Is this the place to say Hello ?

[Westi]

Welcome both of you - both have nice looking spots to relax and grow in! Still searching out the plans for the ark down here - but to make at least one of you envious - water butts are full!

Westi

PS: Ask anything on this forum - it is about real gardening for real gardeners regardless of experience.

[Ricard with an H]

Thanks for the welcome Westi.

I've been dealing with this one acre plot for ten years, when we arrived all the wildflower had succumbed to farming practice and to some extent development of the old farm into three separate dwellings. The farmhouse and two barns, we live in what used to be a milking parlour. Most of the land was sold-off to other farmers, us and the farmhouse retain just enough to keep the farm feeling and just enough to become hard work keeping it tidy at this time of year.

We have reinstated some wildflower and encourage other wildflower with the judicious use of glyphosate on the more invasive stuff, that has been my excuse for not growing anything to eat until this year.

Even though we do have trees when you drive to this area you'll notice how few trees we have and most bend-over towards the east and are stunted, those that look health tend to be in the valley. Lot's of gorse grows here and whilst that seems harsh gorse has a lovely colour and smell in the spring together with the blackthorn.

Most of the soil around here has been hammered with artificial nutrients and herbicides though a few farmers do use animal slurry on the grazing and for silage.

So, thats gives you the picture. I have three raised beds eight inches high and totalling 25 sq metres with imported soil full of nettle root and possibly japanese knotweed which is rampant around here and ignored. One of the raised beds is double the hight with sloping sides and turned into a cold frame on one side. We also have garden areas around the barn planted with mostly perenial but now being co-opted for stuff we can eat but it's slug-central. Pictures later.

I have lot's of nutrient available and am learning how to use it, the very old cow-poo goes into water for a few weeks then I killed plants with it until I realised it needed further water mixed but I don't know how strong it is. We also have masses of nettle to collect and I'm growing comfrew.

All on the right track I hope, anyone have any idea how I can judge the strength of my cow-poo brew ?

More questions later.

This photo might give an idea, on the left/central is our barn and on the right is my shed, the raised foreground now has the planting but it's still needs protecting from the wind. Oh-yes, and thats Molly, our spaniel.

[glallotments]

Welcome both.
Rather than be embarrassed to be a 'fresher' at 70 - I think it's great. You are vnever too old to learn new things it keeps you young!

[Ricard with an H]

New photo of my veg plot. Soory, to big again.

[Benspab12]

Thanks for the warm welcome folks.

[Benspab12]

A bit of progress made. Other allotment holders have been very generous and given things to me to put it. There were also 'volunteers' (I think this is the term for things already on site, in the ground and growing). There were 3 or 4 varieties of potatoes coming through when I arrrived.

Still awaiting the skips as you can see!!

[Nature's Babe]

Hi and welcome to the newbies. Plots look interesting and should keep you well occupied, have fun !