Making
Where possible we try to recycle to make interesting and useful additions to the allotment and garden. This gives Anthony the chance to use every tool possible!
How to make raised beds in a vegetable garden.
With the newly aquired plot 5b it was time to add some raised beds. We go through the difference between how Ant made the beds 10+ years ago, and now.
Inside the summerhouse
The summerhouse is a new addition to the plot which was completed over Winter 2019. We had a smaller summerhouse, but decided to take it apart to build a slightly bigger one. With help from a fellow allotmenteer we used recycled the existing summerhouse and with additional materials created this little beauty. Everything was recycled where possible including the furnishings inside.
Outside we still have a bit to finish on the roof and need to put cornerpieces on top of the cladding.Save Britain’s Hedgehogs
Although the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is stable in many other part Europe, it is in decline in Britain. What can you do to help our spikey little friends?
Fitting the solar panel into the new Summerhouse
Today we fitted the solar panel in the new summerhouse to get the power back on. We use the solar to power lights, but also to charge a radio and mobile phones as required.
Plastic and Kitchen Gardening
The Plastic Problem
Although the first plastic was produced in 1907 it wasn’t until the 1950’s that plastic production became industrialised. In 2015 it was estimated that it was estimated there were 381 million tonnes of plastic produced globally. In 2018, plastic pollution became a hot topic – the so called ‘David Attenborough effect’
How does plastic pollution fit with the ethos of Kitchen Gardening? What is the impact of plastic in the garden? Are there alternatives? As kitchen gardener’s what can we do to help?
We are Kitchen Garden’s Website/Blog of the year 2019!
Last Month we recieved a very exciting email! The January edition of the Kitchen Garden magazine will feature “Britain’s Best Allotment Gardener’s” and Don’t Crop Me Now has been selected as Kitchen Garden’s ‘Website/Blog’ of the year 2019.
Kitchen Garden Magazine January 2019 edition. Christmas at the Allotment
Snow at the Allotment – Christmas 2009 Home-grown veggies for the perfect Christmas Dinner, using your garden to decorate your home, the gift of growing, what to put on your your list to Santa and how to escape the chaos for a bit of allotment time. Here is Don’t Crop Me Now’s guide to a perfect Christmas at the Allotment!
November Allotment Tour
A tour around our plots in Manchester (UK) looking at what crops are growing over winter and a sneak preview of our Summerhouse building project!
Recycling to make some signs
I recently acquired a trim router as I had been looking at making some signs.
I had two types of wood, both recycled, one was a disassembled pine bread bin recovered from a skip and the other was some oak flooring planks that our neighbours were replacing.
First of all I printed out the text I wanted. 
Then transferred it to the wood using carbon paper. 
Like so. 
This was then routed out. 
The sign was then cut to size. The 24 is on old oak flooring. 
Painted Black. 
Surface sanded… 
and varnished
I realised why I was struggling to see the lines when routing. I now know to keep the “window” of the router facing me so I can see what’s going on at the cutter.
Not bad for a first attempt, maybe a bit rustic, but that gives them a bit of charm. More practice needed.
Time for a bit of creativity
Tonight I made this slate sign for the plot. Keep an eye out – it might feature in our upcoming videos!
