The issue of the shed

A day of good intentions – and great shopping. Oh, Homebase garden centre, boy did it get my custom. I stopped off there on my way to the allotment and bought up big. Lots of mini bark chips, two grow bags for the future tomatoes, planks of wood, pots, a Perspex sheet for the cold frame, more pegs, two sheets of ground cover; was that it? I could have done more but the boot was full from all the bark chips.

I was doing all the wheelbarrow unloading of the stuff from car to plot (a slippery ride in winter where the water and the clay seem to combine to create a skating rink rather than a grass path) when I ran into David Raeburn, the Plot Secretary. So that saved me a phone call. And I have asked for the whole plot. He hasn’t scoffed and said ‘not a chance’. But he needs to consult with the absent Jana for permission. And then he went on and on about the issue of the shed. But that’s not his fault, because Janet rang him the night before and went on and on about the issue of the shed. I had my toes braced for the worst when I asked just how much I’m going to have to shell out to keep the two Italian men from taking it away. And the amount? £30. A paltry amount for a whole year of grief. (Jana was supposed to pay them for it, but didn’t and I inherit the debt.) I’d be delighted to pay. I hate the idea of bad feeling on the site. And it’s cheap compared to what I would have to shell out for a new shed. Mind you – the new one would actually have a lock and I could probably have a chance at a floor covering that isn’t sick yellow lino. We shall see.

All this talking and musing on the shed meant that there was little time for actual gardening. And this was to be my whole day out. It wasn’t raining and it wasn’t windy and I wasn’t too plagued by visitors. But I seemed to achieve so little compared to this time last year. Maybe I know to pace myself better now. Weeding just 10 feet by 10 feet creates interesting back ache and shooting pains. But I did that much and it looks gorgeous. When I raked it over it almost looked like a garden plot. I weeded the bean plot (how did those little weed seedlings get there? I just weeded last week) and then decided that this year it’s mulch year. And I don’t care how hideous it looks (that’s where bark chips will come in) it has to be done. So I’m going to cover bits with black weed proof material, pin it down, and then cut little holes in the plastic and plant the seedlings in there. In neat rows too. And then pile lots of bark chip mulch on top.

And just to complete my afternoon of good intentions I created a cheap but cheerful cold frame. Three plastic document boxes covered over by a big sheet of the newly purchased Perspex. Pot on top to hold it on and the broad beans are snug and hopefully helped on their way to germination.