tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130689062009-06-07T00:14:52.988+01:00To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds, and watch the renewal of life - this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do. - Charles Dudley WarnerJim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-18709409864963371992009-03-28T17:56:00.001Z2009-03-28T17:58:33.015Z

After the success of last years largest pumpkin competition our quest this year is to see who can grow the biggest marrow.Free seeds are now available either from Clive or the trading shed on Sunday mornings.The judging will take place at a social gathering on 20th September when marrow soup(yummy!!)will be available.Please bring along anything you may have made from marrow or squashes (jam,

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-38371877603162766262009-03-28T13:16:00.000Z2009-03-28T13:18:14.762Z

Hello everyone:We are very pleased to announce that Jack Dudley Swale of Spa Hill and the Spa Hill Organic Gardening Group will be talking on organic gardening on Saturday, May 9th at 3.00pm at the Forster Road Allotments Community House.Jack has much experience in this area; he says that "the secret is in the soil". There'll be lots of time for questions and it is free of charge. Coffee and tea

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-59533542681372830572009-03-28T13:08:00.002Z2009-03-28T13:13:01.715Z

Everybody is welcome to come along to the Forster Road allotments Seed Swap and Coffee morning. Bring a long any seeds that you no longer need or want, and add them to the "Seed Swap" table. Then have a rummage through the table to see if there is anything you fancy... you never know what you will find.Tea's, coffee's, cakes and maybe even bacon sandwiches will be available for the duration.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-82519705187747321172009-02-16T14:50:00.003Z2009-02-16T15:11:20.812Z

This is Simba our "Bengal" which is a cross between a domestic cat and a wild Asian Leopard Cat. Simba is three generations away from the wild cat but is a real softy though he has his "mad half hour moments"I don't know this persons name but rain,snow or shine he(or she)is always there.As it is now warming up the bees are beginning to be more active.As I took this picture I should really have

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-56022460744864421362009-02-16T08:58:00.002Z2009-02-16T09:19:36.165Z

We were really looking forward to Sunday to finally get some work done on the plot. When we arrived I discovered that I had a puncture and spent the next half hour changing the wheel,not a very good start to the day.The metal pole that Barb is holding I have been trying to remove for the last five years and yesterday finally succeeded as the ground was so wet. We are trying to level off the

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-37925025226972826852009-02-14T15:37:00.003Z2009-02-14T16:50:25.411Z

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.- Martin BuberNot much happening at the moment.I went to the allotments this morning just to top up the bird feeders and hang up a peanut ring that my grandchildren gave me.It was their birthdays this week my granddaughter Cassie was five and Rhys was nine.They were both born on February 11th 2000 and 2004.I went to the garden centre

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-42720244079152597902009-02-08T16:17:00.006Z2009-02-08T21:12:28.308Z

It took a supreme effort to get out of a warm bed this morning to go and man the trading shed. I really did not think that we would see anyone but when we arrived Mike was already underway in the site hall giving one of his bee keeping lessons to quite a few people. We did have a few visitors to the shed. Some to pay rents for the next year and I sold a few bags of John Innes and even some slug

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-53391535785438734512009-02-07T09:48:00.012Z2009-02-08T21:24:48.307Z

It is hard to believe that only a short while ago we were sitting here in the sun having our BBQ and sipping wine. I really do love our seasons even though I am itching to do some allotmenteering. It is our turn to man the trading shed tomorrow so hope we have a customer or two but if it stays as cold as it is I doubt it. "There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter.One

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-69441985212848852022009-02-03T09:20:00.004Z2009-02-03T13:45:06.668Z

This picture was taken from my kitchen window yesterday morning.I was unable to get my car out of the garage and as the trains and buses were not running I reluctantly? stayed at home.Barbara had already booked this week as holiday but as she works at a hospital was waiting for a phone call to ask her to go in but she wasn't needed.We would have liked to have visited the allotment to take

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-71001952836488733542009-01-25T13:14:00.003Z2009-01-25T13:37:23.188Z

We spent a very pleasant three hours on the plot yesterday.The weather was kind and we were able to catch up a bit on a number of jobs that had been neglected. I removed the bean canes and put on the compost heap what remained of our failed sprouts. I will give them one more try this year to see if I can get any bigger than marbles.I went to the potato fair today and just bought some Charlotte. I

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-42557280181153864052009-01-24T10:14:00.002Z2009-01-24T10:27:29.894Z

Belated happy new year.Well after all the trauma of last year Barbara and I are determined to have a productive and stress free 2009. We still have our two plots and Barbara has been elected onto our site committee with me.We are going to the plot this morning to do a bit of planning and tomorrow I am going to the potato fair at Peckham. They have people from The Rustic Mushroom Company there and

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-60390328624570782252008-05-07T15:22:00.002+01:002008-05-07T15:40:41.729+01:00

I really would like to thank everyone who has been so kind to us over the last few months. A special thank you to a lady called Margaret who was a complete stranger who I met in the cafe of our Sainsbury store the day before my mum's funeral. While Barbara was shopping I sat having a coffee not really wanting to have anything to do with anyone. Margaret asked me if I was OK and when I explained

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-1854836770647424322008-01-26T12:35:00.000Z2008-01-26T12:55:48.965Z

Really sorry for the gap between posts.My Mum passed away before Christmas so the last thing on my mind was my plot or blog.I am now just beginning to come to terms with our loss.I have planted a rose called "Remember me" on the plot which is the same peach colour that she loved.My mum 'Bet' also liked to feed the birds on her balcony so we have put a bird bath on the plot.I will start blogging

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-39955388549395235972007-09-04T14:43:00.000+01:002007-09-04T15:05:22.075+01:00

I was working at Sandown Park races on Saturday. While I was there I met a friend of mine who owns a few horses and she had one running that day.Unfortunately the horse was not placed but still managed to smile for the picture that I took after the race.I go racing once a year working for the same client and this was my 31st year.In all that time I have never had a bet (to much of a bad loser)

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-59132772448191482832007-08-27T08:28:00.000+01:002007-08-27T08:33:53.595+01:00

I do not think that this would pass the supermarket censor and make it to the shelves.It will however taste SO much better than those insipid,tasteless ones that they sell. Who cares that it is not straight?

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-44305418116217919622007-08-18T08:00:00.000+01:002007-08-18T08:08:34.431+01:00

The beast does produce a nice flower though.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-45246573946899659612007-08-17T11:59:00.000+01:002007-08-17T12:09:50.666+01:00

My favourite time on our site is early morning. I am probably a boring old fxxt but love to have the place to myself for a while. These are a few random pictures taken today.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-5799254569523289302007-08-16T20:17:00.000+01:002007-08-16T20:26:01.347+01:00

We have been really pleased with the Dahlias this year. We just really let them fend for themselves. The tubers are never dug up so stay in the ground over winter and I just give them a bit of liquid tomato feed every ten days or so. We are going to try adding some different colours next year.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-44404212226230457892007-08-16T18:06:00.000+01:002007-08-16T18:13:46.107+01:00

I went to the plot today to pick a few runner beans for tea. Each time that I thought I had picked them all I found more hiding. We have decided to make chutney with them.The old roller we found under all the undergrowth when we cleared the plot four years ago. Once upon a time it was some body's pride and joy.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-63525119020157209292007-08-16T13:34:00.000+01:002007-08-16T13:35:14.938+01:00

Whether you love them or hate them you can't deny how stunning a healthy fox looks.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-33622136411395700632007-08-15T08:40:00.000+01:002007-08-15T09:10:19.629+01:00

I did not feel to well at the weekend so had to make quite an effort to go to the allotment. We intended to stay a short while just to tidy up a bit but ended up staying three hours.We managed to harvest a fair bit as you can see in the picture. The jar is plum jam which our neighbour Ann kindly gave us from plums which we gave her last week. This is the second jar she has given us, the first

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-91350657969848474032007-08-05T08:19:00.000+01:002007-08-05T08:35:36.495+01:00

After all the rotten weather of late we took advantage of a beautiful day yesterday. The foxes turned up and were just lying in the shade among the trees.We spent a lazy few hours just pottering and harvested, carrots,runner beans,beetroot,chard,turnips,courgettes and swede.We used one of the courgettes straight from the plot and Barbara cooked us brunch. There is nothing quite like eating

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-49021081092300301952007-07-29T16:37:00.000+01:002007-07-29T16:41:28.113+01:00

Sunday extra pictures

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-4432441581426277762007-07-29T16:27:00.000+01:002007-07-29T16:37:25.943+01:00

Today on the allotment.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13068906.post-28646383378227186122007-07-29T15:38:00.000+01:002007-07-29T15:41:45.395+01:00

This is what we harvested today.

Jim and Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819018025505516019noreply@blogger.com0