Garden Update - one year ago versus now (Patreon)

This is what was keeping me busy while I was so quiet over summer!

It's been exactly a year since my mum and I got our first allotment patch. This little piece of land was full of tall grass and wild flower when we first arrived. We've still a long way to go, but we've just finished our first harvest and are already prepping beds for next year!

Mum has been thoroughly enjoying getting all artistic with her landscaping - training hedges and making natural archways - while I've been mostly in charge of the crop, prepping beds and keeping everything watered. So far we've had onions, garlic, carrots, lettuce, beans, peas, tomatoes, courgette, aubergine (zuccini and eggplant), various squashes, cabbage, potatoes... we've got some more cabbages, sprouts, leaks and squashes to come, and still have some lovely flowers just finishing their bloom.

We opted for the no-dig route, using cardboard and fresh compost to trample weeds and make space for veggies. It's worked brilliantly. Some spots still get overpowered by the invasive grass, and we also have quite a bit of knotweed to deal with, but for the most part it's been a large success. 

It's been a real adventure learning to tend the land and next year will be even better I'm sure.

We also have a beautiful green gauge plum tree on the plot, which I was snacking on through the end of the summer. I JUST missed my chance to harvest all the plums though as I went away to a festival just as the wasps and birds started to feast on them. Oops. Next time!

A favourite feature of mine is the labyrinth that my dad and I made from branches of a felled tree on the plot next door. Mum keeps the grass trimmed, and there is lots of mint growing throughout it, so walking the labyrinth always smells wonderful and fresh.

Special shoutout to my gorgeous nephew who has been helping out with the watering and harvesting too 😜

P.S. if anyone has any tips for friendly ways to deal with ants and woodlice (pill bugs), it'd be much appreciated hehe.