I paid the allotment association fees today. Whilst I was in the hut I asked a question that I had not fully expected to come tipping out of my mouth. How easy is it to down size to a half plot? As I heard the words I was already asking myself - why are you saying this.
Much to my surprise they said it could be done but then spent most of the time talking me out of the idea. These are the guys that watch my efforts at the plot and when they do their inspections, they send me untidy allotment letters. Their tune was so much more supportive than I expected.
I admit as I reflect now writing this post, I did manage to go most of the growing season without a letter. So that is an improvement on last year.
Inevitably that means I have drawn up another to do list and top of that list is to sort out the strawberry runners, I hope to do it in an evening this week ever ambitious me! I hope that means my mojo is back.
I've been spending some time with these two that the weeds have grown at my allotment
Wet warm weather makes things look worse than they really are, green patch has not galloped out of control I have been doing things. So I am not grateful for the letter about the allotment. But I am truly grateful to have had a great summer with these two.
I have a little secret and it might be said to be a dirty secret, its so bad that it has taken a week for me to share it with you. I needed to calm down a bit first. I probably am not calm enough yet even.
Last week we returned from a couple of days away camping (first time with Huw it went well!). On the door mat was a brown envelope and inside a letter. 'Your plot is uncultivated' it said.
I don't think that John has seen so much steam coming out of my ears in many a year. How can they they say this, it is not as if I haven't been trying, I've been there regularly and I think that the patch looks better than last year. Its true that I might have poor cultivation skills compared to some, especially when you consider my broad beans are taking their time. There is not a lot to see at the moment. However, no matter what, I am attempting to cultivate the plot.
When did they do the inspection? Who did the inspection? I want to know. The members of the allotment association have seen me down their doing things, buying supplies it is not as if I have be AWOL.
Well the letter says I have until the 29th of May to rectify things. I want to say here and now the things I am doing now are the things that I was going to do anyway and are for me and not to make the town council and allotment association happy. So there!
It should also be remembered that there is an area of cow parsley, nettles and tree stumps that may take me a few seasons to get round to tackling (I thought a more formal wildlife area might be best for this bit of the patch). The tree stumps might never be removed due to expense. They can't be expecting me to have this area under control can they?
