This week has been a busy old time down on the allotment site, as I have mentioned in previous posts, I am working on one plot which will supply seasonal organic vegetables all summer and into the autumn, and on the other there is a slowly developing perennial permaculture food plot that I have been working on during the winter and spring of 2011-12.
The organic raised bed plot
For the last few days I have been sowing seeds into recycled mushroom trays, yoghurt pots, plant plots and seed trays. I have also potted on 12 different varieties of tomatoes that were started on a South facing bedroom windowsill at home. As is the usual practice for me I have been staggering seed sowing, particularly with beans, peas and onions to secure a longer seasonal flow of produce.
The permaculture plot
Work on the permaculture plot has slowed down a little over the last two weeks due to a visit to Bristol to see my old friend Mike of Permanent culture now, the other reason I slowed work down a little was to let some more ideas percolate and develop. This time away from the plot has proved to be fruitful in terms of my own interaction with the site and its shaping. All of the trees, bushes and shrubby type plants are now in the ground, the willow seating/workshop area has now started growing with all of the willow cuttings now sprouting small shoots, once the willow is high enough I will weave it together to create a dome which will offer some protection from the elements.
What to sow now
Indoors – Tomatoes, sweetcorn, courgettes, aubergines, capsicum, cucumber, chilli, squashes, pumpkins, globe artichokes, quinoa, spinach tree, red orache
Outdoors – Sprouts, cabbage, Leeks, cabbage, lettuce, beetroot, mizuna, land cress, onion, wild rocket, first early peas, broad beans, seed potatoes (South of England)
Allotments of the future
In a low impact and low carbon future, allotment plots will need to replace all of the wasteful multiplexes and showrooms that litter our urban and city landscapes if we are in with any realistic chance of feeding ourselves. these new plots of the future will also have to as close as possible to those who will cultivate and eat the produce that they grow. We really need to start right now but applying pressure to our local councils to provide more allotment sites, they are cheap and easy to set up for any council
Steve