all in all we managed to get back to a reasonable state of affairs

GO AWAY RAIN

2012-09-28T07:08:00.001-07:00

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

Posted by Chris and Debz at 23:00, July 20 2011.

We all love a bit of water on the plot but here its been rainning alot

The potatoes are ready to be dug up be we've not been able to do it yet due to the bad weather

but all the peas have been harvested

now we just have to wait out our time till its dry enough to work the soil again

WE MISSED YOU

2012-09-28T07:07:00.004-07:00

We missed you all!

Posted by Chris and Debz at 23:00, May 16 2011.

Hi guys

sorry we been a little busy so weve not been able to keep up with the blog as we would have liked

well whats been going on ? we have all the potaoes in and they are growing very well

we have 4 darleks for beans the beans are a little sad this year but im sure they will pick up !

the vegetable that we have planted where last years potaotes were have not done so well but we do seem to have an awful lot of last years potatoes growing again whatch this space for news on what we do here

we have 4 rows of peas this year last year we only had two and they were solw to start after the mice kept eating them but this yuear they have flurished very quick

NEW we have chick peas no one knows how to grow them on the allotments whre we are but we having a go and they seem to be doing very well

also we have corn they look healthy

we will be uploading some videos and photos soon

stay tuned

chris and debz xxxx

POTATOES

2012-09-28T07:07:00.001-07:00

FINISHED POTATOES

Posted by Chris and Debz at 00:00, March 24 2011.

WHEY HEY

CHRIS WORKED VERY HARD THIS WEEK ON HIS WEEK OF PREPARING THE PLOT AND NOW ALL POTATOES ARE PLANTED

WHAT A GLORIOUS WEEK WEVE HAD

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS OF THE PLOT IN OUR YEAR 2

A LOT OF WORK

2012-09-28T07:06:00.003-07:00

A WEEK OF WORK DOWN THE ALLOTMENT

Posted by Chris and Debz at 17:28, March 22 2011.

YES WE HAVE A WEEK OFF WORK AND NOW HAVE A WEEK OF WORK DOWN THE ALLOTMENT

WE HAVE DUG AND TURNED OVER THE PLOT

TIDY AND SORTED THE SHED

PLANTED PARSNIPS

CARROTS

PEAS OF 2 VARIETIES

MORE GARLIC

PLANTED CHICK PEAS

MADE MIN DWARF BEAN FRAMES

OUR FIRST DARLEK OF THE YEAR BEAN POD

CHRIS HAS ALSO MADE A START ON THE OVER GROWN BRAMBLE AREA WHERE THE BEES ARE POSSIBLY GOING

AND PLANTED AND RECOMPOSTED THE SALAD BED

TOMORROW WE SHALL BE DOWN FOR MORE .....

BEES BEES BEES

2012-09-28T07:06:00.001-07:00

BEES BEES BEES

Posted by Chris and Debz at 17:21, March 22 2011.

HURRAH FRIDAY WE FININSHED OUR THEORY FOR THE INTRODUCTION TO BEE KEEPING

THERE QUITE ALOT TO THINK ABOUT AND BEES ARE SO INTELLIGENT THERE ARE CUTE FURRY CREATURES

VERY EXCITED WHEN CHRIS AND DEBZ GOT PRESENT WITH A CERTIFICATE

ON THE 17TH OF APRIL WE WILL BE EXPERIENCING OUR VERY FIRST VISIT TO AN APAIRY

WE ARE EXCITED AND A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE TO BE MEETING 60,000 LITTLE BUZZY NEW FRIENDS

WEATHER HAS BEEN KIND

2012-09-28T07:05:00.003-07:00

THE WEATHER HAS BEEN MILD THIS WEEK

Posted by Chris and Debz at 15:25, March 11 2011.

The weather has been mild this week in birmingham

but its not set to last fingers crossed we can get the rest of the allotment dug over and prepared

WHAT WE HAVE SOWN

2012-09-28T07:05:00.001-07:00

SO WHAT HAVE WE SOWN SO FAR ?

Posted by Chris and Debz at 15:22, March 11 2011.

To start

we have only sown 5 of each seeds to start with

why you may ask , we want to stagger the growth this year to enable a steady flow and not a glut

cabbage f1 killaxy,cabbage red jewel

turnip atlantata

purple and white cauligflowers

2 types of purple brocolii

sprouts maximus

leeks

napoli tomatoes ,cuban black tomatoes,chereoke chocolate tomatoes ,money maker tomatoes

and of coure we will be on blight watch

sun set chilli purple cayenne chilli,

bacskia pepper ,sweet cayenne pepper,marconi pepper

prosperous egg plant ,rosita eggplant, money maker egg plant

tosca courgette , romanesco courgette

2 types of cucumber carmen and and ordenary one

celery tango

spring onions

cos lettuce

corriander

corn lark

a tray of marigolds

theses are our first batch of seeds todate

BIG HELLO

2012-09-28T07:04:00.004-07:00

THE SEEDS ARE GERMIATING and a big hello

Posted by Chris and Debz at 15:08, March 11 2011.

GOOD NEWS !

A warm windowsill has started to germinate the seeds and what a nice sight it is

on wartering them you do find your self selling hello to the new arivals

its a great time of the year when you start the new seedling off knowing what they will turn into

DIG AND SOW

2012-09-28T07:04:00.001-07:00

DIG AND SOW

Posted by Chris and Debz at 00:00, March 5 2011.

YEP Chris spent a good few hours digging the plot today !

The grreen manure has now been dug in but weeds are tremendous

Debs spent the day swoing seeds of plenty the list will be put up soon

Now time for a nice meal a large cool beer !

A RIGHT ROYAL POTATOE

2012-09-28T07:03:00.004-07:00

A RIGHT ROYAL THEME

Posted by Chris and Debz at 00:00, March 2 2011.

In keeping with the Royal wedding theme we have a royal potatoe feast

First earlies

Red duke of york

A heritage variety from 1942 the first red duke was found in a crop of whites in Holand

red skinnned potatoes with a creamy flesh do not disintegrate on boiling

winner of RHS mertit award

ideal for boiling mashing and chipping

First earlies

puritan

Puritan came from the USA

oval shaped tuber with whit flesh

excellent scab resistant

ideal salads boiling baking and mashing

Second Earlies

British Queen

British queen is a heritage first listed in 1894 and know as Irelands queen

oval in shape white skin and flesh

dry and flowery when boiled

A rare variety and only grown in small quantities in uk

excellent dry rot resistant

winner of RHS garden merit award

boiling baking roasting

King Edwards

main crop

probably the best know potatoe on the market

full potatoe will many uses

Has been around for a century

boiling baking mashing roasting chipping

Vanessa

main crop or first early

Popular dutch variety with red skins and Yellow flesh

has been used as an exhibiton potatoe

scab and drought resistant

boiling baking

POTATOES CHITTING

2012-09-28T07:03:00.001-07:00

POTATOES CHITTING

Posted by Chris and Debz at 16:31, February 28 2011.

THE POTATOES HAVE BEEN CHITTING FOR A WEEK NOW

ALLOTMENT WEATHER

2012-09-28T07:02:00.003-07:00

ALLOTMENT WEATHER

Posted by Chris and Debz at 15:45, February 14 2011.

The weather has not been good at the allotment this weekend

it was far to wet to do anything

which is a shame next week forcast dont look promising either a chance of snow again

BEE KEEPING

2012-09-28T07:02:00.001-07:00

BEE KEEPING

Posted by Chris and Debz at 00:00, February 14 2011.

We have attended our 3rd week of the bee keeping course

its a very enjoyable subject and feel that we have learnt so much already

BUSY AS BEES BEE KEEPING

2012-09-28T07:01:00.003-07:00

BUSY AS BEES

Posted by Chris and Debz at 12:10, January 24 2011.

YEP Chris and Debz are going to be busy bees

the end of January 2011 we are starting A bee keeping course

which will be a task in its self we both have slight issues to get over debz hates buzzing and Chris dislikes the flying of insect

but we are prepared to give it ago for the sake of saving bees whish us luck

keep you posted

JAN 2011 2ND SEASON

2012-09-28T07:01:00.001-07:00

JAN 2011

Posted by Chris and Debz at 12:07, January 24 2011.

WELCOME TO OUR 2ND SEASON DIDNT WE DO WELL

we are aeager to get started planning this year