Allotment Journal

Development of allotment plot in south Manchester. Artist & Gardener in residence, using my plot to elaborate community projects on the site.

The place:

Bethnall Drive Allotments

https://www.bethnalldriveallotmentsociety.org/

Map from 1950-60 of the place where allotments are currently today with the old railway beside where Fallowfield loop is today.

Plot 7A

January 2020

State of the allotment when we got it in January, mainly full of weeds, some rubbish and a pile of compost with more weeds.

two raised beds were on the site also

February

Cleaning the weeds and designing the space.

We started from the right to the left side of the allotment cleaning the weeds and moving the soil to create beds.

March

Clearing and designing a plot

Creating spaces for vegetables and buying seeds.

April

Building a shed from a recycle old shed.

Vegetables growing

May

We collected the first rhubarb leaves, from a fantastic set of plants that were left in the allotment and apparently were quite established and healthy.

First crops, radish and spinach

Keep planting, clearing, sowing.

June

Allotment Plant, currently developing, focusing on creating wildlife areas.

Developing wildlife-friendly spaces in the allotment.

July

Collected, onions, garlic, potatoes,beetroot,peas,beans,carrots,radish,lettuce,spinach...

Half the potatoes were infected with worms...

August

Carrots,cucumbers,lettuce,radish,spinach,chard,peas,beans.

September

Lots of beans, carrots, leeks, beetroot, radish, this is definitely the best month to collect all the hard work.

October

November

Garlic and onions autumn veriery planted

December

Building new raised beds with bricks and wood.

2021

Preparing for the new season

Rotating crops, designing the allotment.

Creating a wildflower meadow at the community space