Grow Your Own Magazine

Before (Summer 06)


I'll keep this thread updated so you can see our progress in creating our allotment

Stripping the turf away - 31/03 - 01/04 (2007)

First strips come up


Mr OWG using the turf cutter


Slowly getting there!

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

Pretty much done!


View from bottom of plot

Next time - marking out beds and rotavating!

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

Excellent work keep it up
fresh veg from an allotment beats any from the shops
good luck and happy gardening

a picture of my plot in east london[/IMG]

Hi

You must feel really proud - it looks great!

I wish I'd taken photos of my plot when I first got it! It had rape seed growing all over it - the yellow flowers looked lovely but it had to go before the seeds were blown everywhere.
I have taken some photos now but won't have anything to compare with - I was too keen to get started to remember the camera!
Good luck - and keep taking the photos!

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Julie

Ready for the local council to have a go at you for incorporating an area of farmland into your garden?

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Always thank people who have helped you immediately, as they may not be around to thank later.
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OWG did you clear it with the council first?

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[

No... should we have done?

We own the field. All our neighbours have large gardens and fields and veg patches etc....

If we're just putting veggies etc in, is that classed as farmland?

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

This can be tricky. I think it all depends on whether your field is classed as agricultural land. Turning it into a 'garden' is changing it's use and councils can be tough on this. I would have a search on the internet and read the rules / laws.

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[

Not sure what its classed as... years and years ago (about 20 years ago at least) it had chickens and potatoes on it.

It's just at the end of our garden, no fences etc and merges in with our lawn and orchard.

Will have a search on local council sites and see what I can find out!

Thanks for letting me know!

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

Personally, I wouldn't rock the boat.....

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Blogging Again at..
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Here, here. If turning grassland into a productive veg plot gets you into trouble with the PTB then God help us all.

I'd wait for them to find you, then act dumb.

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it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

Oh no! I didn't mean for you to tell the council OWG but I would still try and find out what the field is classed as.

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I'm not going to tell them!!!

Just have a look at what the field is classed as

I'm trying to remember if it came up as anything other than garden when we bought the house last year...

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

Shelley - that isn't just a plot (it makes mine look tiny! LOL!) - its HUGE! I've read through the other threads - I'm sure that things will be OK. You and Mr OWG have worked really hard - and its lovely to see your before and after pictures - I bet you are really chuffed! I am chuffed for you as well. Have you decided what you are growing and where? Looking forward to hearing your latest news! Bernie aka Dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

OWG

Bit grumpy yesterday!

I should have started by saying how totally impressed I am with what you have achieved already.

Well done.

__________________
it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

Pessemist here.

Just be aware, as LJ said some councils can be a bit funny about what they consider to be changing the environment.
e.g. You incorporate the two acre field between you and your neighbour into your ornamental garden.
You are using your land for your enjoyment.
They say you are changing the look of your village from rural to suburban.
There have been some cases (rare) of people being forced to dig up their garden and turn it back into grazing pasture.

__________________
Always thank people who have helped you immediately, as they may not be around to thank later.
Visit my blog at http://podsplot.blogspot.com/
I support http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/

It's OK Peter!

I've let our neighbours (who grow their own already) know and they have offered advice about the soil/growing seasons here!

DDL -

The plot is approx 27m x 9m.....

I've got potatoes ready to go in, and carrots ready to plant.
My leeks are coming along nicely in the greenhouse, but aren't ready to go in yet, same goes for my peas!
I've got some lettuces and various herbs on the go as well

My fruit beds will look a bit bare, as I think I've missed planting time for raspberries and blackberries, but I've got some strawberries to go in.

I'd also like a couple of blueberry plants, but might have to have those in pots.

Quite possibly we won't fill every bed this year, but I'd rather have it done and ready to use than not done at all!

The rotavator is coming tomorrow and the fencing materials are being delivered on Friday, so hopefully after the Easter weekend we should have done all the hard slog and I'll have a nice allotment to look after!

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

Hi OWG. I'm a Councillor (not in Lancs !)and asked a hypothetical question with the planning department. You only need permission to change the use of the land, ie from ag to building or industrial. If it had something growing on it and you grow something different on it, the use hasn't changed, unless your claiming set-aside cash from DeFRA (lol)
Grow in peace!

Brave man Norm how about planning for a brick shed ..... only joking

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Delivery of woodchip... so, quite a lot then....


Mr OWG with copious fenceposts and a gate...


Me, starting to check out one of the beds (before couch grass discovery)


Allotment on Saturday afternoon, starting to lay landscape fabric for woodchip

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

It's looking fantastic! Puts my garden to shame! How are you doing on a couch grass solution?

Terry

Hi Terry

Decided to dig as much out as possible, cover and plant through plastic where necessary.

Going to take us a while to do, and am going to try and scrounge some old carpet to cover the beds up with.

Got some RoundUp just in case it grows back elsewhere, but would rather not use it. May just keep it and look at it so I know there's a "final solution" just in case!

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"Its not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you" - Bruce Wayne

I've got loads of old carpet, can you think of a way to get it to you?

Once term time hits I can come at least part way - but Croydon to Lancashire is a hell of a distance!

Terry