The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: sueshells on April 30, 2012, 11:53:47 am

Title: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: sueshells on April 30, 2012, 11:53:47 am: Hi everyone - I'm Sue and I live near Buckingham. I have a wonderful Landshare allotment with two 8 x 6 greenhouses, a decent shed and plenty of land. Lots of pests too. Deer, rabbits, pheasants, pigeons, mice, butterflies - you name it, I have it so I am in a perpetual war against the critters. I also have a standpipe and, if it wasn't for this year's drought, as much free water as I need. The plot is gently sloping and on clay. It has been cultivated for many years but I think perhaps more has been taken out than has been put in as the soil level seems to have fallen. It is also surrounded by trees and hedges which quickly suck out the moisture leaving me with rock hard conditions. A huge plus is that the allotment is on a farm with a livery stable so I also have unlimited horse manure available. Just have to collect it and wait for it to rot down a bit. I also have a kitchen, a loo and a shower at my disposal so quite a luxury site in many ways and I am very lucky to have it. This is my second season on the site so I am still learning about it but I have worked in a walled kitchen garden and had other allotments. Would still classify myself as a novice, however!
Title: Re: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: Rosemary on April 30, 2012, 11:57:12 am: Hello, Sue and welcome from damp Carnoustie :wave:

Despite the wildlife, it sounds lke a great place you have there. I was going to say you can never have too much manure" but actually, we have ::)

Look forward to hearing more about your allotment. Nice to see Landshare working - not sure it's caught on up here, but I might be wrong.
Title: Re: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: Bionic on April 30, 2012, 01:03:19 pm: Welcome Sur,
It sounds as if you have a great set-up there.

Sally
Title: Re: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 30, 2012, 11:12:10 pm: :wave: HI, Sue, and welcome from soggy Shropshire.
Title: Re: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: lill on May 01, 2012, 01:58:21 pm: Hi Sue and welcome to the forum from Falkirk/Bathgate :wave: :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: chrismahon on May 01, 2012, 06:53:56 pm: Hi Sueshells and welcome to the forum from Staffordshire. We had land somewhat depleted when we bought it. Trace element Boron missing so root crops split; soon sorted with Vitax Q. We them put about 2 tons of rotten horse manure on. But Its not that beneficial. Wasn't until we started adding composted chicken poo that things really took off. And you only need a small amount to make a massive difference. In fact even composted for two years if the baby squashes hit a big lump of it they die. Those that survive go mad and we've had fantastic crops of Butternuts and also sweet corn. Just need to watch the p.h and add lime as chicken poo is very acidic.
Title: Re: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: Mammyshaz on May 02, 2012, 09:58:49 pm: Hello, :wave: and welcome from Durham.
Title: Re: Hello from North Bucks
Post by: Brijjy on May 11, 2012, 12:53:28 pm: Hello. Whereabouts are you? Up until 5 years ago I lived in Grendon Underwood and I used to work in Buckingham Tesco. We're now in Mid Wales.