Poor allotment. I didn't love it enough this year. In fact it took on the mantle of millstone towards the end of the season. I didn't spend enough hours there and the weeds saw their chance. I had big plans for a few days spent there in the summer holidays, but somehow it didn't happen. Where did the holidays go exactly?
I'd been thinking about whether to continue with the plot or not. Anyone who has one will know what I mean. It's the weeds mostly. The ground can be completely clear one day and invisible below a swathe of weeds within a month. But I know that part of me would be heartbroken to say goodbye. And I know myself. My moods and energy roll in and out and change constantly. The day would come when I would regret it.
In a spare moment last week I flicked open Cleve West's "Our Plot".
It's the story of the allotments he and his wife tend. Despite both working full time, they took on an overgrown plot, then another one, then another one, then, well, you get the picture. The photographs are sumptuous. Beans climbing up wigwams, raised beds filled with every type of edible, paths disappearing into green jungles, higgledy sheds, oh, it's paradise.
I know my plot isn't likely to look like that, but it gives me hope that with some effort I might capture a bit of the magic. When the weather is dry I shall be back down there, clearing the ground ready for the dormant season. I'm deploying weedproof fabric over the biggest areas until I'm ready to plant. Hopefully that will help.
The last time I was down there the littlest boy pointed out that the weeds were flowering and that there were bees on the flowers. So I'm thinking of it more as a wild flower patch.
In the middle of the allotment site there's a plot that's absolutely covered with bees. CT kindly identified them for me, as ivy mining bees. There are thousands of them, just on this one plot. They are flying only a few inches from the ground and disappearing into holes in the earth. I'm on a mission to save them from destruction, as I have a feeling that certain factions like to exterminate anything wild.
So you see, I'm back in love with my plot and the whole allotment thing. It's only ever a momentary wobble I think. It can be quite overwhelming at times, but I shall try and make it more manageable next year and put in a bit more effort. And any time I'm not feeling it I shall get out Cleve's book and spend a happy hour looking at his beautiful plots.
I know just how you feel. We took on another allotment this year, and it's been a real struggle. It had been left for many years, and we only managed to plant up a fraction. While we spent time on the new one, the old one went to pot. The bind weed this year has been phenomenal and a real pain. This week they will be put to bed, and over the winter we will decide which one must go. I don't know how Cleeve managed more than one to be honest!
ReplyDeleteCleve's story sounds like ours! Leave the weed fabric down and plant through it. The majority of our planting is through weed control fabric but make sure that you buy 100gms weight. It makes a tremendous difference. It also acts as a mulch in dry weather and I think it warms the soil too.
ReplyDeleteI feel much the same about my garden. My friend told me the other day that she never did any weeding. (She has no weeds). What on earth is going on with that?
ReplyDeleteSowing wildflowers in a section would be one way to make it more manageable and provide valuable habitat at the same time? Thank you for the mention, lovely girl :o) xx
ReplyDeleteI had a plot in a community garden for 7 years and had a love/hate relationship with it. I struggled with the weeds and found that the weedproof fabric helped, up to a point. In recent years we had the added challenge of deer moving into the neighborhood and decimating the crops. Each gardener was responsible for fencing their own plot, but those fences had to be removed every October and rebuilt every spring. A fence tall enough to keep out deer is no easy task! Two summers ago was a hectic one for our family and, knowing I wouldn't have time to maintain the garden, I asked my neighbors if they'd like to use it for the season. I didn't miss the plot at all! This year I gave it up entirely and renewed my gardening efforts at home. I still get my tomatoes and zucchini, and it's so much simpler than dealing with a plot at the community garden.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm telling you to give up. I find your allotment posts very entertaining! I get the feeling you have the energy and interest to carry on. I like the wildflower idea if it's allowed. At our community garden, we had strict rules. No wildflowers. We had to grow edible gardens.
Your flowers and the artichokes look wonderful dear C.J. a credit to your hard work. I hope you become enthusiastic about your plot again, I know it is a lot of hard work (especially the unwanted weeds) when you have so much else to do but I'm sure you would miss the enjoyment of watching your plants grow, flower and fruit, plus enjoying your fresh home-grown produce. Meanwhile enjoy those beautiful images in your book.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
xoxoxo. ♡
Lovely post and pictures. I'm sure that we all feel like that at times, especially when the weeds are rampart. I've got that book and think that it's brilliant, and tend to reread it every winter. I like your last paragraph. Flighty. xx
ReplyDeleteI think we gardeners are an eternally optimistic lot. By this time in the season I'm feeling quite done with my two small garden boxes, but I know by next February they will be calling out to me again, and I'll start dreaming about what to plant when spring rolls around. I think you made a good decision to keep your plot. Even if you need to keep part of it covered in cloth all year and tend a smaller portion, I'm sure you'll be happy to harvest whatever vegetables it produces next summer. That book is lovely, but my guess is they don't have a houseful of young boys to tend to along with their garden. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a corker of a photo that white cosmos is! Gorgeous. I think it's perfectly normal and natural for enthusiasm to ebb and flow, especially with something that takes so much energy. One of the women on my garden design course (years ago) had an allotment at the same site as Cleve West and said his patch was inspiring. Lovely to have his book to boost you when you feel the need. I always enjoy your allotment posts :-) Sam x
ReplyDeleteI'm certain most of us get that feeling of a little bit of despair. I go through it every year at this time. My weeds are phenomenal at the moment but I know when I cut the grass, do a few edges and dig over a bed, remove a few decaying large plants it'll all look different. You're only a good day away from everything looking better. The winter will knock back a lot of weeds and it'll all look bare again soon - ready to restart.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are back in love with your plot! I can totally see why it would be overwhelming when the weeds are growing faster than the plants are. I hope you will be inspired to rearrange or arrange things so that it is easier for you and the plants and that you have a great love affair with your allotment next year! xx
ReplyDeleteI think with all things in life there are ups and downs.. I'm glad you're back in love with the plot as I know how much you enjoy starting seeds on your windowsills and all. Hopefully over a fallow winter you will renew your joy with it all. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteoh my, those pictures are so inspirational... fancy having a veg garden that beautifully neat!
ReplyDeletemaybe too think of the weeds as letting the beds go to fallow for a season (is that the right phrase?). if they bring the bees, you are doing the surrounding plots a service too :-)
Life is like that, valleys and mountains and the odd uncrossable river. Glad you managed to find the way up once more. I would maybe leave some of the plot for the bees, to make your work easier and to enrich the wildlife for everybody. Put a neat wee frame around it -to appease the neat freak potential bee destroyers- and it would look like a purposeful wildflower patch, giving you joy and less work, too. xx
ReplyDeleteI have had a bit of a wobble with the veg plot, tiny when you compare it to your allotment but still needing work. But the joy it brings is worth all the back breaking weed control. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with keeping on top of the weeds in our little veggie patch, so I'm sure there's no way I would cope with an allotment. I do enjoy looking at yours though, so I'm so pleased that you are newly inspired. xx
ReplyDeletewell, you know my feelings on the veg patch. :) one part despair, three parts eternal optimism. it's what makes up the soul of a gardener. but we also need a hefty dose of reality -- knowing what time/energy we have to invest so that it remains a joy [mostly] and being willing to let go of what becomes a drain. better to do the smaller thing well, yes? i think the wildflower patch is a grand idea...and something i'm going to take advantage of myself next year. it's a win-win as far as i can tell. :)
ReplyDeletelove and good garden vibes to you!xo
It's like that with things we love/hate - they're often the things that bring the biggest reward. I love to see your allotment photos, and think that they should be higgledy-piggledy places anyway. I've hardly been in our garden lately and try to ignore the weeds as I walk down the garden path to work every day. Shouldn't the weeds be slowing down soon anyway? A wildflower patch is a must, and the ivy mining bees are something to treasure. Have a good week, Cathy x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. I have a plot within my garden and even that gets neglected. This year I've grown sweet peas in the plot which have been a joy but the green beans were dwarf and mostly scoffed by the snails and the tomatoes are the weirdest looking I have ever seen (and they don't taste that good either). Finally the lettuce has bolted and needs dealing with. I frequently wonder why I bother. I may just plant half of it with raspberries that I will simply eat whenever I'm passing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe with school back in session you can get down to the allotment and have a good weed pulling party on your own. I know it is very therapeutic..
ReplyDeletemeredith
Coming from someone who can barely manage a strawberry plant and a few carrots, I am always impressed with your garnering efforts. It's always lovely to read something that demonstrates a real passion someone has. Looking forward to seeing the next phases for the allotment and you. xx
ReplyDeleteCJ, I'm no gardener and you know I think you are amazing, what with your plot and three boys and goodness knows what else in your life - but I think you'd really regret it if you gave it up. I know this summer was tough but you're really good at it! Read that book whenever you feel fed up with it. You're a really talented gardener. Xx
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