Some Progress.

Only managed two hours at the allotment last week, but visited it twice this week and the extra time pays dividends. Checked the newly planted lavender hedge is ok; I grew the plants from seeds planted Spring 2008.

All of the cleared area is being kept reasonably weed free and this area is now planted up with raspberries, current bushes and strawberrries. An area at the back is for growing comfrey to use as fertiliser and for the compost. One area is planted with a green manure cropto over Winter. I have planted up some garlic this week. I still need to tidy and replant some of the rhubarb that was on the plot when I took it over. The plum tree has been cut back in the hope that it will save it as I am not willing to cut it down as I was told especially when it produced a couple of pounds of nice plums this Summer.

The soil has benefited from being cared for; there are more worms active in it and easier to rake and is friable, I was raking an area today and thought the words 'a fine tilth' only mean something once you have witnessed it. Still the cleared area is 'hedged' in by advancing brambles on two sides but I know now that I will make progress even if slowly.

However much effort I put in the pleasure of being at the allotment rewards me more; even when there is nothing to harvest. So far I have not used any chemicals and the plot is being cleared slowly but each bit reclaimed is being used and cherished. However from the footpath my efforts must look very random as most of the progress is in the middle of the plot and hidden by the unworked areas.