Allotmenteering

Getting inspired by a visit to the Carpenter and Family.
I wish we had village allotment gardens like these.  A community working together.

 some have chooks...each gardener has their own plot,of varying sizes

 deep beds for disabled gardeners

 Many sheds of varying construction!

 The Carpenter and family have graduated to having a full plot

 beds prepared ready for planting..as little bare soil as possible..and the groundcover helps warm the soil too

 they grow a lot in containers as well,mainly because of the prevalence of Mare's Tail (Equisetum)

The polytunnel has been built from old garden trampoline frames, and the greenhouses and shed were free as were the very useful yellow shelves, used in hardening off young plants.
What is the point in things going to landfill when they can be used?!
The corner where the water butts and compost bins are standing will be the site of the next greenhouse.

 and a small orchard too!

Its marvellous to see the love of gardening that I inherited from my father, being passed on to my grandchildren.

Day on the lottie with The Carpenter & Family

 You have been Tango-ed

 Time out

 back for watering

family visit

busy busy

We've been well occupied since saying farewell to Big Pete.
Getting time on the velodrome most days,prior to the Masters National Track Championships.
The Pirate didn't score any medals this year,but is riding much better. Still underpowered after his treatment,but getting there.
I won two silver medals,in the 500m time trial and the 2 km pursuit. In the sprint semi-final my opponent went too slow as she led off in the first half lap and slid down the track,leaving me with nowhere to go. Result,quite a few bruised bits but luckily no breaks....I bounced!  However it took the edge off my speed and reactions,so I lost ..narrowly...the semi and the ride for bronze.

Never mind...the pursuit was good, equaling the time I did in the World Masters Games, so that I am pleased with.

Since then we have been enjoying life with the Carpenter and Family, gardening in their new allotment.  I've finished Woodchip's quilt as well...pictures next time....

an odd week, and a picture for Gary!

Thought you'd like this, Mr Rith !!! We saw it in the Tattoo shop run by a friend of The Carpenter.

This has been an odd week, starting so well on the Bank Holiday, and I'm full of ideas...and inertia.
Good news though, eyes tested on Wednesday, and my long sighted side is static and the shortsighted side has only deteriorated just enough to need new glasses and less than expected. Which means I'll have new ones for clean and the present ones for the workshop!!

I turned the last platter of the batch, but it took me an hour to start the design...


Then there were over a dozen small boxes to finish. One has a dragon...I still prefer these on pots rather than without.
I tried a change of scene this morning, weeded the second half of the brassicas, hoed and fed them too. The runner beans are coming on better now, with today's sun and hopefully rain tomorrow there could be a lot more ready to pick.
Luckily I noticed a pigeon flying away from the bottom end of the allotment, which means one thing at this time of year....
The Elderberries are ready!
This is the end of the latest batch of work, I think I have enough small pots to fit around the bigger bowls and plates to fill a bisque kiln.
Tidy workshop , unpack the last bisque, pack the kiln and start glaze mixing next!

I'm itching to go walking again, I'm feeling stretched thin . I haven't got into the Xmas Showcases in Aberystwyth, so I need to walk and think and plan again!

Talgarth

I had a Day Out today, and after picking runner beans, blackberries, rasberries , cucumbers and parsley at the allotment I set off for Talgarth, at the foot of the Black Mountains, where the Black Mountains Festival is on this weekend.

I wandered round the town, to the various sounds of rock music, a silver band, a fairground ride , a stilt walker and LOTS of people! I met a few friends in the craft fair and country market and talked to a pair of large (16-17 hands) black, very smart carriage horses. I wanted to go to the newly opened water mill to have a tour and see the garden and visit the cafe and the acquaintances who run it...but, good for them, it was full! Long queues and full cafes are not my thing!!

Instead I followed the river upstream and found a tributary. I must look at an old map to see how many mills were here at one time.
This is where the mill leat runs off, to the left of where the people are standing.
I enjoyed a walk around the back lanes, seeing old houses and cottages being cared for, and orchards of fruit ready to pick.
A visit to Hay on Wye followed that, then around via Peterchurch and Pontrilas and back to The Court Cupboard Gallery for a much needed cuppa as they closed! I was lucky with the weather, only a few light showers, and only when I as in the car.

Day One of "Art in the Yard" had been a success- two days to go!

It felt odd having a day out...and odd being alone.

Col's Garden

Since I left it to be looked after by Col's family, his brother has been doing a little weeding. All praise to him, he is an engineer not a gardener.

I think they insisted on caring for it until the end of the season, so that I would not be on it.
This actually coincided with my decision that the tradition of the late gardener's partner being able to care for the plot until the end of the season was good- but not when I have a garden of my own and he had three...so I had expected them to be re-allocated.

I thought that looking after his garden would be therapeutic for them as it was for me. Unfortunately the rasberry, strawberry and currant crops have gone to the birds and the gooseberry, apple, plum and grape look to be going the same way.

Spinach, leeks and brassicas are going to seed, the runner beans are starting to be ready. There is blight on the potato plants.

I think that I am supposed to react and get upset.
It is just so sad,thinking of all the work we both put in over the past three years, and Col alone for the years previous. Thinking of all the people that Col would give the food and flowers to, the local retirement flats, the pub and the church.