My green thumbs are about to get a workout ...
February 7, 2007 at 4:48 PM
by Ashleigh
Yesterday I went to the volkstuin (community garden or allotment for English speakers) and finalised the deal with the head of the association.
I am now the proud lessee of 50 m2 of very muddy tilled land which currently houses a plum tree and some blackberry canes.
You can see some pictures I took at the allotment today over here, including a beautiful photograph of a heron in the water.
I also saw a very large rabbit, but he ran off before I could take a photo of him. Hope he doesn't hang around much in the summer or we might have to call in Wallace and Gromit!
The kids were hoping to see the ponies kept in the paddock alongside the allotment, but the ponies were in the stable, out of the rain and snow.
I plan to create raised beds and follow an intensive vegetable growing plan, however, when I took the kids there this afternoon I realised that I may have drastically overestimated the space available. In order to create a balanced little garden I'll just plant less of my chosen varieties of plants.
I've written a list here so that you can try and picture it with me, working clockwise from the plum tree which is on the right hand side of the plot.
Bed #1: Strawberries, onions, garlic, lettuce, celery
Bed #2: Runner beans and peas (on wigwams), sweetpeas, marigold, sunflowers
Bed #3: Pumpkins and squash, corn, nasturtiums
Bed #4: Carrots, chives, rosemary
Bed #5: Tomatoes, parsley, basil, garlic
Bed #6: Peppers, onions, nasturtiums
Each bed will be raised about 20 cm and measure about 1m2. In between the beds will be a narrow pathway of woodchips.
At the back of the plot where it backs onto my neighbour I'll grow lavender bushes as a sort of boundary. I'll be planting thyme, marjoram and lemon balm between the other plants.
In the meantime, I need to buy some seeds and a propagator to start them off inside while the weather is still so cold, and spend my time looking at catalogues like the one from De Wiltfang.
Do you have plans for a summer garden? On your balcony, in your garden, in a community garden? if you're unsure whether to plant or not, go and read about Victory Gardens against global warming, maybe it will inspire you!
Please leave a comment if you have plans and satisfy my eternally nosy side which wants to know what everyone else is doing!
Comments
Looking forward to seeing it all come together.
Great when you have a new project to focus on.
Nothing exciting like that for me sadly!
Your roasted peppers in oil look so good! Lovely signs of spring. Sure wish we had some of those here!
tea
xo
How exciting! I'm looking forward to hearing all about your crops - hope it all works out for you.
Last year was our first year of growing edible crops (other than herbs) - we started with tomatoes in large pots, which worked well, so this year I have plans to add courgettes (zucchini) and sweet peppers. No allotment though, sadly, so it's all going to have to be pot-grown again.
I plan on starting an herb garden soon... I don't have the slightest green thumb, so I am a bit nervous about it.
My mom is a master gardener... I don't know why that lovely gene missed me, but it did!
Have fun with your new land!
I have to say I enjoy looking at and photographing gardens more than maintaining my own but I do have quite a little container herb garden on my deck. I'd like to fill it out with a few more plants this spring. My biggest problem is that when we travel they always die on me. I hope you didn't get the snow that we have today... it may set the gardening back even more!
Hi Ash,
That sounds great, enjoy the gardening. It must actually be nice having a small contained and manageable patch to tend.
Won't you give some more details about it please? How far is it from your home? Can you go anytime? Who has access to it? Is it and honour system (i.e. you don't mess with/take my stuff and vice versa)? How much does it cost to get the land? How long do you keep it for? Is there any control over what pesticides are used etc?
From what I can see you can use it for flowers, vegies, pretty much whatever you want...? So could you plant a small lawn and put up a deck chair? LOL.
It sounds fascinating.
You're a brave woman to take this up on you...but it'll be great harvesting your our veg without any pesticides! I think you'll find the taste of your own produce better than anything you have tastes before....can't wait to see the results!
Hi Ash,
What a great picture of your handsome guy! It sure does look cold there.
I'm looking forward to seeing your garden. I just love planting and harvesting vegetables. Your boys will always have great memories of your gardening experiences.
Julianne
What a great view! You're a very "dapper" woman to take this project!
I had a volkstuin a couple of years back. It's great fun, but a lot of hard work :))
Thank goodness I have my garden right next to my house. I love gardening! It's a lot of work but very stress relieving and rewarding because you get to eat everything that you grow.
I like your blog! I'm Dutch, but used to live in America. Refreshing to see your view on Holland.
Are you perhaps keen on mowing lawns, too??? *hopeful look*
You are an inspiration, Ash!
Niek says we can have a volkstuin when I get into my herbology study. Till then, I shall live vicariously through yours. :)
February 7, 2007 5:51 PM