Grow Your Own Magazine

Lend me your eyes for a second, if I may:

I got my allotment a few months ago. It's v. overgrown. When I say overgrown, I mean it hasn't been used in decades. Tall trees have grown on some plots and I have a nice Elder bordering mine. There's another tall tree on the other side. Looks like an Oak, but I haven't made it through the bush to look at properly yet.

At first, it was fun, I ordered some organic brassicas and got them planted in a small area right by the river, but ever since I have been trying to get there twice a week, but then cut back to once a week when the weather was wet. Now, it has been 12 days since I have been to the allotment. (My finances, desk, and bedroom have never been so organized as they have kept me busy while I procrastinate.) It takes 30 minutes to walk there with my granny trolley, toting my scythe, hedge trimmers, and branch cutter, and any other necessities as I have no shed. When I get to the allotment site, I have to walk through a tiny path that has been cut out through a bramble patch, the length of two or three allotments. About a month ago, I began to develop hives after falling in a patch of nettles, and they come back every time I touch any clothing that has touched the nettles. The second to last time I went there, I sprayed it all with round-up. I am quite ashamed of that since I know I am v. close to a river and it's not good for water creatures. I expected to go there 12 days ago and see some type of improvement, but only the tops of the nettles had begun to turn yellow.. You'd think I'd be excited as my calabrese is growing heads and my China white radish is supposed to the ready this weekend, but I am not. I need some motivation and advice, I guess. And I have questions! I am inspired by that Art of Motorcycle Maintenance novel and suppose I should have the right tools, so:

What are the minimum of tools I need to go on this Autumn and Winter? I don't have Wellies, and am thinking of getting a bike since most of the walk is through nature trails. What's the best type of thermos for this situation? Is there a battery powered kettle on the market? Best type of thorn and water proof glove?

Thanks,
marigold

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http://marigoldmemoirs.blogspot.com

Hi Marigold,

What a bummer about the nettles. When I go hill-walking I take my Woolies flask Cheap but keeps my Lady Grey tea lovely and hot. Do you need wheelies? What about a good pair of stout shoes? Sorry no real advice just jealous you have an allotment and I don't

Hi Marigold, forget about hi-tech equipment - you're procrastinating again. All you need is a spade, a fork, some small hand tools (trowel, handfork and what I call a three-pronged doofer). Plus a flask of coffee, pack-up of sandwiches, crisps, etc. Get in there and enjoy it. Talk to your neighbours.

If you haven't got a shed to store your heavy tools in, what about "hiding" them in your compost bin? I've got a shed but some things were taken out of it last week by some druggies (since been caught shoplifting) so I've put all my tools in the compost bin covered with a piece of drop-down fabric. Don't think anyone will want to go rummaging around in there especially when I've just dumped a load of fresh chicken poo in there

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Always look on the bright side of life
View my blog - http://chooksandveggies.blogspot.com/ updated November 1st 2008

I bought a pair of wellie shoes they are ankle length. You only need to take a couple of tools if you think about what you intend to do before you go. I know it doesnt always follow cos sometime you end up doing other stuff. I have a metal flask that I take to the beach as I have a shed at the allotment with a camping gaz ring. Somtimes I go there a lot in a week other times not so often. Just do what you can manage and dont overdo it.
clear a bit at a time cover some with weed control fabric.
Are you going to plant onions and garlic to overwinter. I always think if you have something growing that in its self gives me motivation.
Cant help with the clothing but as its getting colder long sleeves and layers would be best. I find gloves fiddly and dont like wearing them but I have had to as I always manage to touch the nettles. Take a back pack with small things in its easier to carry.
Good luck the more times I go to my lottie the more I want to.

If you are going to use gloves to pull brambles and nettles, get a pair of leather faced riggers gloves. Cheapest place is normally off a market. if not you can get them from most car accessory shops. Bulky and not good for doing fiddly things but will protect your hands against most things.

This time of year it would help if you had some sort of shelter from rain. There's nothing worse than traipsing off down the lotties, starting work and it rains. You think sod this for a game of soldiers and go home, only for the sun to come out and the rest of the day is dry.

Could you not hang a tarpaling from the tree to give some shelter or get one of those pop up fishing shelters maybe.

Just keep going down there and the more you improve your plot, then the easier it is to stay motivated.

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I am certain that the day my boat comes in, I'll be at the airport.

I like the idea of that Would be useful in the summer too on those long hot blazing sunshiney days that we get so many of. Ooooooooooops, wrong country

__________________
Always look on the bright side of life
View my blog - http://chooksandveggies.blogspot.com/ updated November 1st 2008

I'd firstly try & sort somewhere to leave your tools,so each time you think of going you don't also have the thought of dragging heavy tools with you!If it's as overgrown as you say then you should be able to find an apt hiding place!(we just use cheapy tools,with the thought that if they do get stolen then it won't be as bad to get them replaced)
As far as the nettle rash.~I try to rmember to take some Piriton with me.Andi reacts really bad to wasp stings & it's also handy if the kiddies stumble into some nettles!!Now that winter seems to have decided to show it's head,at least you will be wearing clothes that will offer more protection from them.In future I'd suggest you chop the nettles down & pop on the compost heap(not sure you should this years if you've sprayed?)Their roots are a bright yellow,& call me weird but I actually quite enjoy digging them up!
Hope you can rediscover your initial enthusiasm!Hang in there!Di,x

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the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

Like you I am allergic to nettles and am usually inpain for days after being stung. All I can suggest is cut the nettles down to about 4 inches, using a fork move the cut down bits like you would if moving hay. Then dig out as much root as you can. Hard work but much more comfortable than nettle rash.

Hiya guys! Thanks for all the various suggestions. I am making a shopping list now. Am stuck inside today until a repair man comes, so hopefully I can find an online shop with all this stuff in stock.

By the way, I do have my fork, spade, bucket, and rake hiding in the bush as they don't rust. I love the idea of covering the clippers with something and hiding them. I've found a bit of carpet that should work well in the compost!

Man, the fishermen are gonna love my allotment when I am done here! I think I'll build a little bin for their beer cans and pork lunch meat tins while I am at it..

Thanks again. Ya'll are real lifesavers!

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http://marigoldmemoirs.blogspot.com

Nettle rash isn't nice *sends sympathy*

Hiding the tools is a good idea, or use light ones and use a backpack to carry them so you don't put your back out before you get there. Gloves are ESSENTIAL when dealing with nettles, as are long sleeves - fleece seems to be the best at keeping nettles out - I had one bite me through my JEANS once! (I did kneel on it though ...). On that basis, one of those foam kneeling pads is also really helpful (wyevale had theirs on special for £1 each recently).

Hiding things in compost bins is a really good idea as this keeps the rain off them. You could also put a folding deck chair in there so you have something comfy to sit on, and possibly a cheap golf umbrella in case of emergency downpour!

Little and often is a good idea - do one small bit properly so you can see results, rather than trying to do the whole lot at once and feeling discouraged.

Nettles are a really good sign of healthy soil. If you want revenge on them, chop them off and put the stems and leaves in a bucket and leave them to rot down with some water. They will smell terrible but make great compost accelerator or plant feed.

The difficulty with round-up is that it doesn't work when weather is wet - it washes off before the plant has time to absorb it. I believe it also becomes "inert" when it hits the ground so you don't need to worry about polluting stuff.

Get a decent thermos flask, and then you don't need to worry about the whole kettle thing - take the teabags separately so you don't end up with stewed tea!

If the walk is lined with brambles, you may be better off walking than cycling ...

Good luck and keep at it! Be encouraged by the things that are growing, and although it's annoying the fact that the weeds flourish, it's a really good sign that you have a lovely fertile plot!

If you can get hold of some "landscape" fabric, it may help you to keep parts of your plot under control while you work on other bits. Flattened cardboard boxes also work quite well, but need holding down with plenty of bricks in windy weather!

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

What part of London are you in?

Look on the bright side, if anglers are leaving their tins, with the price of scrap metal as high as it is, it could finance your development!

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I am certain that the day my boat comes in, I'll be at the airport.

I had thought of that! :-)

I'm in the South West part of London! There seems to be an invisible barrier stopping me from going across the Thames.

Welp, all, I went shopping in my flat, and will be on the look out for the rest of the stuff that I am missing. Thanks ever so much for all the advice. I think I'll get a bed ready for my garlic tomorrow. And I think I'll put on some marigolds before I touch my old long suede gloves again. I wonder if there is anyway to wash them... now I am just rambling and sleep restricted..

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http://marigoldmemoirs.blogspot.com

Just an update:

I had a wonderful time at the allotment today. The sandwiches were great and even though I don't have a thermos yet, I made use of an ancient hip flask full of Macallans.. I loved walking down with my back pack that was much lighter on the way back home. I also dodged the rain thanks to one of your suggestions of taking an umbrella.

I have posted a few pics that I took today here:

Marigold Memoirs: Views from the allotment

As luck would have it, when I arrived on site, someone had dumped some carpet at the entrance. It went well as a floor to go under the tree tent. My OH is now calling it The Ashram.

I can't thank you guys enough!

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http://marigoldmemoirs.blogspot.com

Hi marrigold ive just recently taken on a plot and if you look at the pics you can see that it has been left for a number of years and everything has taken over and the only path through is in 5' high brambles just wide enough to squeeze through sideways at mo

Lottie pics-Wykesmallholder

If you have to lug heavy tools there and back each time you're bound to get discouraged Get a shed asap Besides storage it is somewhere to shelter, eat sandwiches, brew tea, plan and daydream Things to keep in a shed are

a table or bench, a chair, a warm, scruffy coat and hat, a pee bucket, a picnic stove, pan, teabags, tins of soup, a washing up bowl or bucket(different to the pee bucket!) soap and towel... and a bottle of whisky?

Send for catalogues from seed and equipment merchants, for ideas and inspiration Protective clothes? Well jeans were supposed to be for work at one time, a cheap pair of hiking boots don't get steel toecaps, you don't need them and they are uncomfortable Try shopping in

Cheaper end camping shops like Millets and Yeomans, charity shops, car boot sale, discount stores like Matalan, Boyes, Wilkes, or agricultural and builders merchants; they're not as pretty as a GC, but cheaper, and I've always found them helpful

It probably took months or years to get in an overgrown state so it's not going to be perfect in a few weeks All you can really do over winter is rough digging and clearing; think of it as getting ready for the spring