A lot of work to do.......

Originally, I did want to put my tunnel on the opposite side of the plot, for the reasons about light that you have pointed out, but didn't want to upset my neighbouring plot holder by cutting their light out, though seeing what they are (or aren't) growing, I may just put the tunnel that side anyway.

A little update of what I have done today (very little to be honest), and I haven't been over at all this week due to it raining heavily at the times I could get over ther.

Though, what I have done today, has made it look a lot clearer, as I have now removed the mound of junk completely, which was at the front of the plot.










Also, whilst over there today, I met a really really friendly plot holder who has said she will sort me out some Chilli seeds, as she has a lot.

My next plan is to concentrate on the area I am going to set up the tunnel on, as I need that up to start getting the seeds going.... So I feel a real push coming on in the next week or so.

 

It's making me sweat and get out of breath just looking at what you've done so far!!!

 

Yes, going to site it close to the shed, I was also thinking of getting some old slabs or something (could even use old carpet, which I have already on the plot) and putting a kind of 'Pergola' to the right of the shed (as viewed from the pics above) , this would allow me an area that won't be in direct rain but will allow a little shelter if needed. All using recycled/free material (I have loads of lengths of 3x3 timber (old garage door frames ), which would serve as the base for the structure.
Then, the polytunnel would be between the pergola type structure and the front of the site.

By having the covered area, wouldn't mean I am losing any growing space, as I could, if I wanted, still plant directly into the ground, If I used slabs, I could just remove 1 or 2 ......... Though for the slabs, it is the logistics of getting them to the plot from the main gate.

To give you an idea of its position in relation to the parking (my plot is almost dead centre with 2 Blue Tarpaulins..... Zoom out until you can see the car park next to the A1159 (i think you have to zoom out 3 times and move the screen to get the whole allotment into 1 screen)

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=southend on sea&ll=51.555523,0.730006&spn=0.000547,0.001616&safe=off&hnear=Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom&gl=uk&t=h&z=20

Looking at the scale, it is approximately a 300-350m walk from the car park

It really hasn't taken much 'time' to get it to this stage...... The time is taken in ferrying to and from the car park..... Hence the piles building up, I ended up carrying out a Jumbo bag (a builders 1 ton bag) of green waste today.... I was sweating after that

Thank you

 

You've got it in one.

I could have a compost heap (which gets rid of most), but at this stage, I want to start afresh and get it laid out as I want..... I'll find space for compost bins later, it is suggested that people take the weeds with them and either go to the tip (my local tip wont let me in, in my work van !!) or pay for the council green wheelie bin service and put your green waste in there.

My way, is taking the waste to my fathers, where he has bonfires and he burns the waste for me.

The only time that bonfires are allowed on site is bonfire night ...... No good for me at the moment

 

Nathan, in our part of Essex the County Council provide a mobile garden waste lorry (a normal big rubbish compactor lorry) for the villages every Sunday from April to November. Although it's no good for you at this time of year it may be worth checking if it does a circuit in the villages near you. People in all sorts of vehicles use it round here.

Our lorry spends about an hour in each village and the times are printed in our village magazine.

 

^ unfortunately not the case here, Southend Council do have a compactor lorry which do the rounds, but you have to pay a yearly charge for the pleasure of them picking your garden waste up (I believe £40 per year, per bin), and then you have to buy your bin in the first place.

My neighbour does a little gardening and garden clearance, and sometimes he has room in his bin and asks if we would like to top his bin up, and though this is nice, I don't go round to him asking if I can get rid of my rubbish in his bin, it is no effort for me to drop the waste at my fathers if I'm honest, as I have a few of those 1 ton bags, so leave 1 with him and use another on a rotation.

The worst part about the rubbish (or actually getting things to the allotment) is the 350 metre walk to it from the car park, though 350m doesn't sound a lot, if you are having to walk back and forth ferrying things, it eats into your time doing things.

 

They have about a dozen wheelbarrows on site for use of the allotment members

You should have seen the first 1 ton bag full of waste..... I had to lay the handles of the wheelbarrow on the floor and slide the bag up the handles and then onto the wheelbarrow as it was too heavy to lift, I then strapped it down to the wheelbarrow with a ratchet strap so that it would not fall off whilst I wheeled it back to my van....... I learnt my lesson this time, I didn't keep squashing the contents down, so it is a little lighter and more manageable

 

I like that