Hello from Bristol (South Glos)

[anni]

Hello all,
I live in the South West, a stones throw from Bristol and Chepstow. I'm a web designer lucky enough to work from home. No kids, but have a gorgeous dalmatian on whom hubby and I dote.... he's so spoiled (the dog that is).
We moved house just before Christmas to a new house and we've also bought a small strip of land next to the house and ever since I've been planning and building my mini raised bed allotment on it.
I am a complete novice at this, but have spent 4 months researching and planning .... reading books, watching TV programmes and of course the web and this forum.
I started sowing seeds indoors on every windowsill as soon as the packets said I could and bought two wooden mini greenhouses/ coldframes.
I seemed to be doing pretty well until now, but I've finally registered as I now have a few burning questions I need to ask- I'll post my questions separately in the relevant forum topics, but just wanted to say hello and thank you to everyone for the help I've had so far. This forum is an invaluable resource.

Anni

[donedigging]

Hi Anni,
I to, live in south glos,and
quite new to the site too
Good luck with your results, keep us all informed.

[anni]

Hi donedigging (great nick btw),
it's good to hear from you and nice to know there's someone nearby experiencing the same weather and conditions as I will be in my first year at this... I moved here from Somerset so it's a new house, new area and a new hobby all in one go...
I feel like I've been digging for weeks, even though I am only building 4 raised beds!
The soil here is solid clay, so I've been digging it over and over and adding sand compost and shop bought topsoil etc. I now have 2 beds almost ready for planting, one halfway and the last one not yet started.
A neighbour has promised me free access to their manure, so I'll be going back and forth across the road with the wheelbarrow this weekend and then hopefully I can finally start putting a few things in the ground...
Have you risked planting much out yet in yours?

Anni

[Flummery]

Hi Anni - welcome - it's a great forum this, isn' it? Clay feels like a masive problem but it certainly holds the nutrients (everything washes out of sandy soil) so keep banging in the manure - well rotted down - and you'll do great.

[anni]

Hi Flummery,
Thanks for the words of encouragement! Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing all this, and then I keep remembering I can do the fun bit soon and start planting... that keeps me going.