New to the allotment? Fearing the committee trawling around and pointing out that your plot is not up to scratch? Read on. I am on my first ever allotment journey and will travel with you through the year.

Onions in the ground has been my biggest accomplishment this week. Fun work to do with my little helper on Easter break.

Allotment time and work is supposed to be fun, nutritious, practical and therapeutic. I cry inside when I hear people giving it up because of time. Plant something easy! Don’t care about your neighbours beds being weed free. My theory is to eradicate weeds by growing other plants and vegetables where they have a tendency to take over. Well, time will show!

After several spells of snow and winter, Spring is upon us. Last weekend we could even see cherry trees blossom in the snow.  This time I believe the coin has turned and yesterday’s Spring equinox (20th March 2018) promises that we are going into the lighter, sunnier season.

I am also lucky to have my Tim Foster course work and book «Good Earth Gardening» by my side for advice. I have put down some broad beans as I was told they germinate better when it is cold. A fact I picked up from BBCs iconic Gardeners World. Another helpful place to find some tips about seasonal greenery work. I watch it from time to time on BBC IPlayer.

Bookshelf in the shed:

Today my main ambition was to put woodchip on top of some black plastic that was left on the ground around my blackcurrant bushes from the allotmentier before me on what is now my plot. I presume the black plastic was put there to keep weeds away, and I therefore decided to leave them in place, but they need covering up. For aesthetical reasons I will help myself generously to the free wood chip reservoir on our allotment site. I had to carry around fifteen of these boxes. My pink box revealed:

End result and I think it looks better. Fingers crossed it will last.

Surrounding my beautiful blackcurrant bushes. Let’s hope the committee notices and are happy 😃

I’m now on Gloucester Road #Bakersandco checking out their brunch, filter coffee (black, a must have for any Norwegian!) and reading Tim Foster’s book. A book review will come some time this year! But the coffee was too thin ☕️

Happy Easter from Bristol!