Allotment business

Versailles on the balcony
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

One of the things I've kept quiet about so far on this blog, is the "other" allotment business I get up to. I've been secretary of our society for five years now, a bit of a long time, but no one else seems to want to do it. Some of the jobs are a bit onerous, but some are fun.

One of the fun things I've done recently is to contact the first half of our waiting list to see if they are still interested in having a plot, and to find out more about their experience. Over the years we've had people join who know nothing about gardening, but we don't realise just how much they don't know until their plot is knee high in weeds - then it's a problem. So the grand plan is to find out a bit more about people in advance, so we can support them if needed when they first start. I am really enjoying finding out more about their experiences, and you also get to see just how enthusiastic people are.

This postcard was sent to me by someone on the waiting list - who also happens to be a friend - I love it, and want to know if it is how they see their allotment looking? We all have our own Versailles, maybe not so big, but its definitely good to have a plan for how you want your allotment to look. It's OK doing a bit here and there, but sometimes you end up with things in the wrong place, and then its a pain to change. So allotment tip of the day, spend time thinking about the overall plan, don't rush to put in permanent features too soon (like a pond, or a fruit tree), until you have had time to work out the best place for it.

Our new Allotment

Our new Allotment
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

Well, things are getting better. We have now been offered one of the spare plots on the land unaffected by the works. We'd held onto them rather than letting them out last year, when we realised we would lose land. So although the plot is very overgrown and no one has managed to cope with it for several years, it is now ours! We are ready!

I also handed over a large part of the allotment administration on Friday. All of this means I can now focus on writing, and get some exercise as there is plenty of digging to do. I love digging. You get to know the soil, the existing plants and weeds, and it keeps you fit too.

Haiku

Feeling somewhat lighter today, after making some difficult decisions about doing less allotment administration, and concentrating more on PhD, oh and not applying for jobs just yet. With freedom comes some more haiku, written on my way to work.


Sunny morning
Cigarette smoke and perfume
Mingle in the train


Dark monolith looms
A man spits by my foot
Windy Corner

The arrival of the seed potatoes

The arrival of the seed potatoes
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

The organic seed potatoes have arrived! They look so nice. Lovely, lovely lovely potatoes. I wonder where you will end up being planted?

Administration and Haiku

Well, things are moving on, but it has been a week of intensive allotment administration and I'm tired. As well as trying to get three chapters of PhD completed to send to supervisors, there have been emails, and emails and more emails, and a few phone calls and texts - all to do with the allotment move. It's like having two full time jobs, except I don't get paid for one of them. Stress levels very high, and all I seem to do is moan. Will it get better? I hope so...I think so. I just want to get digging. Soon. Please.

Anyway the other thing is that we (Lansbury Voices) had the opening of the Renewability exhibition this week at Mile End Art Pavilion. Nice to see our haiku in the brochure and on their web site, but they only selected some of what we had written. The blog does not enable comments, so here is my other Haiku dedicated to our friend Mark at the Lea Rivers Trust.

Wooden Crocodile
Basking in the River Lea
Watch Out Geese!

The exhibition is on until February 11th.

Also just found that the leaflet that sussex wildlife trust produced with an image from our allotment is now online here. So the old allotment lives on!

After the storm

January Violets
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

These lovely violets are everywhere, and remind me I need to dig them up and take them to the new plot.

The mini greehouse did not survive the storm two days ago, but we can probably use parts of it for something or other. Beverley and John's greenhouse is shattered and they lost part of the shed roof, so at least we didnt do to badly. But the shed is going to have to come apart anyway soon when we move.

Dug up the last of the parsnips, am leaving the leeks until the last possible moment, but they are not doing very well, really.

Am fed up with allotment administration, it is never ending.

The allotment in 2006

The allotment in 2006
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

I put this together for our allotment stall in December.