Art at the Allotment

When we first arrived at our new allotment site we immediately spotted a rather lovely mosaic at the entrance. We were told that this had been created by a local resident and allotment owner.

I have now looked it up on the web and discovered that it was a community project, bringing in ideas and support from many of the allotment members. The idea was to represent what the allotment area meant to those from the local community who use it. I think it's lovely and highlights how important places like the East Finchley allotments are in urban areas.

Here is a short video explaining more about it. 

You can find out more about our local allotments here: http://www.eastfinchleyallotments.co.uk

And you can follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82

The East Finchley Mistral

The wind was rising yesterday in North London, as it were. Initially we thought it was great to be based on top of a hill in the middle of the allotments but I regretted our choice after several hours of being buffeted about like a tiny boat lost at sea.

I didn't realise we would be quite so open to the elements on a suburban allotment patch but we very much are. As I pulled up yesterday lunchtime I watched several seasoned allotment veterans getting into their cars and high tailing it home. Undeterred I went about my business, hoeing over two more beds, mowing the lawn and trying to give each of our beds some clearly defined edges.

Despite the fact that most of what I dug up, picked or cut down ended up three plots down, I still felt a bursting sense of pride and achievement. The allotment game is bringing out a whole new side to me I never knew existed. While my better half is off drinking beer in Belgium for a week, I've been knee deep in North London mud and actually, I haven't minded it one little bit. No resentment here.

I've been studiously taping both Gardener's World and Kew On A Plate for hints and tips about planting and harvesting veg and finding that I'm actually happiest when wearing old clothes, sprinkled with earth and reeking a little of hard toil. It makes the gin and tonic at the end of the day all the more delicious.

My one low point this week came when asked to bring a big plastic container up the allotment from home. It was only when I picked it up that I realised it was a vat of manure. Organic manure, but manure all the same. i never thought the day would come when I could be witnessed dragging a massive tub of manure through the gentrified avenues of East Finchley.

Working with compost and manure does however seem fairly appropriate with a General Election looming...

Follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82

Spring is in the air?

Urgh. Spring may have sprung and the daffodils may be out and raising our spirits but today on the allotment was pretty grim. It was cold, it was wet and it was windy.

I dealt with this by pottering about in the shed, reorganising the shelves and "making a plan" for the week. Then I came home for a coffee. I hope my resolve isn't slipping after only one week. 

Today was definitely more Margo, less Barbara.

Fair enough when the weather conspires against us there are certain things we can't be doing. And furthermore, the allotments weren't exactly pulsating with life. I spotted one other brave soul, sheltering away with his thermos. So I don't feel too bad. 

I'm also worrying about the amount of stuff other people have planted. Time marches on and we have endless things to get into the ground within the next few weeks. We have potatoes, chard, kale, sprouts, rocket, peas, beans, leeks and beetroot to deal with and tricky asparagus to plant. We're also waiting on a delivery of rhubarb. Before we can do that we have two more beds to dig and some dead strawberry plants to dig up and dispose of. Then there's the manure.

Ah yes, it's not often in life I've imagined myself traipsing through the streets of North London humping a great big vat of organic manure. Needs must. I hope friends and potential volunteers don't see this as we may not see them again until it's time to treat the allotment as a haven mid-summer entertaining...

So really, gardeners and allotmenteers out there: how do you cope with foul weather? What sees you through and what tips do you have for carrying on regardless?


Follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82