Monday, 8 July 2019

Of high heels and manure .


I realise from my New York friend that allotments are not universal .

An allotment site is usually owned by the local authority . It is divided into plots . These plots are rented by the year to local individuals . They are to grow fruit and / or vegetables or keep bees or chickens on .

It is a very old fashioned system . The plots are measured in "rods" . Either 5 or 10 rod per person . A rod is a medieval measurement . It is the distance from the front of the oxen to the ploughman at the back of the plough .

In the second world war they were a valuable food source and many people took one on and became part of the " dig for victory " campaign . Various people in my family have had allotments . They are part of our history .

I imagine one or two of them were looking down today when I was at the plot . I had yet another shopping trolley full of carpet and bricks and tools .

They will be sitting in a celestial bar somewhere , helpless with laughter at the high heels and lipstick girl in dirty dungarees discussing the merits of various manures and what is the superior shit .

4 comments:

  1. Not being clever. Try to get old of woolen carpets like Axminster that are not full of man made fibres and full of chemical fire retardants. I have had many conversations about manures. Cow manure is a cold manure and the weed seeds never die. Slurry is a great way of getting docks and nettles growing in your pasture. I grew my potatoes with just compost from the compost heap this year. Pelleted chicken manure is also excellent on an allotment and virtually weed free.

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  2. Your new york friend thanks you for the explanation!

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