So apparently those of us who live in the gardenless-grid known as the North Laine have an opportunity to own a little bit of green. I’m talking about allotments and I had no idea that these were available until just now when I stumbled upon their blog. (Even allotments have blogs nowadays, didn’t you know?) I’m always moaning to Stephen about how much I’d love to have a garden so that I can grow my own herbs and veggies and now I just may have that chance! Of course, I have no idea what it entails and thus far I have difficulty keeping a mere basil plant alive BUT I do know that it means I can buy a supercute pair of gardening gloves and a fab pair of wellies, along with a funky gardening hat, preferably from Velvet.
The info on the council’s website says that you can indeed share an allotment. I must get on to my Girl Wonder and see if she’d like to foster a partnership of growing luscious tomatoes and gorgeous bell peppers. I definitely think the wellies will win her over! A full plot is only £34 a year and just think how much money you’d save NOT having to buy your veggies from Le Tesco. Doesn’t get more local than this, does it?
Now, just need to check and see if the bus will get me there….
Fred says:
I don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm, but you’ve yet to meet the Brighton Snails. They eat everything, except tomatoes (in gro-bags) and rocket, and will generally leave anything from the onion family alone! I have a sad stalk that was once a healthy pepper sapling poking though the earth and last year my french beans and runners didn’t even make it though the night. I didn’t even try this year! Last ploy was to build a pond and encourage frogs to eat the blighters! If someone could train snails to eat weeds instead of human food, they’d make a fortune!
fred
July 12th, 2006 at 10:50 am
feyrtys says:
Well, it sounds like a great idea on paper, but like fred said, it can be very difficult. Damn you, snails! I can eat you, i’m french, you know that? ^^
It would be so nice though… I don’t know anything about gardening, really, really nothing, despite having been forced to help my parents when they had a community garden outside our town. I was a teenager, that’s why… I would love to grow my own tomatoe, potatoe and herbs. It’s not easy, especially when you have to water all your crops, but we’re in England, should be easier than in the south of France ^^.
We have to think about it and actually come up with a budget, cause the equipment might not be cheap. Money and time… And war to the snails!!
July 12th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
Fred says:
I think you’re safe with tomatoes (in gro-bags) and some herbs (snails love basil and coriander); potatoes can be grown in a dustbin or barrel — you just keep earthing them up as they grow and as they’re underground should be fairly snail-proof! It’s all the tender green things that aren’t safe!
fred
July 14th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Brightons Best Pubs says:
Thanks for linking to my fledgling blog. Its not even been advertised to the Tenantry Down Allotment owners yet, so I have no idea how you stumbled upon it!
Fancy linking to my other blog about Brighton’s Best Pubs?
As for the comments about growing things and snails eating them, people should check out the allotments - some are stunningly successful… unfortunately mine is not one of those!
August 23rd, 2006 at 9:46 am