hello there

[beanie]

I'm living in Newport South wales and have just got my third allotment. Had to give up the last one because I moved from Cardiff to Newport and the first one I had while I was doing my A Levels.

I'm hoping to start work on this one next weekend and can't wait. This time I'm probably not going to try to grow so much but then again I will probably get carried away and try to grow outdoor cucumbers again!!

So - I'm 34 and was raised in Ireland on a self sufficient farm in the 70's before moving about a lot (Mostly in wales) and finally settling at the age of 12 near to Cardiff. I've lived in manchester and London and now live in the newest city in Wales. I'm a big glastonbury festival fan, like my books (Having worked in bookselling for 7 years in another life), have a dog and two cats and generally just live a calm life. I used to cycle a lot until I passed my test and now I hate myself for being a car-driver. Luckily my allotment is very close and I can walk.

anyhoo - hello to you all - I'll try to stick around and join in!

[Andy Hamilton]

Hi beanie

I bet it was hard having to give up your allotment(s). So you had an allotment from a really early age then (unless you did your alevels late) I wondered what the reaction was from the other people on the allotment?

I am off in a bit to put some work into my allotment, it is supposed to snow this weekend so if you were thinking of digging then perhaps it is not a good idea this weekend. Mind you the weather men have been known to be wrong remember the hurricanes on black Wednesday Outdoor cucumber I managed to grow one last year on a plant that the bloke on the next allotment gave me. It was about three inches long, a few others started off then dropped off. The courgettes grew like wild fire so not sure what I was doing wrong there.

I cycle/walk or get the bus every where, I have not yet succumbed to getting a car and think I would hate myself too if I got one. I think I will get a car when electric cars are more of a viable option.

I have been to Newport a few times and my mum was born in cardiff so I do know where you are on about, is a club called tj's still there it is near the train station?


anyway, good to have you board, look forward to reading some more of your posts. Certainly seems like you have a lot of experience that you can share.

[Wombat]

G'Day Beanie,

I am also a book fan, particularly on self sufficiency related subjects .

It is funny what the eye can miss, when I first read your post I missed the "port" and thought you said that you were from New south Wales . The Australian contingent on this forum is still depressingly small.

I for one would be interested in hearing about the Irish self sufficient farm and what you remember of it. What was grown, what on-farm processing was carried out etc.

Anyway, as Andy says, welcome to the site.

Nev

[beanie]

this is what the allotment looked like a few weeks back

[beanie]

then I did a bit of digging and it looked like this

[Wombat]

Wow, that's pretty impressive work...... my back is aching just looking at it!

Nev

[Andy Hamilton]

looks familar, I have been dong the same on my allotment. I am glad that spring is finaly here so I can start planting stuff.

[beanie]

Hi beanie

I bet it was hard having to give up your allotment(s). So you had an allotment from a really early age then (unless you did your alevels late) I wondered what the reaction was from the other people on the allotment?

I am off in a bit to put some work into my allotment, it is supposed to snow this weekend so if you were thinking of digging then perhaps it is not a good idea this weekend. Mind you the weather men have been known to be wrong remember the hurricanes on black Wednesday Outdoor cucumber I managed to grow one last year on a plant that the bloke on the next allotment gave me. It was about three inches long, a few others started off then dropped off. The courgettes grew like wild fire so not sure what I was doing wrong there.

I cycle/walk or get the bus every where, I have not yet succumbed to getting a car and think I would hate myself too if I got one. I think I will get a car when electric cars are more of a viable option.

I have been to Newport a few times and my mum was born in cardiff so I do know where you are on about, is a club called tj's still there it is near the train station?


anyway, good to have you board, look forward to reading some more of your posts. Certainly seems like you have a lot of experience that you can share.

Yeah - TJs is not too far from me! and quite near the train, though I am further away. I was lucky enough to be on a small site in penarth when I was 16-18 so I was pretty much able to get on with stuff without too many people thinking it was odd, all my school friends did though!

I'm 234 now - seems so long ago!

[beanie]

G'Day Beanie,

I am also a book fan, particularly on self sufficiency related subjects .

It is funny what the eye can miss, when I first read your post I missed the "port" and thought you said that you were from New south Wales . The Australian contingent on this forum is still depressingly small.

I for one would be interested in hearing about the Irish self sufficient farm and what you remember of it. What was grown, what on-farm processing was carried out etc.

Anyway, as Andy says, welcome to the site.

Nev

Here's a link to the site my dad set up about his farm (sadly he died in 2000) we kept the site going cos so many people visited to do Woofing (willing workers on organic farms) - it was only a small operation and he only had goats and a few birds but it was and is a haven for us all. We're trying to get a new thatched roof put on this summer, though finding people to sdo the work is difficult (Specially those who won't rip you off).

http://homepage.eircom.net/~slpwwoof

[diver]

hi Beanie, I too used to live on a farm in Ireland, in Fahn in Donegal, but moved to the UK as a kid. I am impressed by your Pictures as well as by your digging....I am currently spening all of my spare time digging couch grass out of my second plot. I wish I could take pics like you ..well I mean I wish I could understand my camera and my computer enough to post pics on here...anyway you will love the site, people are very friendly and helpful

[gardengirl]

Great pics of the allotment and I love the farm, beautiful place Donegal. I was brought up on a mixed farm in Tipperary, I lived in UK for awile and had 2 allotments. i was the only woman on them at the time and gardened organically, so raised a few eyebrows at the time. I take woofers from time to time and you get to meet some wonderful people through it.