It suddenly occurred to me at the beginning of last week that I have lost sight of the reason we moved to Shropshire in the first place, and that was to live in the countryside in a modest house with a huge garden. So that we could have an allotment on our doorstep and feed ourselves as much as possible.
And I remembered the times over ten years ago, the exciting times when we got our first allotment. Long standing Much Malarkey Manor readers will likely remember those times, too, as I documented them on my blog - first the allotment, then the little greenhouse, then the hens, then the bees, then the polytunnel and fruit cage. Remember the sausage machine, the hops, the Plague of Courgettes? The willow arch and its accompanying and hideous giant willow aphids? All that stuff myself and Himself Lord Malarkey did to move towards a little bit of self-sufficiency? I had a sudden thought, too, about the little Kentish cobnut tree I planted in the front garden of our old place in Maidstone and I don’t mind admitting that a lump of emotion caught in my throat at having to leave it behind.
Anyway, here we are in on the Three Counties Border, and yes, we’ve done a bit to continue the gardening adventure. We planted the hornbeam hedge in an attempt to make a sort of ‘walled garden’ space, and it is doing very well. Bits of it are taller than me now. And it is thickening up, too. The fruit cage is up, although it is fit to bursting with raspberries so will likely need expanding tout de suite. We’ve grown a few veg, but not many, in the two raised beds Andy built. Last year we grew nothing. The grape vine is rampant. The fruit trees are doing their fruity thing.
But it’s not how it should be. And a lot of that is down to lack of time and lack of greenhouse. I have time now though! Lots of time! And, on Saturday, we went out and ordered....
...a greenhouse! Ta dah!!
It’s 8.5 x 10.5 feet in size, so bigger than we’ve ever had before. It’s red cedar, has shelving and double sliding doors, a side vent and roof vents and it is a thing of beauty. It’s arriving in about 6 weeks, and has been enough of an incentive for me that I’ve been out and purchased seeds and potting compost and have felt that familiar thrill of getting back into growing stuff! It is time to start off the tomatoes and chilli peppers!
I have plans, too, to fill half of the top garden with raised beds so I can start a proper 4 year crop rotation, like we did in the allotment days. I’ve also started off another compost bin. I can also hear the humming of bees....gosh, I miss being a bee-keeper....
And I’ve started excavating the swathes of crocosmia that have taken over one of the beds in the middle garden because I want that bed to be taken over instead by swathes of roses. In fact, I might go out at the end of this week to purchase some roses in readiness. The middle garden is going to be a flower garden, a space for sitting and reading and entertaining. The top garden will be a working garden, productive, a place of busyness...
Oh yes...I can see it all now...
And I am glad to be back on this pathway again...
And I remembered the times over ten years ago, the exciting times when we got our first allotment. Long standing Much Malarkey Manor readers will likely remember those times, too, as I documented them on my blog - first the allotment, then the little greenhouse, then the hens, then the bees, then the polytunnel and fruit cage. Remember the sausage machine, the hops, the Plague of Courgettes? The willow arch and its accompanying and hideous giant willow aphids? All that stuff myself and Himself Lord Malarkey did to move towards a little bit of self-sufficiency? I had a sudden thought, too, about the little Kentish cobnut tree I planted in the front garden of our old place in Maidstone and I don’t mind admitting that a lump of emotion caught in my throat at having to leave it behind.
Anyway, here we are in on the Three Counties Border, and yes, we’ve done a bit to continue the gardening adventure. We planted the hornbeam hedge in an attempt to make a sort of ‘walled garden’ space, and it is doing very well. Bits of it are taller than me now. And it is thickening up, too. The fruit cage is up, although it is fit to bursting with raspberries so will likely need expanding tout de suite. We’ve grown a few veg, but not many, in the two raised beds Andy built. Last year we grew nothing. The grape vine is rampant. The fruit trees are doing their fruity thing.
But it’s not how it should be. And a lot of that is down to lack of time and lack of greenhouse. I have time now though! Lots of time! And, on Saturday, we went out and ordered....
...a greenhouse! Ta dah!!
It’s 8.5 x 10.5 feet in size, so bigger than we’ve ever had before. It’s red cedar, has shelving and double sliding doors, a side vent and roof vents and it is a thing of beauty. It’s arriving in about 6 weeks, and has been enough of an incentive for me that I’ve been out and purchased seeds and potting compost and have felt that familiar thrill of getting back into growing stuff! It is time to start off the tomatoes and chilli peppers!
I have plans, too, to fill half of the top garden with raised beds so I can start a proper 4 year crop rotation, like we did in the allotment days. I’ve also started off another compost bin. I can also hear the humming of bees....gosh, I miss being a bee-keeper....
And I’ve started excavating the swathes of crocosmia that have taken over one of the beds in the middle garden because I want that bed to be taken over instead by swathes of roses. In fact, I might go out at the end of this week to purchase some roses in readiness. The middle garden is going to be a flower garden, a space for sitting and reading and entertaining. The top garden will be a working garden, productive, a place of busyness...
Oh yes...I can see it all now...
And I am glad to be back on this pathway again...
Comments
KJ
Thank you, Vera! Time to get back to growing that food!
Right now North Texas is have lots and lots of rain. High water is standing everywhere. You inspire me to dig once this rain settles down.
I am really enjoying Clive & Min. Sundays are a favorite day to see the next installment.
Your Texan friend,
Deanna M.