warming the soil up ready for planting ?.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hops are what you make beer out of.

[greenishfing]

Yes, i get them from a local brewery. In the winter they have far more than most gardeners want.
When i am driving past i chuck a few sacks full in the car. I keep an old shower curtain for that and picking up manure.

Have a look in your local phone book and find a micro brewery near to you. There are lots about.

I shall try to get some tomorrow

[Valleyman]

I made my own weed suppressant barrier/tarp/soil warmer by hot gluing a bunch of old compost bags together (black side up). It was a moment of desperation last year when i wanted to harvest potted spuds and didn't want to make a mess.

It held together quite well, and has spent the winter covering the big veg patch to keep the weeds away.

[Stan79]

Black weed suppresant membrane and leave it on and plant through it. Plus i made some 2m x 1m cloches out of tiling batten and stretched clear plastic tarp across it.

[SlugLobber]

I would use straw. These days it comes in wrapped bales as well as the old fashioned type, so it's easily portable by car. Especially good if you're putting spuds in, as you can keep topping it up as the foliage breaks through, or earth up as usual and let the straw improve drainage.