Newbie Gardener looking for some advice.

[sparrow100]

We have an arrangement with a local stables that they will deliver muck to us in return for cases of beer. We each put a fiver in the kitty for it each year, which gets us about 30 barrows each of very fresh muck.

[bramble]

I have been reading through all this great advice. So much help and experience out there.
Well done Andy and continued success with your new plot.

[Andy-W]

So today was the day to really attack the grass. Some of it must have been 6 ft tall. I spent 3 hours in total and stemmed back all the grass and also managed to cut back one of the brambles. Here is my progress so far.







The shed was covered in the blackberry bush so much i couldn't get in. a lot more work to do around the sides but at least i can get to the door now.



This is a very small amount of the rubbish i have pulled out so far. Endless work, chicken wire, and general waste.

[Andy-W]

Sorry i keep double posting

[Martin H]

You're making great progress, there!
When we cleared our plot we needed many many trips to the dump to get rid of carpet, plastic and assorted rusty metal. Anything biodegradable got piled up somewhere to biodegrade.

If your site doesn't have rules about bonfires you can get rid of rotten wood that way. Our site only allows them during the first week of November, no other time.

Good luck!

[Andy-W]

Thankfully the site is fire friendly. Infect i haven't been yet and not seen a big bonfire on the go...... I may just set fire to the whole plot :/

[Two_Sheds]

If your site doesn't have rules about bonfires you can get rid of rotten wood that way.

mmmmmm, if you have to burn, you should only burn dry wood. Damp material just produces lots of smoke, which could lead to a permanent ban (of bonfires).

Rotting wood is superb habitat for beneficial insects: I keep all mine up the back end of my plot where it's out of my way

[Andy-W]

So i had made some amazing progress. I cleared back the whole plot, removed more brambles than ever seen and cleared all the rubbish. Then this happened...





......


Kids broke into the site and set fire to my shed and everything inside. I am gutted. I took this "project" on because of some serious issues with depression and anxiety. It was in hope of a little safe haven following a horrible year. and now this.

[veggiechicken]

Andy, I'm so sorry that this has happened. Sadly, there are people out there who have no respect for other people's property.
Do you know who the kids are?

[Andy-W]

Andy, I'm so sorry that this has happened. Sadly, there are people out there who have no respect for other people's property.
Do you know who the kids are?

We have some ideas. The area has had allot of trouble from one group of kids recently and a name has been given.

I wrote an little open letter on Facebook to these kids and its gone a little viral so hopefully that may worm them out a little.

Its a bit of a step back but I am not going to let them drag me down.

[veggiechicken]

Keep going Andy. If there is a bright side, you didn't have any crops destroyed!

[Bill HH]

Welcome Andy, you have had some excellent advice. From the look of it that shed needed burning down, now you can build a nice (bigger) one.

[Andy-W]

I could have done with it not really. Especially as the fire burn so hot even metal tools melted and all the wooden handles gone. Everything inside the shed is destroyed and the clean up massive. All i needed was a little 6x4 for my tools and I don't really have the money to build or buy a new one and can't afford to replace the tools.

[craftymarie]

That is so sad to hear. But please don't let these mindless idiots destroy what you've been doing. It is hard to get back up and get going again after something like this happens but you can do it. Who knows, maybe they might feel a pang of guilt about it. Kids can be silly at times and do things to just show off to mates etc. although it might feel personal, you can be sure it was not. Creating things takes a lot more time and skill than destroying stuff. You can't beat the thrill of growing and creating your own food