Logistical advice for an allotment newbie (importing in lots of organic matter)

[Samuel1988]

Afternoon all,

My neighbour has given me half of his vegetable patch to grow some stuff on as he finds managing the whole patch too much.

I live about 15-20 minute walk away from the allotment site and the patch is slap bang in the middle so it requires a further 5 minute walk to get to (which doesn't sound much but when your carrying/wheelbarrow compost to your plot is tough work!).

I recently transported 4 bags of compost from my house to the patch which was tough work and the thought of having the need to bring in lots of organic matter to transport it this way (my family has a care but can only take 3 bags of compost so for logistical reasons in addition to cost of petrol and seeing if the car is free this is quite unreliable) is quite heartbreaking.

I was just wondering if anyone can give me advice if they have been in a similar situation?

For example is it possible to ring up certain companies etc where you can buy organic matter in bulk to be delivered to your veg plot?

Im still plodding on and clearing the weeds and smothering with newspaper and I know that the plot is a gradual process but I would like to get some organic matter in to put some goodness into the soil.

Thanks for your help,

Samuel

[Mikey]

Hi Samuel, firstly I would say your soil will have goodness in it already. If its been an allotment site for some time, the land will have been fed over that time. You can add small amounts of compost more easily than trying to import large quantities of matter in one go. Make a compost bin and collect your cardboard, grass clippings veggie peelings and take some down with you every time you visit site. It will give you excellent organic matter to put on the soil later in the year.

I can get organic matter pretty close to my site so I have brought it large quantities of horse muck, mainly to improve my heavy clay sub soil but this doesn't arrive free from weeds!!!, if you can create your own it will be better in the long run.

[Potstubsdustbins]

As an alternative you could have a look at Organic Extra by Marshalls.

This is a super concentrated dry farm yard manure a 44 ltr sack will treat over 500 sq yards for £22-95.

I am trying it for the first time this year to freshen up used compost for use in my containers and so far I am well pleased with the results.

Potty

[Veggielot]

If you can find a company that delivers then they will almost certainly deliver to your allotment site. I have had top soil and my shed delivered straight to my plot.

[alldigging]

Why don't you ask about on the site about who gets muck/organic matter/compost etc delivered and where from?

[Two_Sheds]

I would like to get some organic matter in to put some goodness into the soil.

You already have that goodness at your fingertips: weeds.

Grow some green manures too, round the edges of your plot (I have comfrey lining 3 sides of my allotment, and alfalfa lining the individual beds within it. Then I also have phacelia, mustard & buckwheat coming up randomly within the beds).

Composting takes a long time, and a bit of effort. I'm now Chopping n Dropping most of my (non-seeding) weeds, green manures and old foliage: chop roughly with scissors and drop it on the soil surface.

It soon disappears, it has all the goodness of a mulch and it improves the soil really quickly.