Chris’s allotment blog

Friday August 21st

I have had a letter from MVDC containing my allotment agreement. It’s going to cost me £36 per year (incredible value!) but I’m told the first year will be free as it was in a bit of a state when I took it on. There are assorted, quite reasonable rules – I can keep rabbits, hens or bees if I like, mustn’t allow annoying behaviour on my plot, must keep weeds to a minimum etc etc. My tenancy ceases if I die or become bankrupt. (I’m hoping to avoid both those conditions…) I think I can abide by all that so I signed on the dotted line and posted it back to the Chief Executive MVDC.

Latest news – I have new neighbours on the “other half” of the plot. They have been very busy and have planted a rosemary bush and some onions and cabbages (I think) where the ancient runner bean poles used to be – but I haven’t seen them at all, it seems the work is done at the dead of night – every time I go, more progress has been made by the “Stealth Diggers”. What will have happened when I next go?

Manure alert! Last night at my book club the conversation turned to manure (as it does) and Christine said she had a friend with horses who has an enormous heap of well-rotted, and it should be OK for me to go and collect some! I think I’ll use my husband’s car… – now where are my Marigolds?