Brief history and introduction.
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It was the latter part of 2006 when we took on our allotment. It was mostly weeds, brambles and a few self seeded saplings: clearly it hadn't been tended for many years.
Working through the winter, by April 2007 we had something we could work with. Note the early beginnings of the fruit cage on the right.
Working through the winter, by April 2007 we had something we could work with. Note the early beginnings of the fruit cage on the right.
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We didn't have a shed in the beginning and we needed somewhere to store bits and pieces.
Note the deckchair - we must have been expecting some sunshine!
Note the deckchair - we must have been expecting some sunshine!
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It all looks very bare.............. and clean.
A decent view over the cemetary wall too, if you like that sort of thing.
A decent view over the cemetary wall too, if you like that sort of thing.
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Within a couple of years things really began to take shape. The fruit cage even contained fruit........................
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................ and the rhubarb bed contains a few stalks of rhubarb.
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In May 2009 we planted fruit against the cemetary wall as it's South facing and retains the warmth, as well as being sheltered.
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The beds started to resemble proper allotment beds with vegetables growing well.
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We even started to produce our own liquid manure by growing comfrey. Once the comfrey has grown and started to flower we cut it back to the base and then put it in a water butt to stew/ferment.
WARNING: The smell is absolutely terrible. Best to do it outside, not in the kitchen!!
WARNING: The smell is absolutely terrible. Best to do it outside, not in the kitchen!!
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In 2010 we kept a record of what we produced as we seemed to be growing stuff in decent quantities. That year we grew a total of 169lbs of produce - split between 89lbs of vegetables and 80lbs of fruit.
2011 was not a very productive year. The weather was not brilliant and we suffered with Blight. In total we produced less than 60lbs of produce.
This year, so far, the weather has been much, much worse; so we're prepared for the worst.
2011 was not a very productive year. The weather was not brilliant and we suffered with Blight. In total we produced less than 60lbs of produce.
This year, so far, the weather has been much, much worse; so we're prepared for the worst.
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Well, we're into 2014 as I write and 2013 looks to have been one of the best years yet with the leeks still to be weighed. This year I added a converter into the spreadsheet that shows how much our produce would have cost if we'd bought it from Sainsbury's. 190lbs in weight approximates to £366 in costs so I think we might be slightly in (sore backs and aching limbs aside) profit. Weight-wise and money-wise tomatoes were excellent at 43lbs and £59, while money-wise the blackberries were a close second at £55 in value.