Growing space and a new 'allotment'!

[janeyo]

OH has bene working out how much growing space I have here at the house. I will have once the beds are finished 5 raised beds of a total of 282 square feet.
Plus the greenhouse and pots for salad leaves and herbs plus the rhubarb and asparagus in with the flower borders.

He does not think I 'need' an allotment.

However last night we had a brainwave (rare for me lol)

My nan has about 1000 square feet of growing space beyond her pretty garden, which has been covered with black plastic for 3 years since it got too much for her.
It has not been a veg patch for about 20 years but Grandad used to grow everything there.

Nan has said I can peel back the plastic and use whatever space I need!

VERY excited, and am planning to put the stuff that needs little attention there, and largish things like pumpkin, etc.

Lots of plusses- loo on site, kettle, free babysitter there too!
Only downside is she's not keen on me putting up a compst bin or waterbutt. But can use her water instead. And she may want to 'help' whch at 87ish might not be such a good idea lol

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zazen999]

LOL. My OH didn't think we needed a lottie but now he loves it.

I think the nan idea is great...does she live near la la land or just outside?

[janeyo]

She is obviously a bit la-la (that's where I get it from lol), she's about 5 miles away in Ely, Cambs.

I think OH just thinks he will get roped in for weeding, building beds etc if we get a lottie. Errrrr YES, he likes to eat he has to help, that's the deal!

Think this may be the solution in the short term til one comes up in the village.

[FionaH]

Sounds like a brilliant plan!

[lainey lou]

What a great idea, bet you're Nan will love it to, especially if your Grandad used to use the space for veg. How lovely.

[allotmentlady]

Oh well done you!

[Rhona]

That's a brilliant solution! Oooh...you can all excited now looking at squash and pumpkin varieties! At least that's my plan for this evening...

[janeyo]

I want to plan I want to plan! But got to go to my italian class.

Will have to plan later

Very excited adn am defo going to put the courgettes squash etc there as they shouldn't need a lot of tending.

Another plus side is that there are no deer in nan's garden! So maybe we can eat the cougette instead this year!

[BarleySugar]

Sounds a great opportunity, and Nan will love it, especially if she feels involved. If her hands are nimble enough she might be able to sow some seeds in pots, or prick stuff out even though she probably won't be up to the digging So saying, my Mum 84 this year, has only just agreed that digging the garden is beyond her, she did some last year. She also gets out in the garden with her stick and does some weeding! Last year she grew so many runner beans, the same amount as when we were all at home (7 of us). She's got a freezer full, and gave away so many too!
When my Dad was alive, and I lived closer to them I had part of their garden. He was much more interested in what I did than what Mum did. He used to come out in his wheelchair and tell me what to do (even when I didn't agree). He'd never go out with her, because he couldn't really help, but with me he felt I needed the 'guidance'. It was a great time.

[janeyo]

Have managed to put my 'spare' spuds in nan's garden ths morning. Pulled the weed membrane up expecting to find an army of slugs etc (the membrane has been down for about 5 years) and there wasn't one! Brilliant. The plot is abot 90 feet by 20 feet and I don't need all that so have only uncovered the bit I am needing at the moment.

The best bit is that apparantly 5 years ago there was a tonne of manure dug into it before it was covered up ( the person using it as a veg patch had to give up unexpectedly)

Brilliant

bet that pesky nan of mine will be digging the spuds up before I get chance to get them lol. She's sneaky like that.....

[jackie j]

Well done what a good idea it will also mean company for your nan when you visit her garden. I wish I had a relitive with a big garden.