Discovered on the lottie

[Alison]

Having a few days off work this week so that I can spend a lot of time clearing the plot. Had already got plans of where the beds were going to be etc etc. Already had to do a rethink the other week when I found a massive row of raspberries at the back (that's not where soft fruit was meant to be but I'm not moving them!). Anyway, first discovery was half a bike, not particularly exciting but quite amusing. Second discovery was a whole series of raised beds - yes I know that this should be obviously but bramble and bind weed covers a lot of things, including it would appear, raised beds. Now having yet another rethink and trying to decide if I want to stick with the previous plan or go with what the plot seems to want!

[lynda66]

will save a lot of work if you work with whats there already, but then the other thing is will it fit in with your style of gardening as it is, and will you get over the fact that you can't have things where you want them and get annoyed with it, and decide to rip everything out in the middle of summer........ those sort of things really bug me.

[Alison]

Exactly, may see what it's like to dig over - am thinking that where the raised beds have been in the past, the ground shouldn't be so bad to turn, in which case I can get them sorted faster and therefore will be able to put some overwintering veg in so that I can start to feel like a proper lottie holder which may help to take my mind off the bramble scratches and nettle stings!

[Wren]

Now that's thrown you hasn't it...lol You might find lord lucan in there too

If you think you could use them, they might come in handy for a dedicated asparagus bed or two, or squash beds that you could throw lots garden muck in now in preparation for spring. strawberry beds etc

Have a good think before you decide for sure.

Wren

[lynda66]

and shergar

[BrideXIII]

and shergar

well if that is where shergar has been all this time, there will be a nice build up of manure

[jaykay]

I think I'd be tempted to adapt the plan to fit the existing beds rather than making work for myself!

[Two_Sheds]

When I was clearing my sister's allotment, we uncovered a shed! The brambles were that high.

And a muntjac was hiding in there too

[snakeshack]

so far have found 2 compost bins,both bright green,aroun 1/2 ton of logs ,a kids slide(bright yellow),a galvanised iron water tank which has rusted through,loads of bits of black plastic,a 4 ft long clotch,a concrete crocodile planter,15 sheets of white corrugated plastic which crumbles at a touch & abridge over the river which borders the rear of the lottie.
none of this could be seen prior to starting work as the brambles were a solid mass 6 ft high and the rest is /was covered in blackthorn to a height of about 15 ft.
now have cleared about 3/4 of plot to ground level,alas no sign of anything edible unless you count the blackberries (and there's too many to count)

[Alison]

I think I'd be tempted to adapt the plan to fit the existing beds rather than making work for myself!

Have been seriously considering it, however they're a bit on the wide size so it'd be hard to reach to the middle, especially as one of the long sides is rather too close to the hedge so a) difficult to access, b) rather too shady / dry and c) bound to be trodden on when the council do their annual hack back of the hedge.

Today I have uncovered 2 pallet built compost bins which, although having some bind weed on them contain well rotted compost which will be fine so long as I sieve it first. Wonder what tomorrow will bring