Thatch

[squash63]

Does anyone know of a use for thatching materials - apart from thatching?
A recently evicted plotholder has left behind a large quantity of thatch on his
plot which we are allowed to use if we can think of what to do with it! Would it eventually rot down like straw? We don't really fancy thatching our sheds!

[Flummery]

Look really cool though, wouldn't it? You'll get tourists coming to take photos!

[Nicos]

I think they mostly use straw or reed.
No idea how long reed takes to rot, but don't most thatched houses need redoing every 10 - 20 years because it starts to breakdown??

[squash63]

Look really cool though, wouldn't it? You'll get tourists coming to take photos!

Don't know about tourists, more likely men in white coats!

I think they mostly use straw or reed.
No idea how long reed takes to rot, but don't most thatched houses need redoing every 10 - 20 years because it starts to breakdown??

I think they are reeds and they are quite brittle. Doesn't look as though it would be any good on the compost then.

[mandyballantyne]

Small fence, collars for brassicas or plant stakes?

Or maybe a bonfire

[Nicos]

Have to whisper this one as LJ may be listening!!!...
Peasticks?? You could push them in the ground at angles in a sort of criss-cross.
(similar to Mandy's idea)
Sun screen for a greenhouse ( no excuse not to get one now if you haven't already! )
Scarecrow?
I wonder if he got hold of them because they are old and needed replacing??

[beefy]

Could you use it in place of wood chips on paths etc?
Put it through a shredder and use as a mulch?

[squash63]

Could you use it in place of wood chips on paths etc?
Put it through a shredder and use as a mulch?

This seems like a good idea! My plots are mostly raised beds so I could try some of it on the paths between beds. Thanks.

Small fence, collars for brassicas or plant stakes?

Or maybe a bonfire

More good ideas, thanks!

Have to whisper this one as LJ may be listening!!!...
Peasticks?? You could push them in the ground at angles in a sort of criss-cross.
(similar to Mandy's idea)
Sun screen for a greenhouse ( no excuse not to get one now if you haven't already! )
Scarecrow?
I wonder if he got hold of them because they are old and needed replacing??

I like the idea of the sun screen for the greenhouse, might try that. I did think of making a scarecrow for our competition but they are quite brittle and
I don't think it would work.
They were new when he bought them about a year ago. He had big ideas for his plot but that's all they were - ideas. Are we allowed to post photos here?
I could show you how much stuff he left on his plot.

[mandyballantyne]

Yes please post some pics, Mandy

[squash63]

Yes please post some pics, Mandy

I've added a photo to my pumpkins and squash album (because I couldn't remember how to start a new album!) Hope this link works http://public.fotki.com/squash63/pum...ch1407003.html

[Snadger]

I've added a photo to my pumpkins and squash album (because I couldn't remember how to start a new album!) Hope this link works http://public.fotki.com/squash63/pum...ch1407003.html

Crikey, good job your allotments aren't around here, as with the kids on holiday from school, they have been torching anything that looks burnable!