Over the last 6 years I have cleared an allotment plot over grown with brambles, couch and bindweed. The clay soil alternates between too wet to work or has cracks you can put your arm in. Because the plots are difficult to work, many are abandoned. This in turn means annual weed seeds. Logic says give up but having put in so much work I am determined not to do so (and I do like strimming and rotavating great exercise). I like having winter veg not an empty winter plot and read a lot about growing. So I suppose it was no surprise during last summers holiday that Amazon/Kindle should suggest Charles winter veg book. The Kindle price was reasonable and as there is little to do in West Flanders Belgium except drink their beers and eat wonderful food, I sat and read it.
I didn’t learn too much about how to put a seed in a pot but the stunning clarity and simplicity of the No Dig concept lit the brightest of lights in my brain. Here was the answer that would save me time increase soil fertility and not have the cost incurred by the raised bed brigade who always seem to be buying timber and bags of compost from B&Q ,Homebase or Wilkinsons.
The elements of the plan quickly fell into place
My plot is alongside the main “drag” through the site.so compost /manure could be easily delivered. A local stables delivers manure for free but it is of poor quality. A google search found a classy equestrian centre a few miles away that only uses matting so their waste is well rotted and pure and free. Then my local gym said I could take away any cardboard and pallets for nothing.so mulch material, compost heaps and the compost itself was sorted
Did I want bags of horse dung in my car? No!
So have tow bar fitted! Local mobile tow bar installer quoted £300. Buy the metal on eBay and fitted by local auto electrician. £150 the lot. My new trailer was delivered yesterday. Seeds were ordered last week and the first lot have been delivered (my order to Real Seeds won’t come until after Xmas).
It is now late afternoon on Christmas Eve and I sit here typing( iPad on lap and Belgian beer in hand) looking forward to no rotavating, no digging and an enjoyable harvest.
A Happy and Peaceful Christmas to all and a Wonderful New Year
