A Trip to Godalming

Godalming is a little Surrey town I used to visit every weekend with my family. We'd potter around the independent shops (my particular favourite was the dolls house shop!) then we'd buy crumbly cheese twists from the bakers and sit and eat them by the River Wey - really lovely, happy memories! So this week my Mum and I decided to take our first proper trip there in years, and found it to be a perfect place to stroll with Mia too! It was a very overcast humid day so we took our time wandering around in the "fresh" air, I wish it would either be sunny or rain, I can't bear this in-between weather!

We walked along the river and found it to be very overgrown compared to how it was before, I understand this encourages wildlife and wild plants but you can't clearly see the river anymore! There are lots of benches to sit and picnic, and if you are walking along that way I recommend a visit to the memorial to Jack Phillips, the brave local Chief Wire Telegraphist who died at his post on the Titanic. There are also these jolly little allotments which I always love to stop and stare at, the British flag was lacking breeze but it still made me smile! There were gorgeous proud Hollyhocks, a sea of healthy Nasturtiums, beans peas and squashes. All the plots were very well looked after, all in the shadow of the riverside Willow trees and the beautiful Godalming church, what a perfect place to have a little vegetable patch!

I need to pop back again soon because there are some wonderful new shops I didn't get a chance to explore - I spotted a new doggie emporium being set up which i will just HAVE to pop in and spoil Mia in, what a shame! We had lunch at dog friendly Cafe Mila which does a great selection of healthy and a little-bit-naughty treats and meals, we sat outside and people watched over our coffee, perfect! We will back soon!

Katie

National Gardening Week - Looking Back At The Allotment

Our first autumn at the allotment

Happy Easter everyone! I just have time to write this before I spring into action prepping the lamb for the family dinner, what are you choosing to cook?

Like many green fingered people this week, I tuned into The Big Allotment Challenge on BBC2. I must say, on first watching I did feel it was more 'The Great Country Show Challenge' what with emphasis on jam making (from suspiciously out of season fruit? Hmmmm) and a specific flower arranging brief, not exactly what I was expecting! 

It seems i'm not alone when I say the format seemed rushed and far too stylised and simple, after all, allotments need so much of our time and attention, instead they were given an empty plot with brand new top soil. I wanted them to toil over that soil to get results in the first episode, keep it realistic and back-breaking! Our family allotment had brambles and nettles taller than we were, it took a lot of energy to improve it, and now we appreciate our organised plot all the more.

I also found the contestants lacking the camaraderie and banter of those on Bake Off, and I was disappointed the under 30's weren't represented. I did recognise Michelle from Allotment Wars as a contestant, read my 'Grumpy Gardeners' post from that show HERE.

There are 350,000 allotments in Britain, which is a good number considering the demands of hectic modern society, but that still leaves plenty of people who still buy their perfectly even sized vegetables in plastic. One particular irk for me was the radish judging, where taste didn't even come into the judging and only their uniformity and appearance was taken into account. I know these are the traditional rules of allotment shows, but when you have the responsibility of reaching non-allotmenteers on the subject, you need to be putting more effort into the cause for real vegetables! Some critics have said 'The series is basically an allegory for man kinds forlorn impotence in the face of Mother Nature's raging howl' - I think you'll find thats gardening as a whole, and there hasn't been nearly enough fighting against the elements yet, a droopy sweet pea is so far the extent of the drama! (Oh and when they put the sweet peas with lillies in the bouquet?? The horror!)

I thought I'd revisit some photographs from the first year of our Allotment to try and show the real side of taking on a plot, when you re-use and recycle at all times, wage war on rabbits and deers eating your greens, learn little tips&tricks from your plot neighbours over the fence and most importantly, put your blood, sweat and tears into that soil! I have such strong belief that gardening and allotments are effective therapeutic mediums and that everyone should be give a chance to be involved and benefit, so for that reason this programme is great for reaching a wider audience on the matter. If local councils could try and ensure the allotments are available for those inspired to take up the spade after watching, that would be a winning outcome for all!

All I would say is sometimes the bounty is fruitful and you feel a complete expert, other times your seeds are eaten by birds and mice within hours. Sometimes your first attempts at a vegetable feeds you summer-long, other times an old favourite lets you down for reasons you can't fathom. But it's our time to try and work alongside mother nature for the greater good, and very satisfying for the soul it is too!

Lets see how the rest of the show plays out, I only hope someone actually eats a fresh vegetable at some point! If you watched it, do let me know what you think, I could just be a grumpy gardener! Hope you have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

Katie

Allotment Wars - Are Gardeners Really THAT Grumpy?!

Somethings stirring amongst the sheds....plotting amongst the parsnips...bickering amongst the beans...

There's been much discussion amongst allotmenteers recently over the BBC program 'Allotment Wars' that was broadcast on the 22nd of January. Many seem very upset that gardening is being represented in such a negative and competitive manner, but I argue there's something to be learnt from the darker side, why should we pretend it's all 'The Good Life'?

This programme brought us several examples of garden warfare: weed killer deliberately put in water supplies, greenhouse arson, carrot theft, plot vigilante armies, snail and slug plagues, tea&biscuit burglars and two neighbours who really shouldn't be trusted to handle sharp tools within range of each others throats!

Despite such traumas, I didn't think the programme did any harm to the reputation of the green-fingered. One of the main reasons why I got interested in gardening in the first place was due to the quintessential British eccentricity that follows it! My family don't escape this brand, but we celebrate it! Trust me, I have inherited 5 'Man Sheds' - I know what lies beneath!
The world is full of different (and difficult!) 'characters', why should allotments be an exception? Personally, the bus is my prime position to observe crazy human behaviour, that beats the allotment every time! Of course allotments have always been prime locations for outsider-crime, those who stupidly think power tools are kept on site to steal, or who just enjoy smashing things, or think nothing of helping themselves to crops like they're in the Co-op. The darker side of the programme was the suggestion that fellow-plot holders were responsible for such deeds as burning down a greenhouse full of crops, or stealing vegetables days before the judging. As one gentleman on the programme states: "I'd tar and feather 'em".

I have met a variety of people in the world of gardening, and being a woman in her early 20s (and often wearing dog-print-wellingtons) I might have had my fair share of remarks and speculations, even being mistaken for an allotment intruder on one memorable occasion! But lets focus on the most important factor, we're all fighting the same battle - the chance to prosper and live in harmony with nature! Isn't that a lovely, attractive prospect rather than one of constant scrutiny and stress?
We are so proud to talk about our  WW2 approach to the 'Dig For Victory' campaign, and how we kept the countries supplies running in the face of such trauma, creating allotments from bomb sites and planting potatoes in the hedgerows. It would seem that now we aren't fully dependant on our personal crops to survive, we seem to be losing that sense of unity for the land we culture together. Gardening is a constant battle, but it shouldn't be with each other.

The image of allotments providing a sanctuary for men to escape their wives IS still a prominent stereotype of gardeners, but we still haven't learned to laugh at it. Is the vision of an old boy in a hand-knitted jumper grasping a thermos and a cheese sandwich really so terrible? Or is it actually a celebration of our beloved traditions?
They stated that 50% of allotments are now held by women, so we can relax in the knowledge that women can rule the plot too! I appreciated that in Allotment Wars they showed a woman's shed of escapism, courtesy of Michelle and her beyond girlie cupcake-themed grotto ( But I bet plenty were snorting at her scented candles and polkadots, so it might not have been the best example.) With fake nails that long and sparkly I have no idea how she turns over the compost heap, but she certainly puts the effort into that shed, shame someone was intent on spoiling it for her! In this modern world of stress and constant technological bombardment, I sincerely wish that many future generations will be escaping to their sheds for decades to come!

Any competition has the potential to turn even the most well-meaning into adrenaline fuelled prize-addicts, no point pretending allotment shows are different! Of course it should all just be enjoyable and a celebration of everyones hard work, but we don't often allow ourselves to just indulge in fun - better make it a fight to the death instead!

I always find the judges at shows the most amusing feature, some rarely raise a smile, just give the occasional raise of an eyebrow as they prod a slightly under-proved parsnip. But it's no different to the wonderful ladies of the WI and their famous victoria sponge battles! Come on, can't we admit that it's all a hoot? Celebrate these very British quirks, and don't be sensitive when others join in!

The scene where an allotment committee actually locked a tenant inside the facility and called the police due to unpaid rent was utterly farcical, and I can't understand how he remained so polite, although one could argue he was purposely playing victim to the camera, two sides of every story! No matter what the details, it's true that people with time on their hands and a certain level of authority can turn into ruthless vigilantes, I bet we all know some local organisation where the committee are the key off-putting factor! I imagine many PTA and Neighbourhood Watch meetings up and down the UK are no different *shudder*.

Maybe 'Allotment Wars' should have placed more emphasis on the benefits of what gardening brings us, but it was shown at gone 10pm - they wanted some drama! It was intended to be lighthearted, I think they just wanted the silly beggars to have a nice cup of tea together and forget about all that silliness. Or if that wasn't an option, have a duel with their prize winning carrots!
It's all too easy to project the stresses from home or work onto our hobbies, but horticulture is a very effective therapy, one of the most beneficial activities we can do...IF we give it a bloomin' chance to work it's magic, we should be the happiest people of all!

The allotment trend has been growing for a good few years now, the waiting lists are still packed with those demanding a piece of the action, so I don't really think that slapping on the stereotypes for another term would affect that. I just want to mention, the cream of the crop, the lovely Monty Don himself admits on his Twitter "Sorry, but I do not answer horticultural questions via Twitter" - is it me, or could this suggest even the Mr Darcy of the BBC gardening clan could be a closet grump? Monty, I would only love you more if that's true.

Gardening hasn't been this attractive to society in decades, those who have been working hard at it for years must be willing to accept that there will always be an influx of novices and hobbyists! The odd friendly bit of advice over the fence every now and again is priceless, and of course you can have a secret chuckle when they make a faux-pas, just don't revel in it! If people aren't looking after their plots, they will be put back on the market, and those who have taken it to their hearts long ago will still be ploughing on as usual! I think the grumpiness is just inherited after years of battling against mother nature and our own human errors. The way I like to think of it: I bet even the most stoney-faced gardener will give a little smile to the plucky Robin who perches on the spade to watch him work.

I would love to hear any of your own views on the matter! And yes, of course I'm a grumpy gardener! But I hope in this post I've put it to good use.

Thank you for reading, as always!

Katie

Autumn in the garden

Eugène Samuel Grasset "La Belle Jardinière Octobre" 1896

Can I just mention again, how much I love this time of year? The family and I have been clearing the lower part of the garden to make room for a new greenhouse - hard work, but I know it'll look fantastic by November. It's amazing how plants adapt to whatever strange environment they find themselves in, I have learnt how to identify weeds, they're the ones that hang on for dear life when you try to pull them up! The food harvest has slowed down now, I managed to get one pear off the tree (no luck with apples this year) and the blackberries keep coming, but the real winners are the green beans - we'll be eating them until Christmas!

Otherwise I've been working on some autumnal features, such as using the old water pump (above) and of course, the pumpkin took pride of place within the beautiful Virginia Creeper which has gone wild this year, but I can't bear to cut it back yet even though the leaves have nearly all dropped now.

I hope you have spent your week with mugs of steaming tea, clicking the thermostat up in the evenings, and being on the edge of your seat for The Great British Bake Off! I know I have! Here are the two garden-related books i'l be settling down with over the next week! In my opinion, you can NEVER go wrong with Monty Don, I'm sure you agree!

Thanks for reading! Keep cosy!

Katie

Summer in the Garden

Due to recent events, I haven't been able to give my plot and our garden the attention it deserves. The lawn did turn into a meadow for a few weeks, and all the radishes and lettuces bolted to the sky, so I've had to replant those, or suffer very dull salads for the rest of the season!

I started by sorting out the potting area, which needs some TLC! My dad built the tables from left over planks balanced on kettle/oil drums so it's very thrifty! I removed all the weeds/dried out sticks and discovered we actually have a great stash of pots and other vessels, even old medicine bottles!

I've been searching for inspiration for this particular area online (mostly on Pinterest - click and see for yourself) but often the examples are so over styled, frilly and unpractical - like too much 'womens gardening' accessories these days, 'Shabby Chic' still reigns supreme - waaaaah!

I'm going to take a leaf out of Alys Fowler's "The Thrifty Gardener" book instead. Fantastic practical AND creative approach to getting your garden into shape, and she doesn't have to use bunting and colour-coordinated wellington boots to feel satisfied with her efforts, hallelujah! If you haven't yet picked up one of Alys's books, I cannot recommend them highly enough, however, her Twitter feed also provides great tips&hints, so get following!

Meanwhile, our bean crop has been perking up! Our 'Olympic Highjump' frame is working well, and the straight frame is full up too, sadly black fly have attacked half so I'm heading out with soapy water tomorrow, bye bye bugs!

Flower-wise, I have been slacking...apart from my still-growing sunflower, the only success story are the cornflowers, but they are a favourite of mine anyway! That vivid blue is rare to find in the natural world, i never get fed up with it! My chamomile plant is lurking under there somewhere too...

Mr Owl had to make a reappearance to try and deter some pests...very regal isn't he? Slightly wonky angle makes him slightly more endearing, which could work against him! And I am the proud owner of 3 baby squashes, we'll see what they actually turn into, they were from a mixed seed packet from Lidl!

Carrots and swedes both APPEAR to be well but who know what lurk beneath that soil (ever the optimist eh?)


And finally, our first attempt at growing potatoes seems to have been successful (although the taste-test still needs to confirm!). We grew the New Potatoes and Red Roosters in old compost bags, with well-drained pots in the bottom so they weren't getting too soggy! A few dodgy ones, but not because of blight...just because I ignored them for a while! It was very satisfying pulling them out from the soil, each one felt like a prize! I MADE THOSE!

As i know from experience, when things get tough, keep busy, keep productive. All the work on my Website came from trying times, so i know the answer for me! Gardening, blogging and reading.

Thanks popping by, as always!

Katie