Petition

There is now an online petition in support of Jim (aka Bill). Please sign up so we can present it in support of Jim at the next parish council meeting.

Thanks!

[Edit - I have suspended the petition for the moment. 81 signatures: thanks for your support.]

Peas ‘n’ beans

As those of you in the south of England will agree, this was a typical bank holiday Monday: wind (gale force) and rain and not too warm. All the more reason to huddle up to the PC, watch the cricket and do a bit of planting.

In the spirit of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’, I’ve used a reused bread tray (from the village shop) and some unused plastic beer glasses. In doing so, I’ve recycled an idea from Alex up at the allotments.

Peas. Late, I know. But, if you look carefully at the photo above, you will see that peas can be planted until July. So, nya-nya.

Little Marvel are, I think, the same variety that we used last year. We got a fair crop in a small space. Unfortunately, we left the unused seeds in a tin with onion sets. The resulting mess stank to high heaven.

In the other half of the bread tray, I’ve sown ten runner beans seeds. I will sow another ten beans and peas in a few weeks time; and then again.

Last year’s beans were a mixed bunch. The original seeds took a hammering in a May storm much like the one we suffered today. I planted replacement seeds and we got some plants from the village plant sale. But, the wind and rain continued to play havoc. The spot I chose was in direct line of the prevailing wind whipping around the house. At 150 metres, facing south-west, we get a fair amount of prevailing wind. (I should point out that, unusually, today’s storm was brought nor’ easterlies.)

Anyway, I have learned lessons from last year and I’m not fussed that I’m probably the last person at the allotment to plant their beans and peas. I dodged the May gale.

I have to admit I have no chance at matching next doors’ highly engineered bean poles: look at those cross braces!

A rose for Mum

The only digging and planting this weekend was with Dad in Chandler’s Ford, Hants.

After Mum died in March, I suggested to my bro and sis that we plant a rose in her memory. That would make it easier for dad so that he would have a memorial close to him. Otherwise, he would have to travel 100 miles to her grave in Essex. Mum’s buried in Essex as she and Dad were always happiest there. Though he made it to the funeral, as he’s in a wheelchair it is quite an exercise to get him 50 yards out of the nursing home, let alone 100 miles on the M3, M25 and A12.

The rose is second best, but he was very happy to choose a spot and assist me plant it. He helped select a memory stick and the words to be inscribed upon it.

I’d chosen a rose with a nice big yellow, fragrant flower: Graham Thomas. Unfortunately, I’ll probably miss the blooms this year. The buds were ready to burst, so I’ll have to ask my sibs to take a photo for me.

And now for something completely different

Putting the spade aside for a second, I have to report that the combined wisdom of the Post Office has decided to close the post office in our fair village.

Now, you may say that no one uses the post office any more. However, there are enough people in Buckland Brewer who do so that this is a big deal. As usual, it is the vulnerable who suffer.

Also, the village shop relies on the post office for its viability. As goes the post office, so goes the shop. So goes the shop, so (likely) goes the village.

Those that care about these things (including me) will be campaigning to Save Buckland Brewer post office or at least mitigate the damage it will do to the community.

Support welcome!

Catching up

I don’t know where the weekend went. It was over almost as soon as it began. In between I remember picking weeds out of the potato bed and starting to dig the bean trench.

The carpet has done a fine job in preparation for the latter. A lot of thistles and docs have survived, albeit in albino form.

The warm weather has led to the weeds taken a firm grip on the uncultivated parts of my plot. Bill’s chickens have now gone. There good work seems to be for nought. Just two weeks after nearly clearing a good couple of square metres, the plot is thick with the weed.

Hopefully, you will have been over to Bill (Jim’s) website to get the full story on his continuing battles with the parish council. I will leave it to his family for now, but Facebook users might want to join a new group. A petition is on the way.

I will leave you with photos of a sunny day in Buckland Brewer. There’s more to life than gardening!

Film crew

Thanks to Suzanne for photos of the film crew visiting the allotments yesterday.

photo – film crew at the allotments

photo – film crew at the allotments

photo – film crew at the allotments

Notice

Regular readers will know the saga of the polytunnels.

It ain’t over yet, but the parish council (or at least two members of an nine person council) decided tonight that notice should be served on Bill for refusing to remove an unauthorised structure.

What, I didn’t realise going into the meeting was that local TV news picked up the story this evening! What does it say about news in these parts?

Irrespective of my metropolitan views, Bill and others were featured on ITV Westcountry News. The item will probably disappear on Thursday unless someone can advise how to illegally copy post the video here as a public service.

Bill says he has no intention to give up his plot and he has the backing of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

The battle was lost; the war continues.

Update: direct link to the news piece.

Update the second: spelling and grammar fixed.

Cuke art

I managed to catch a great light on the cucumber seedlings as I put them to bed inside the house. They are enjoying their warm days in the sun of the greenhouse.

Up at the allotment, the first earlies have taken off and probably need to be mounded up to protect from the Black Death. Couldn’t see any obvious evidence of further chewing by slugs, so the blue pellets seem to have done the trick. For now.

Inspection day, tomorrow. The parish council are up to see what an allotment looks like. That will be followed by a council meeting where we are all expecting Bill to be served notice.

Nuclear war!

Horrified to find that my lovely onions have been eaten.

Bill reckoned it might be partridge. But, I have my suspicions. It’s the slimey slugs at it again.

Just like last year, they have spotted my delicate, yet pungent, onions and thought that’s a nice meal. Scoff, you may. Slugs won’t eat onions. Well, I’ve got evidence from last year – caught the blighters at it – and the stripping of leaves on my poor beauties up at the allotment this year is exactly the same symptom.

So, it’s out with the nuclear bomb, or slug pellets, if you prefer.

I do not like having to take this route. I have tried everything else. Beer – partly successful, but expensive and not every slug took the bait. Copper rings – they seem to do the trick, but again expensive and I can’t afford a ring for each plant. Ditto copper tape and milk cartons – if only you remember to tape the handle too (d’oh).

Down at the raised bed, there’s slug evidence too. An onion with the untaped handle shows the tell tale slimey trail and stripped leaves.

Protect and survive!

Polytunnel update

BB allotments get their 15 minutes of fame.

‘KEEN gardener Jim Harvey is locked in a bitter dispute with his parish council over a polythene greenhouse he has built on his allotment.’

Read more…