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Another Geordie here. Born in Newcastle, lived in London for 20 years and moved back up about 3 months after getting an allotment which I had waited 5 years for. Just enough time to dig out all the polyester carpet that were a couple of inches under the soil (shows how long they were down)
Currently have a private allotment in West end of Newcastle and learning how to grow.
�I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
― Thomas A. Edison
�Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
― Thomas A. Edison
Welcome marra. A grow in me back yard and thoroughly enjoy it. There aren't many hobbies that are as good for you as growing your own. I love the fresh air, exercise and the healthy diet that goes with it. There's no added sugar, saturated fat etc in tomatoes, courgettes and so on but boy they taste good.
I'm glad that a family friend was about to give up their allotment when I moved up so I was able to take that over. Being on the dole having it has helped me retain my sanity (forget comparing them to gyms, they're better for you than a shrink ).
Despite
1 - having poor harvests,
2 - having to dig in stoney ground (what size does it stop being a stone and become a boulder,),
3 - heavy clay
4 - and being burgled three time (having all my tools, stuff for the garden as well as veg nicked)
I think
1 - Woo Hoo - I've grown and eaten my own stuff. OK the tomatoes got blight so I now have jars of green tomato jam, chutney and relish (there is a lot of added sugar in these though). The soil is richer now than it was at the start of the year so I know it (and therefore my harvest) will improve year after year.
2 - those stones should be helping with drainage. I can always build a rockery and use the smaller ones to cover my paths. Not so good for root veg but I'm building a small raised bed to grow them in next year. Also plan of riddling one bed a year so in another 6 years all my beds will be stone free and full of organic matter.
3 - I don't have to water and feed so often as the clay sucks it in and hold onto it. Making lots of compost to help with this so in the end I will hopefully be an ace compost maker.
4 - Now bringing every thing in and out each visit. As for the veg well cabbage and potato they recognise, lets see how well they do with tatsoi and dahlia roots
So it's been an enjoyable first years allotmenteering.
�I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
― Thomas A. Edison
�Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
― Thomas A. Edison
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