Maybe the clearing up of the RUBBISH( plastic, clothes, cans or bottles etc) the council should help.Since you have limited runs for this type of stuff.Bring this type of matter to the council to see if they can at least help you and others who have this problem with new plots .They are not giving you all the plot for free. Never know until you ask or they can at least consider this for the future.
If the council thing doesn't work put into smaller bags and use public waste bins we pay for them through our council tax . incidentally I asked our council to clear the cycle path next to our allotment and they did it
Keep the work manageable by keeping a few trees or bushes in your wildlife area? Everyone seems to love birds and put feeders everywhere but forget they need a place to nest and rest and shelter too. Also, how extraordinary would it be to have the fox’s den on your own plot!! I’ve had a den in my little garden under the conifers and watched the cubs play for weeks a few summers back. It was amazing! Like living in a proper forest 😊
Lovely new plot ❤ Id probably keep feeding Rocky as he’s looking a bit thin 😢 Maybe get some small power tools, make your job so much easier ❤ Looking forward to the planner ❤
You are so funny Emma! I love watching you. You could do with someone with a small chain saw to chop all you wood up and make a hedgehog hotel. Ring the council and tell them what you have found on the plot and can they please collect the rubbish you have cleared! If you don’t ask you don’t get 😊not sure how you get rid of all those brambles. Flame thrower?!🔥🔥🔥
Nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned rant Emma, it's what makes your channel so popular. As for the wheelbarrow, its a proper builders barrow and still in full working order so I would continue to use it . The holes don't really matter when you're just wheeling stuff around the allotment.. Keep all the long branches for bean poles and the twigs for peas . Use the rotten stuff to fill the bottom of raised beds as a form of hugelkultr.
I like the idea of a second larger "sit in" shed, that's what I did too. I had a small apex shed, which I cleaned out and now use for all tools? Cardboard and bed plastic covers go into a small metal shed already down the far end. I sacrificed a large bed area at the front of my massive plot, built a big deck and then put a large tall barn style shed on that, which has some plot stuff in like feeds, buckets, string, labels etc but is really for sitting in on cold or wet days. It's got a radio, a biscuit tin, two rocking chairs, a two ring gas hob and a beautiful tall Victorian paraffin heater in for warmth!! Works very well indeed...one's she shed!! With the deck area being bigger than the she shed, I can sit out on the front of it in the sun AND get water butts and off ground carrot growing bags down the side bits! My proper seating area is down the far end by the greenhouse! It's such fun planning where everything will go! I'd keep one of your central trees and put one of those full circle benches around it? Be such a pretty feature by your pond! Looking forward to seeing you progress with the new plot! Marvellous work, I've been following you for ages now, you inspire me! ❤️
I'd keep that tree, chop the truck it up into 2 inch long pieces and put them at the base of one of your new raised beds on your new plot. Then use the smaller branches and twigs on top - hugelkultur style. Ask someone to borrow an electric saw if possible.
Savoy cabbage is lovely. I like to cook it simply - chop it into chunks, blanch it in salted boiling water for a couple of minutes, drain well then fry in butter for a few minutes with lots of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Can also be really nice just quartered then brushed with butter and roasted.
Emma get yourself some good size loppers, that looks like hazel so those lovely long branches will make great bean poles and other structures. Loo them at the lengths you want and store vertically until needed.
If you wish to have a wildlife area you should make it adjacent to a boundary rather than central, possiblly under one of the trees or a hedgerow.Wildlife does like a certain amount of cover and please dont disturb the fox burrow.
I can’t believe how much you did in such a short time!! Power-woman! You inspire me to start and do the big projects and hard work at my plot 💪 The pumpkin-arch is a fantastic idea!! And you can make a lounge-set from the pallets!!
I think you need a tonne bag that you can collect all the rubbish in and then can take it to the tip once it’s full or filled enough. It’ll make it easier to clean up the space and see instant results too. I wish you were closer (West Midlands) because I’d come give you a hand clearing the rubbish and my other half is a tree surgeon so could help clear the overgrown stuff, shred it and give you wood chip from it all.
Wow, looks great! 🦊 I hope you are able to leave a space for the fox. Doesn't seem too pesky and a joy to see. Although i do worry for Rocky when the fox is around. 💕
Our local fox (rural) is terrified of our elderly Tom cat!Previously we had a foxy visitor who rubbed along nicely with both cats. I think foxes prefer prey with less fight in them. Cats claws are sharp and they can wield them with a lot of force, if cornered
Are you allowed to burn the tree branches in a firepit? You could then use the pot ash in your garden beds. It would reduce all that dead wood to a very helpful product.
Great update Emma. I would use the wheelbarrow , leave it rusty and plant herbs or flowers in it. Can’t help wondering if you could do with a few more tools, such as loppers for the thicker branches! What were the apples like, they look lovely?
Personally would grow potatoes and pumpkins, as lots of pumpkin leaves will cover the soil and reduce the light for weeds, potatoes will help break the soil in your new beds.
Wwwwooooooo.way to go Emma. getting that hard work done. :) for your chard leaves, I finely shred mine and then sautee in garlic, butter and onion, or do them with a bechamel cheesy sauce. Ive also finely shredded them and added to dumplings or soups. nom nom nom.
Our dump runs are on bank holiday. I'm trying to squeeze in one more before the end of the season. I'm like you dont drive. Thankfully my plot is 10 minutes away from home. Fantastic job emma! X
You are doing a great job!! What a lot of work but I know you'll conquer the new plot! *EMMA* you need to buy a "21" Heavy Duty Bow Saw Tree Wood Branch Log Garden Bush Cutting Sharpe Blade" from B & Q. It's 7 quid but will make cutting up those branches WAAAAY faster and easier. A regular saw is just not going to do the job. With so much to do you need to conserve your energy and your body. Efficient tools are a BIG help! Cheers from Oz!!
Looks like the trees between your two plots are hazels which means you can grow your own bean poles/supports by coppiceing them. Which will also reduce how much shade they cause. We deliberately planted them on ours so we could do just that, and we get the bonus of a Hazelnut crop. It would take a bit of effort to do the initial cutting ie taking them back yo ground level as they have got very thick but you are clearly up for the challenge and you'd only need to do it once as for bean poles you only let them get to an inch thick which you can easily cut with good loppers.
Great work, I like it when you show a bit of both plots in the video, I think the wheelbarrow would look good as it is with wild flowers in it, the rustic natural look, and then if you decide you don’t like it you can always paint it later when you’ve done the other jobs. Ground sheet is also good to cover your compost pile with, stops it getting too wet and keeps the heat in so it composts quicker. I can’t believe you only get a limited number of tip runs, we can do as many as we like as long as it’s personal waste and not commercial xx
That rusty old wheelbarrow would look great in the condition it’s in planted up with some tall flowers like rudbeckia Sahara. I’ve seen this done on Zoe Woodward’s channel and it looks amazing. Deb
Another great update Emma. Love seeing your progress. Using the wheelbarrow as a feature is a great idea. I would leave it all rusty and rustic :) A great harvest too...I have just been offered a plot, but we aren't allowed on it until November 1st and I am so impatient to start tidying it up. For now I am enjoying watching all of your new and older videos.
I really admire your hard work on the new plot, well done for everything you're achieving! Pity it's not half term then the kids could get stuck in and help! Great that the black ground covering reaches so far, it'll make it so much easier to clear the site. Keep it up Emma!!
Just seen lots of comments about the wildlife and them trees in the middle of your plots would make a great place to put bird boxes and I know it’s abit expensive but a trail camera set up in the trees facing the fox den to see if it is active and watch to see what it or they bring home 😂
Also bird boxes could be made out of the wooden pallets or could be used for fencing as bug hotel might encourage more snails and slugs and woodlice to eat your plants 😂
Emma you are doing such an Amazing job clearing your new Allotment. Its damn hard work that part of working an Allotment. I'd leave the wheelbarrow and plant with flowers. Emma why don't you add a link so your watchers can make a donation to help with your Allotment, you could put the money towards some new tools, Garden fork, and I can recommend the mini handheld chainsaw for cutting back all your branches & twigs etc. I'd deffinitly donate to your channel, you are giving your time & passing ideas info onto us for free. It's everyone's choice to donate or not. Think about it, everyone else I watch has links, I've donated to help them out when they've taken the time to answer questions from me.. Your such an inspiration to others to get stuck in. Thanks Emma. X
Wow! I can't believe how much you have accomplished in such a short time! I'm finding your work on the new plot to be inspirational for my own back garden. We've had such odd weather where I live, some of my plants don't seem to know if they should be coming or going. So when I find myself unable to do one thing on my to do list, I just remind myself that I can find something else to do, and it's all progress. Can't wait to see the next installment. Question - is it safe to poke into a fox's den?
I'm a fairly new plot-holder (end of July/beginning of August). I have a lot of health issues and disabilities, so it's HARD dealing with my overgrown plot but I'm determined! Your videos are so inspiring and you are a joy to watch. I thought you'd like to know that I now have a specific 'spider stick'. 😂
Amazing work Emma! So excited for you with all your finds on your new allotment. You have done trojan work already. Love your videos. Thanks for sharing.
My allotment had lots of rubbish, glass, doors and a few other things i bagged it all up put it at my door and called the council they came in van and took it away.
You have done so much and I remember how back breaking it is. My first plot is flat but second plot next to it is on a slope and needed so much clearing. It was very physical work every day. Enjoy your well deserved day of rest if you can.
I hope you use that old wheelbarrow as a feature, it has a lovely shape. Hope your arm feels better soon. Can’t wait to see what the fox has in the den.😮
Little and often a day off is a good idea also if you need soil on your beds on old plot move soil from the bag things on new plot to top up your beds might b a good idea to
I just discovered your channel and even though you are on the other side of the world, I know I can learn so much from you. Spring has just started here in Aotearoa.
Perhaps the pallets can be used as a compost bin, by making a box😊 I found another plot holder whom has just gotten his neibours allotment plot like you Emma, I think his name is Mike.😊
