Hebden Bridge Allotment
Design 8
I have had this allotment since November 2011 and wanted it to be a place where I could escape the world, be close to nature, grow my own food and experiment with building willow structures and sculptures, seats and earth ovens.
The field sits between a river and the tow path and 2 years ago was still used by the landowner for keeping horses. Due to dog chasing foles into the river the horses have now been moved and the land given over(for free) to anyone who would care to take on a plot.
The only condition is that we keep the field 'tidy' -strimmering around the trees and rebuilding the stone wall where it falls.
So far the main principles at work have been...
The field sits between a river and the tow path and 2 years ago was still used by the landowner for keeping horses. Due to dog chasing foles into the river the horses have now been moved and the land given over(for free) to anyone who would care to take on a plot.
The only condition is that we keep the field 'tidy' -strimmering around the trees and rebuilding the stone wall where it falls.
So far the main principles at work have been...
The problem is the solution-
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Small and slow steps
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Earth care - by keeping strictly no chemical fertilizer or herb/pesticides.
People care - Being open and friendly to the people I meet, many go past on the tow path and have asked about some of the features of my plot which has given me a great opportunity to talk to people about permaculture.
Fair Shares - There is a good community feeling on the allotment and so far we all are happy to help and support each other with tool,seed,plant and knowledge sharing.
People care - Being open and friendly to the people I meet, many go past on the tow path and have asked about some of the features of my plot which has given me a great opportunity to talk to people about permaculture.
Fair Shares - There is a good community feeling on the allotment and so far we all are happy to help and support each other with tool,seed,plant and knowledge sharing.
Initial designs
The early stages of the allotment (Jan-May 2012)
O.B.R.E.D.I.M
Observation
Boundaries Resourses Evaluation Design Implement Maintain Future plans/dissemination |
The soil has very high clay content.
There is often a S/W wind blowing down the valley and through the allotments. Sun covers the plot morning to evening. Docks are plentiful. Moles are plentiful. Japanese knot weed is abundant along the river side. The river floods in times of very high rainfall and covers the bottom half of the field. Dogs occasionally jump in over the wall from the tow path. Physical boundries include a low wall S/E, River N/W, allotments E and field space S/W. We are allowed to use as much of the field as we like as long as we use what we take. Financially I am creating the allotment on a shoestring, partly out of necessity and partly to see how far I can go on a low budget. The river - Water access. Tow path -easy barrowing. Access to house mates wheelbarrow. Tools-my own and strimmer has been offered by others allotmenters. Skipped wiggely (hazel?) Myrts tyres-Unlimited tyres. Rejuicynator Wormery and compost bins Woodchip from across the road from my house. Friends castoffs- table and seed trays. Friends and family-growing advice, extra hands if needed, happy to lend items cold frame-borrowed from mum. Landowners stables-well rotted manure. Skips-building materials. Woodland-wood for building and fires,rocks. Skipped weed matting. Fine soil from mole hills. Advice from allotment holders who grew on this soil last season. Gorden Riggs garden centre. Incredible edible in the next town-workshops/talks. Permaculture Diploma facebook page. Permaculture association website. Worms! I have a lot of resources here and they are mostly within a mile of the allotment. This will evolve continually. NOV Look at site.A lot. visualise ideas.Cover planting area with carpet. DEC Plant Raspberrys and garlic (garlic in old draws.) Make willow fence, bring tyres to site to make raised beds, bring compost bins and wormery,buy worms and worm bedding. JAN Make fire pit and seating, have anniversary fire with Sam,look for materials for raised beds, FEB Build raised beds, start veg in seed trays,buy or make closh,plant Rhubarb, Potatoes, MAR Plant Yinyang beans, Romenesco, Nasturtiums, Strawberrys, Asparagus, Sunflowers, Aquilegia,parsnips APRIL Make willow polytunnel, Plant Brocoli, Coliflower, Carrots, Salad MAY Enjoy and maintain. Make seat in communal area. Earth oven. Maintaining the plot will be ongoing but the main jobs will be; Feeding the soil-well rotted manure every autumn,worm tea and charcoal (if I see good results this year.) Keeping the grass at bay. Digging out dock leaves. removing Japanese knot weed. Feeding worms in wormery. Dedicates like salad leaves and seedlings are kept on top of a table with it's feet in tubs of water, these will need refilling to keep the slugs and snails off. There are many used plastic bottles in the world with no home to go to so I would like to do my bit by collecting 1000 Robinsons juice bottles (as hundreds or these are thrown out every few months by the center I work at) and turn them into a greenhouse on the allotment. As the allotment is right next to the tow path I hope that lots of people will see this marvelous reuse of bottles and be inspired (as I was) to make their own! |