The need to grow your veg

The need to grow your veg in order to do our bit for climate change seems to become more popular since lock down. More people are connecting to their environment and taking up gardening.

This year I have returned to my allotment which needed quite a lot of weeding and maintenance.

The before picture of my allotment.

The after picture, most of the work down, just a bit more strimming and weeding, then planting new veg.

First thing to do is dig up my main crop bed.

Planting out potatoes crops, two varieties planted across three rows. Still found some crops before digging.

Leaks, Chinese lettuce and kale lived through the winter months.

However the shed didn’t make it.It will need rebuilding and one other shed will need to be repaired and one will have to come down.

Plenty of strimming to catch up with and plenty of weeding.
Strawberry batch needs a good weeding, plenty of gardening to do.

Allotments : A new trend for Sustainable living

New fresh greens from the Allotment.

Outdoor Tomato growing.

Organic growing doesn’t take too much work, a bit more weeding but the benefits are greater. Organic veg is proven to be better for you.

A pond can add natures ability to create a biodiversity environment reducing greenfly and slugs using small pond creatures like frogs and dragonfly.

Fruit trees apples, pears, damsons, rosehips, elderflowers and blackberries ideal for juicing.Ideal to transfers your diet to a more veg based menu.

The Great British Allotment
The link above is a great article on the ever developing desire for people to become self sufficient.

What to do with all your courgettes?

Courgettes are very easy to grow and you don’t need to many plants. Grating then and adding corn and spices fritters are a great alternative to animal meat burgers.

Allotment courgette and corn.

Courgette and corn fritter ideal veggie alternative to meat burgers.

Ingredients: a couple of grated courgette, small tin of sweet corn or fresh, couple of eggs, milk and flour approx 50 grams. Spice smoked paprika,chilli, garlic.

Mix together and fry. Make sure you don’t make them too big and add milk and flour to create a consistency that works. Should look like a batter mix.

Allotment Progress.

Allotment Development

 Farmland restoration and regenerative agriculture is part of a multitude of different processes that can reduce global warming by reducing emissions. Conservation agriculture which includes non tillage using organic fertilizers can reduce carbon emissions.Claiming back land which is currently laying to waste can also help emission outlay. 

I have been spending time weeding and pruning back trees ready for a better grope of apples and other fruits including a hidden raspberry crop I have found under weeds.I have also uncovered a small pond ideal for  small  invertebrates that can reduce small greenfly etc that can damage crops. Garlic can be planted using specially grown garlic cloves similar to seed potatoes which are easy to plant by dissecting individual gloves and planting 1 inch below soil. Sowing from seed is a process I am developing as I believe it is the most economic. Any money I am spending I am logging so I can access costs annually. Potentially a significant amount of global emissions, pollution and plastic waste can be reduced via a collective carbon footprint. Some small changes in lifestyle can help our plant rejuvenate and start to repair the damage that is currently occurring. 

                       

Eating Apple tree probably a Golden delicious variety

Chicken Shed with run to develop.

 Conservation Agriculture

There are a multitude of different approaches that can be developed to reduce climate change and in turn reduce emissions. Climate change science is developing new techniques and ideas continually, new advances in science in recent times have added much needed responses and solutions for our planet. Some of the most important solutions include renewable energy, forest protection better management of soil ans also marine conservation.  Draw down is a terminology which is being used which can not only describe a reduction in emissions but can also add a reversing narrative as well. Reversing climate change to a position that is neutral giving our planet the best possible change of conservation survival. 

18.11.18 Update image of Allotment.

Plenty of work as been achieved, however still plenty to do. Fish pond has been filled with water however unfortunately it has a leak. It will need a new liner. Burned a lot of rubbish during Bomb fire week and found a hidden raided bed. Currently I have digging up  compost from my back garden and I am filling raised beds. I was given a number of old window frames which I am going to make into glass covered raised beds. I have also started growing beans on window ledges.

January 2019 Digging has began.

The soil is currently soft and ideal time to lay a pathway and plan growing beds.

Seeds planted, test running a small amount.

Sunflowers

Woad shoots.


Larger area of soil dug, not much to go.

The soil has had some deep weed roots, brock the prongs on my fork.

This area is destined for potatoes and onions. The seed potatoes are bought.Decided to buy early potatoes so I could plant early. Get this veg growing show on the road.

May 2019 update.

Broad beans are on their way, flowering quite nicely. It's important to watch for black fly on these plants.

Potato crop is on its way.

Purple onions these will be ready in October.

Courgette plant. These should bare a lot of courgettes. I am needing to weed quite a lot and I am considering a striker with a battery as their is no electricity at the allotment.
 Seedlings Potting  out.

Once your seeds have grown in small pots, the next thing is to thin out and re pot. It’s not always necessary, however for fine seeds you get little seedlings which need there own space. The hand made pots made from newspaper makes this a lot easier as you can open them up and reveal the seedlings and roots without damageing.
Separating small seedlings into individual pots using hand made newspaper pots. 

Delicate hands are needed for this process. Pulling apart seedlings with care.

I have been using my new generator that runs on unleaded petrol. The ideal suituation would be to use solar power, however I need quite A high ratio of electricity and therefore have purchased this small portable generator from eBay. I have needed to strim back all the green areas as they became really over grown a good 3 ft of grass and nettles. I have been using an electric rotavator as doing by hand was too difficult. 

Currently I am waiting for seedlings to grow a little more before planting out carrots, Swiss rainbow chars and spinach.

New seedlings that have been separated and planted individually in hand made eco conscious upcycled newspaper pots that will decompose naturally allowing seedlings roots to grow outwards.