Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello there!

This is my first foray onto the Grapevine in almost 9 months; I was suprised to see my log-in still worked!

unfortunately 2007 has proven to be THE year to forget for me, my family & siblings: I was made redundant in March this year, then 1 week into my notice period my mother suffered an aneurysm then a stroke (she is 63), my Grandfather died in July, and someone ran over and killed my cat - I also managed to pick up 6 points on my drivers license, but that WAS my fault, so I can't really complain there! The good news is that Mum came out of hospital on 23/12 and seems to be rapidly improving (certainly mentally)

With all the tooing and frowing from Cambs to Herefordshire, I'm afraid to say my Veggie plot has been utterly neglected - nothing has been planted/harvested except for the odd strawberry snaffled on the way out to the car. On top of this willful neglect we are having an extention put on the house - this won't encroach on the plot itself, but will come within about 2 metres of it, which will probably mean it will get trampled on during the week. So the question is (sorry to take so long getting to it!)

Do I:

a) dig in all my lovely compost (that has been sitting there for the past 9 months virtually untouched) cover it in black cloth stuff and leave it until the building works are done.

b) Leave it completely untouched until all the works is done and try to rectify the damage later; or

c) Procede as normal and shoot the builder that dares tread on my veggie patch

Here's hoping 2008 is a good one -

Much love to all

Adrienne

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How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being.”

Hello Adrienne,
Welcome back to the vine and Happy 2008 to you.

Sorry to hear about your Dad and the Cat. Your neglected plot can always be reshaped... just start by digging in the manurein the ground it should be well composted by now or wait till you are about to plant and meanwhile cover it with some black plastic thingy to prevent nutrient leaching out by the rain (depending on how you like it and if the weather allow it).
As most people are sowing their beans 2 or 3 weeks ago but you can still do it now, although it is no longer the shortest day but I presume you can always sow some onion seeds now and even some garlic now (but it might produce a slightly smaler bulb). Anyway, you got time to prepare everything now as spring is not here yet....

I am sure the experience grapes will come along soon for your answer.

Happy growing,
Momol

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I grow, I pick, I eat ...

Hi there Sunbeam, really sorry to hear of all your bad news. I hope the New Year brings a change of fortune for the better.

How long are the builders going to be tramping about in the area of you veg patch? I would bet that it will be easier for them and easier on your stress levels if you leave it as is until they've gone. You could ask them to be careful round it, but well its not likely is it? Cover it up if you can and forget it until they've gone, there'll be enough to 'think' about with the extension....good luck.

If you've room elsewhere you could start some early stuff off in containers?

ps only shoot the builders after they've finished (I hope they're the good kind!).

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

Hi Sunbeam. Sorry to hear about your bad year. Hope 2008 will be better to you. Good luck with the extension work and the gardening. Can't advise on best thing to do sorry, sure someone will be along soon.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

Hi Sunbeam - of course I remember you - love that avatar. I'm so sorry to hear what a rotten year 2007 was for you. It makes flooding and such sounds so trivial. Things can only get better. Personally I would be tempted to leave the plot (possibly covered with the compost first) to prevent you getting even more homicidal with the builders than is usual.

It depends rather on how long you think they'll take to finish the job but my own feeling is that I'd want to get something going -maybe in pots or modules, so I could get onto the plot as soon as the coast is clear. I would tell myself that I couldn't use the plot this year and grow stuff in big pots so you will at least get some crops. Then if the plot becomes a builder-free zone you've got a triumph!

Best of luck with whatever you choose, and a much Happier New Year for 2008.

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Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated September 29th - Bean drying.

Welcome back Sunbeam and sorry to hear what a terrible year you had.

Best wishes for the coming year.

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~
Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.
~ Mary Kay Ash

I'd go for b.
I'd also say welcome back but i've joined since you lapsed so don't have the right.
it would be a bit mean to shoot a builder so early in the year.......

Sorry to hear about your misfortune (to put it lightly), hope 2008 has better things in store for you.

Could you cover the bit nearest to the building work, and use the rest?

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - Tuscany update - 27th September

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev036pr___.png

Hi Sunbeam, hope you have a better year in 2008.
I'd go with the 'cover it up & leave everything until the builders have gone' approach because no matter how careful they are you're going to be finding bits of rubble & brick everywhere for months to come. We had the roof & windows done earlier in 2007 & I'm still finding chunks of cement & brick in pots & borders. I just moved everything I could as far away as possible from the house & tried not to look at the mess until it was all over.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Sunbeam ? Sunbeam who

Welcome back Sunners. well just remember that your eyes are place where they are so you can only look forwards ( may have helped with the 6pts on the driving licence )

I've had a similar experience veg wise but it was work that got in the way and if I don't start soon I shall have to write to myself and threaten me with eviction from the lottie Lol.

I would try an do some of the plot if you can - if they haven't dug the footings out yet save the top soil and just ditch the sub soil ideal for making beds and when the builders aren't looking nick their scaffold boards for edgings .. and save me a couple of scaffold tubes as well please in payment for this wonderful advice


Good to have you back & better look for 2008

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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/

Hi there,
Great to see you back on the vine again. Happy New Year to you all.
Heres to a better year to come.

Kirsty

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I'd rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.

http://hollandsroadparadise.blogspot.com
updated 14 May 2008

Good to see you back!!

It's a good place to take a break from and return to - I did it myself in 2006 and coming back to the forum was like meeting up with old mates again- home from home sort of feeling.
Sorry you've had such a bad year- 2008 is going to be a good one...I can feel it in my bones......

Thanks for all the well-wishes and advice -I will think I will go with the composting and leaving it idea and have a go with some large tubs - I will try and pilfer some scaffold tubes for you Nick - what was the going rate for your advice??!

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How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being.”