My Boi helping at the allotment, again.

The day was awsome. Light work then we chilled at the plot.

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Strawberries

Strawberries give a much better crop their second year. I'm waiting eagerly :)

Soil Care

The small round lumps on the roots are where the nitrogen is stored. As the roots rot down the nitrogen is released into the soil.

Introductory Weekend to Permaculture @ Naturwise London

For quite some time I’ve pondered and semi decided I’ll be enrolling onto a full Permaculture Design Course sooner or later, the timing and cost of the infamous 72 hour course wasn’t right for me just right now-ish. So in the hope to keep me motivated, meeting like minded people and scouting out a potential network/ group/ organisation of where I may finally do a full PDC as it’s often referred to. I enrolled onto an introductory Permaculture weekend with Naterwise in North London

And when I attended I got all I was hoping for and more. The course is mainly held in the most unexpected of locations. As I got there and looked at the front door of a house, and not only a pretty regular house, but one which was in a whole street of terraced houses, I wondered if this was just a starting point before we transferred to another location. When taken through to the garden you feel partially between the realms of reality and fairy tale, as my assumptions where being stripped away. The garden leads into an amazing and for huge space (London garden standards). With an abundance of apple, pear and other trees, along with all sorts of plants. All surrounded brick walls, which are the end walls of the neighbour’s gardens. A true urban secret garden. Just getting to wonder and hang out in the sun on the grass at this venue for me was worth the cost in money and time.

But I came away with allot more, I got to discuss with others my understanding of what Permaculture is and some key principles and then got to use them in practical exercises.

What next: I’ll be putting some money aside for the PDC and seeing when the next few will be running and trying to get onto one. Along with using the SADIM (Survey, Assess, Design, Implement, Maintain) methodology at my allotment plot.

Some more picture here

New Newham Bike Rides in 2011

Join one of the New Newham Rides. These are intended to promote cycling and the London Borough of Newham.

New Newham bike rides in 2011

Saturday 16 April
Saturday 07 May

Saturday 21 May
Saturday 18 June (Bike Week ride)
Saturday 09 July
Saturday 30 July

Saturday 20 August

Saturday 10 September

All rides start at 10.30 from outside Stratford Station and finish back at Stratford Station at about 15.00. No need to book. Just turn up on the day.

These leisurely, social rides with a café stop, are almost entirely off-road along paths suitable for all types of bikes in good working order. The places of scenic and architectural interest on this Newham route include - the Greenway, 2012 View Tube, 2012 Stadium, Three Mills (Grade I listed),  Royal Docks, the ExCel 2012 venue, Thames Barrier Park, Brick Lane Music Hall , London City Airport, Beckton Alps and St Mary Magdalene Church (Grade I listed).

Vertical Growing

Last summer's (2010) climbers

When you have little space to grow, using the vertical surfaces really helps maximize growing space. Last year I added netting to the east fence. It worked really well with the French beans, cucumbers and Royal Prince squash.

 This year I staple gunned chicken wire the rest. Above: West fence, and here the south wall.

 And glued a trellis on to this bit of wall.

 Planted some Spearmint

 Blueberry bushes budding.

 Feild beans adding nitrogen.

 

Sprouting peas and beans to plant adjacent to all the prepared fencing. 

Ortlieb Pannier Bags Are Awesome

If you're serious about cycling as your main form of transport, you'll need some decent pannier bags to lug stuff around. Above I'm struggling to hold up 30kg plus split into a pair of Ortliebs which I'd just taken of the rear rack of my bike. They're tried and test design and production is the benchmark of pannier bags. Waterproofing to the extent where they can be fully submerged. They'll set you back close to £100 for a pair. Pricey, but worth every penny. I have easily packed the food shop into these, training gear, clothes, if it fits into the bag and not too fragile you can transport it on your bike using these, and in comfort. Having a heavy back pack on while cycling is far from.

Here's a crazy test of their strength.