Hello from London

[umbrellamad]

Hello All!
Just read on another welcome thread 'watch out for the nutters',.... I may be one of them.... ;-) well; I live in a 5th floor flat in East London yet I am totally obsessed with growing my own fruit and veg; and no I don't have an allotment, but I do have a 12m x 1.2 meter E/SE facing balcony. My big (and probably crazy) ambition is to work the little space we have in such a way that my partner and myself become vegetable self-sufficient over the next few years [my family and friends, including my partner, think I am totally mad!] I have had quite a bit of success this year, but a long way off self-sufficient - the only thing we had absolutely tons of were tomatoes -lucky we both like them! If any of you still think that I am not totally, hopelessly mental, I would really appreciate any help advice and ideas from all you grapes on how to turn a tiny space as priductive as possible (and beyond)
Thanks!

[veggiechicken]

Hello Umbrellamad! Guess you need your umbrella at the moment though how it copes with the wind....
There are others on here who grow on balconies and I'm sure they'll help. Meanwhile, I'm one of the Nutters - but quite harmless really! Welcome.

[rustylady]

Welcome to the Vine Umbrellamad. Can you add your location to your profile please, then it'll show up on your posts.

[umbrellamad]

Thanks for this rustylady; done!

[Florence Fennel]

Hello and a very warm welcome to the Vine. I wish you lots of success with your growing and no, you're not mad, you're amongst good company.

[Glutton4...]

Hello, and welcome to the Madhouse - sounds like you'll fit right in!

Incidentally, like most short people, I HAAATE umbrellas, they should be banned!

[umbrellamad]

Interesting,.... Why do you hate umbrellas Glutton4? To be honest the name umbrellamad has a long and silly history and has got stuck in the form of my avatar for almost anything. Glad to hear you don't think me totally mas Florence Fennel!

[Glutton4...]

... Why do you hate umbrellas Glutton4? ...

Because they have nasty spikes that take the eyes out of us vertically-challenged folk. Also, they channel water over us vertically-challenged folk.

I do like the clear plastic dome-shaped brollies that allow you to see through, so you don't walk into people, and they cover most of the top half of you! But I don't have one of those!

[veggiechicken]

I have an IKEA, yellow, children's umbrella with plastic spike covers. Its dome shaped with 2 eyeholes and frilly bits around the edges. It always make me laugh when I use it, especially as it has habit of folding up over my head!

[Jeanied]

Welcome to the vine Umbrellamad - hope you have loads of success with your self sufficiency ventures

[binley100]

Hello good evening and welcome from me too

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Umbrellamad

I don't hate Umbrellas but I do wear a hat or use a hood instead because I like to have both hands free.

[umbrellamad]

Thank you so much for all your warm welcomes! Totally get what you mean by being dripped on by taller peoples umbrellas; I am very short, in fact too short to get the problem of having my eyes taken out, buy I get dripped on all the time!

[Currysniffa]

Hello umbrellamad welcome to the vine

I keep a large umbrella in the car just in case but like Bren I wear a cap or use a hood or both

[londons]

Hello from North London