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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 15:02:12 GMT
hello everyone, got a phone call out of the blue today from the council offering me an allotment. excited as i am as ive been on the waiting list a year (short compared to some, i know), i am now filled with millions of questions as to how i can be sure the site is safe by my organic standards before i start to work on it. i wondered if anyone knows of a kit i can use to get an analysis of the chemicals and levels, as ive no doubt pesticides and herbicides and other nasties were used as my area isnt organic by any means, im pretty much a rarity in my own wee world re: growing without poisons, round here. i'm really hoping the ground is ok, and if its weedy and hasnt been used for an age, im quite happy to manually remove them etc. ive had 34 years of growing without chemicals, so dont intend to start now ;D thanks for reading - janey
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Post by piskie on Apr 20, 2011 15:36:33 GMT
Welcome to a wonderful group of supportive, friendly, funny people Janey - and well done you on getting a lottie ;D Some clever people will be along shortly, I'm here to bring up the rear, as it were
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Post by steve on Apr 20, 2011 16:06:51 GMT
Hello Janey You have some welcomes in the Welcome section, I am sure there are labs you can send a sample of soil off to to be tested for the chemicals in it, You could try googling for them but many of them break down on contact with soil, If you want to stay organic then as long as you garden chemical free I shouldn't worry about previous users too much
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Post by Lou78W on Apr 20, 2011 16:52:20 GMT
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Post by sweetpea on Apr 20, 2011 16:54:54 GMT
Hi BB, Steve just beat me to it with his reply. I would repeat though that no need to worry unduly about what has gone on the ground previously as like Steve has said, a lot of it will break down on contact with soil while anything that hasn't will leach away with the rain. if you are still concerned then as soon as you have cleared the ground sow mustard and when it has grown enough to handle, cut it off and dispose. This will help to redress any imbalance in the soil. never tried this myself but I learnt this from a top sweetpea grower who was also an analytical chemist and knew what he was talking about. An alternative to mustard is italian Rye grass. same as before remove just before it flowers.
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Post by Cherry on Apr 20, 2011 17:08:50 GMT
Congratulations on getting your allotment Bluebell. It is very exciting news. We really look forward to receiving all the news as it progresses.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 17:35:27 GMT
a big thank you to all for the lovely welcome and the sound advice ive only just joined on here about a week and so it must be an omen that ive been given a lottie too will take all that on board and will happily post up photos as i go along thanks again everybody, and thanks for having me x janey
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Post by mothergoose on Apr 20, 2011 18:57:28 GMT
Good luck with your lottie....and a HUGE WELL-DONE for gardening without chemicals (I'm dead impressed x)
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Post by merlin on Apr 20, 2011 19:01:59 GMT
Well done Bluebell, look forward to reports on progress
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Post by sweetpea on Apr 20, 2011 19:07:44 GMT
Good luck with your lottie.... and a HUGE WELL-DONE for gardening without chemicals (I'm dead impressed x) You should be MG seeing as how you use MAGIC ;D
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Post by mothergoose on Apr 20, 2011 19:10:45 GMT
Yep....prefer "Magic" to "Miracle-Gro" any day SP
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 23:18:28 GMT
haha, very good mothergoose
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Post by Rosie on Apr 21, 2011 9:19:51 GMT
Welcome Janey. I try to garden without chemicals too, it's difficult but worth it. Well done with your allotment and we'd love to get updates about it
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 15:35:51 GMT
well folks, went to size-up the new lottie today and i think the gods have been smiling on me because the plot is lovely. its in full sun all the time [which i will try and manage by planting some fruit trees if poss] and it looks like the last tenant grew potatoes as i can make out a large furrowed area, which amazingly is now smothered in heartsease, there are at least three clumps of horseradish, a rambling area of strawberries and at least a couple of patches of rhubarb! there are also two cherry trees just coming into blossom about 6ft tall, dont know if they are eating or ornamental, but dont care as i LOVE cherry trees and again feel this is an omen for me my husband already has got our allotment books out which i have many of 'cos its always been an interest and i grow a lot of veg anyway, and it seems to have inspired him too! *his usual quote to "what do you think of growing this or that?" is 'hey you're the gardener'* so its looking promising peeps! its a very modest rent aswell, so all in all i'm a happy bunny [thanks for your lovely comments too x] will keep you posted
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 21, 2011 15:38:12 GMT
Wow...I am sooo jealous. I would love a lottie but don't have the time to take one on atm. Maybe when OH retires we will put our name down....the waiting list here only has a few people on it atm. I keep an eye on it because a neighbour has THREE plots...
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