At last: some progress on the plot

Things have been at a bit of a low ebb with the allotment for a while now, but suddenly, while I'm almost eight months pregnant, things seem to be starting to come together on my small patch of land.

Rick and I spent two sessions on the plot at the weekend, soaking up the beautiful weather and getting started on some preparation, sowing and planting. Of course I'm pretty limited in what I can do physically, and have been for a while - I haven't done any digging or heavy work all winter, which, on top of a crazy work schedule, launching the book and time spent preparing for the new arrival, means everything is somewhat neglected.

All I can say is, thank god for raised beds - this end of the plot was a great place to start work as it's easier to make visible progress in less time. Rick dug over and prepared the beds while I did a bit of hand weeding and planting: we managed to do a bed of blight resistant Sarpo Mira potatoes, another of Stur BC onion sets and shallots (forget the variety), and sow beetroot Forono (highly recommended - it's huge and tasty), some rocket, and the heritage lettuce Forellenschloss in a further bed (pictured here). The rectangle of chives you can see will be replanted in another bed which we'll use for carrots this year (the smell is reputed to discourage the damaging carrot root fly, and it seems to work a treat for us - and is a lot less trouble and more attractive than using fleece to protect the crop).

I utilised a brilliant little item given to me by a friend for Christmas - it's a gardening bag that doubles as a stool, which allows me to sit next to the raised bed at just the right level for some close sowing work without hurting my back or crushing my now considerable bump. I did manage to become unbalanced and topple backwards into the brassica bed at one point, but this did give Rick a chance to have a laugh (while resucing me, my I add).

It's not all rosy - a large swath of the plot is still in dire need of attention, and I fully expect to get an untidy plot letter this year. But we're made progress - four beds prepared, no less - and that's all one can hope for when you're gestating what feels like a bowling ball in your belly.

I have this idyllic vision of pottering around the plot, baby in a sling, all summer long. I'd be glad for any new parents to disabuse me of this vision, or offer some advice on gardening with small children ... anyone? 

I am hoping that visiting little and often will help me to get things back on track, and get a decent harvest of at least some crops this year. Next job is to get a few tomatoes sown ...

Comments

[Ponytail]

Isn't that stool great ? I got it as one of my leaving presents from my last job and it's so useful, as I don't have a shed yet. I can fit in tools, a Thermos of tea, my camera and all sorts of goodies. It means I can work longer on my plot as I can now sit down comfortably and have a rest halfway through (with a cup of tea...).

[kate]

I imagine that you'll have a great gardening summer, baby in tow. When your child starts walking, that will be a different story. ARound age 3, I could garden so long as I involved my son in little projects - he liked collecting worms and making families from them ... I also had a sandbox nearby which kept him occupied for long stretches.

Your garden is looking good - enjoy your baby!!

[Helen Chisholm]

Gardening and baby I found was a wonderful combination, all that earth mother stuff, summer helps though, wind and rain takes the edge off the idyll I imagine. The toddler stage was a little more demanding but mine were happy to potter by my side and didn't do much damage in the process. When my youngest was older and we kept the allotment this too was idyllic because she would chat to everyone there who was working this opened the conversation because I am quite shy it has been known for me to nod and smile at someone daily for five years before broaching a conversation. The allotment also had a playground for the kids which included a huge lorry tyre swing, thinking about it now these days they would probably have a risk assessment and ban it as dangerous. Anyway thanks for prompting a short meander down memory lane this morning and good luck for you forthcoming adventure over the next few weeks.

[Matron]

I'm trying Sarpo Mira for the first time this year (only because T&M got the order wrong!) I've heard good things about them. Wishing you all the best for your new arrival! Plant a tree to celebrate!

[Jane]

I usually lurk here.
I began my cut flower growing business when pregnant. Babyhood was easy (older sibling at nursery) with a sheepsfleece on the ground and a brolly for shade, toddlerhood was less easy and much more weather dependent, didn't like the wind.
Now they are 9 and 6 and make dens and do their own thing, the oldest has discovered you can grow plants and get money for them.
I have finally found the time to sort out the links on my side bar and have popped you on,
Best wishes
Jane

[Andy]

We had Maya in June last year. My wife was able to harvest but that's about it (bending over, as you probably know, was a nightmare). With the erratic sleeping patterns (we didn't succumb to a gina ford routine!) I ended up at the allotment at 5am in the morning and she slept peacefully in the pram for 2 hours! It's not easy with a baby....but best of luck!
Andy

[OyaDancer]

My son is autistic so taking him to the allotment is right out. I have photos of the state of my carpet when he got ahold of my seedlings last year (gaaaaah!). I can't take him out on the allotment as there's no fencing to keep him within sight, and there's probably broken glass and things I haven't found yet in my soil - and children WILL find that sort of thing. However he's nearly four now, and he is starting to understand basic instructions so he sometimes helps me plant seeds and things indoors, or runs around in the (fenced) back garden whilst I do the weeding. The important bit really is to try and include your kids in these sorts of things, as they're always keen to help, but also not to expect they're going to do a whole lot, and just know when to call it a day when their attention span starts to lag.

When they're younger, it's much easier as you can park them in a stroller or what have you and get on with things while they're having a bit of a nap. Sheepskins are bril for babies, I think - my mum swore by them and so do I, so do go and invest in one. With a sheepskin, some Neal's Yard sunblock for your wee one, a brolly, a patch of yarrow to put your wee one nearby for a nap (will keep the bugs off him/her) and dig away.

Granted, don't forget to rest in between - chances are what you're really going to want to do for quite a while is just get some decent sleep.

[HelenHaricot]

the baby stage is the easiest. get a pop up uv tent for scorching days, and have a good look at different slings and warps - there's prob a baby wearing group near you - and try them out to see which suits best.
consider turning part of your allotment into a child area - small bed for them to plant, some pickable fruit and peas. think about willow dens/runs etc and get them started, that way when they get to the difficult ages there's more to occupy. [runner beans make good toddler runs!]
we have a 6 year and 2 year old at the moment. gret fun! does men that I haven't a hope of identifying which cucurbits or tomatoes or peppers are which yet.
oh, keep old seeds of peas, sweetcorn and beans for them to practice sowing as well.