Back at the eco-edge!

I've just started giving a client a hand with his allotment in Dundee, and what a brilliant experience it's proving to be.

Brilliant Scottish inventiveness to be seen in shed construction here

There's about 80 allotments on the site, all of a decent size. A feature that stands out straight away is the wild variety of sheds, clad with everything from reclaimed wood to floor tiles, like finding yourself at the centre of the recycleverse. The site has been established for a long time with a kind of leaning towards annual veg crops and less in the way of fruit or perennials. My client wants to develop his permaculture and forest gardens ideas, slightly against the grain of the site committee, but all very dear to me and Ruth of course.

It's wonderful for us to find that all the practical experience we have gained in our eco travels can now be put to good use at what, to me, is the real cutting eco-edge, helping people to grow food in a sustainable way right in the heart of the city. We can tell people what works and what doesn't work, how to make the most of your time, energy and money, give tried and tested tips on keeping pests at bay, drop the odd idea into the process that may open a whole new understanding of working with Nature, and just put in a bit of vital energy when you're faced with a daunting amount of work at the beginning of a project. I'm looking forward to seeing the plot here flourishing into multi layered, natural abundance.

A less regimented style on one of the other Dundee plots, rather frowned on by the comittee...

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2018 TO ALL!

Ruth and I are happily settled in to our new home in Perth and looking forward to getting gardening in and about the Fair City.
JANUARY - PRUNING
If you're lucky enough to have a fruit tree or two, this is generally a good time to give them any pruning they need. I mostly come across trees that have been long neglected but find that even trees that haven't been cared for in years respond really well to the attention, coming back to abundant fruity life.

Pruning a damson tree back in the orchard we renovated at Treflach Farm - more about fruit trees and orchards here

In a year or two they can be providing you with crates of delicious, accessible fruit. Pruning can deal with any dead, damaged and diseased limbs and it's an opportunity to reshape and thin out entangled branches.
If you find yourself with fruit trees to look after I'd be delighted to work with you and show you what to do, the tools you need etc, or can just do some renovation work for you, do please get in touch.
MAKING A START
And January is also a great month to get started if you're planning to grow some veg and herbs. If you have a bit of turfy-weedy ground you're going to develop you can make life easier for yourself by laying down a cardboard mulch and compost in a no-dig system now and getting your patch ready before everything's goes crazy in Spring.

Starting a no-dig patch on my allotment down Brighton way. N.B. You still have to do some digging. Also, the carpet's just a temporary cover but the cardboard stays and rots away.

Then you cover the cardboard with compost and plant through it - this is used mushroom compost which worked really well. The sawn-off bottles work like mini greenhouses.

And here's one I did earlier... It's just magic to see the first shoots of your plants coming up

Again, I'd be delighted to show you what you to do and work with you a bit to help to get you going.
Just think about all that delicious, healthy, un-plastic-wrapped food you're going to be harvesting.... and do please get in touch :-)

mobile: 07540 332 430    email: ianecowatt@gmail.com