O stony grey soil...

This winter has been an interesting one. Plenty of snow led to plenty of problems as people realised they didn’t know what to do in it, councils ran out of grit and airports were closed. For us, the poor road conditions meant we haven’t been out and about as much as usual and working on the allotments hasn’t been possible for some time.

However, last weekend was the first time in what seems like ages where we had some watery winter sun and bright weather. I was so looking forward to being out on the soil but, as it turned out, the soil was too frozen to do anything. The onions and garlic will just have to wait until it warms a bit. Knowing this country that could be next week.

So to keep warm we cleared the raspberry canes left over from last year, and hacked down the growth of sunflowers that grow permanently by the fence. The fence is in need of repair so the sunflowers must be moved before we can do that. It was so nice to be out, wrapped up, and working. I am finding my day job a real strain at the moment and to go out and cut and clip, hack and snap, was great therapy.

We also did a bit of forward planning, and realised that once the potatoes are in we are going to have very little room for anything until the winter onions come out. So this year will be a delicate balancing act, trying to get plants ready to go in as soon as something else comes out. I find I am excited at the thought of it in a way I never get excited at work. More proof, not that I need it, that I am not only in the wrong job, but wasting my time in an office.