Preparing for a new year at the allotment

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat and purchase from us at the NoshFest.   Although we didn't make much profit, we were able to raise awareness of the Rainbow project.  It was also difficult to compete with other stallholders offering such freebies as ice-cream, curry, fruit kebabs and wine!

Work has begun again in earnest on the plot and we hope to grow a variety of crops.

 Garlic looking good

 Peter

 

 Danny sowing herbs

 Eva dug over the old potato bed and found lots of spuds

A quick visit

Cloudy

High: 4°C

Low: 2°C

It was really cold today (felt like -4) and nobody else was around.
The cabbage and broccoli in the greenhouse seemed to be fine as is the garlic.

Maybe we'll plant up some shallots and onions into small pots and put them in the greenhouse.

After all, we've entered for Yorkshire in Bloom for the It's Your Neighbourhood category!

First visit of 2014

A lovely sunny day at the allotment for the first visit of 2014.  It was uplifting to see the development of the broccoli, cabbages and broad beans plus the new shoots of garlic, shallots and onions.

End of the Year

 The Potting Shed

We were the only meshuganahs at the allotments today, but just wanted to check on any storm damage (none luckily) and water the cabbages and broccoli in the greenhouse.

This time of year offers a good opportunity to take stock and plan for next season.

Also, we hope to be involved in the food festival on 23 February, so watch this space.   This is the first north of England Jewish Nosh Fest which will be held in Leeds.  The two-day event, organised by Makor, will feature food stalls, cookery demonstrations, samplings, family activities, talks and community schemes. Check www.makor.co.uk for details.

 

End of November

Thomas Hood’s poem comes to mind; here is the last verse ....

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member--
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
November!

We can’t really complain about November this year; the weather hasn’t kept us away.

The broad beans Aquadulce Claudia are doing well.  We have planted the garlic Germidour, staked and netted the peas and watered the broccoli and cabbage in the greenhouse.

We will be visiting the allotment less frequently over the winter, but there is plenty of planning to be done, as we are entering Yorkshire in Bloom for the It’s Your Neighbourhood category in 2014.

 

Winter and Wildlife

Rainbow Allotment is looking quite presentable.  We can’t claim all the nachas; mother nature is causing the growth of weeds to slow down as Winter approaches.  We had our first taste of snow last night.

The broad beans are growing well and a few of the onions are showing through.  We have taken the dahlias in until the Spring frosts are over.

Planting tulips at the entrance to the allotment, daffodil bulbs planted last year were showing shoots.  Don’t you just love continuity?

The wildlife was out in full force this week; squirrels, magpies and a handsome fox, which came too close for my liking.

If anyone wishes to help out, there are always tasks to do.  You could even take photos of the wildlife or the amazing view, read a book, write or read. 

November news

 

Good to see the recently sown peas and broad beans beginning to grow.  It’s amazing what weeding and watering for an hour or so a week can do.  It gives a real feeling of achievement.  If anyone wishes to join us, drop us a comment or contact Adrienne at the MAZCC; great views, no heavy digging involved and the sun always shines on our plot!