Erf

No.5 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

This twenty rod* plot, our 'erf', our realm
our saving grace, our haven
is such to bring a 'joie de vivre'
and oft a cause for 'pavan'*
As though each year we toil for long
to dig and plant and sow
the reward of produce that it brings
gives reason more to grow

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Something from nothing

It doesn't look like much I know
but the satisfaction wrought
from half an hour of crafting
inspired by a simple thought
is pleasing and in fact replete
a sense of job well done
working with just what you find
whilst having lots of fun
And that in fact's the essence
of what this allotment brings
to each of us as time we spend
down here whilst growing things

New lavender III

Its flowers were no more and it
was definitely past its prime
but it was going really cheap
so I paid and made it mine
then took it to the lotty where
I gave it pride of place
a new lavender for the herbal plot
its presence there to grace
And bedraggled though it may be
I will nurture it with care
as it promises next summer
lots more lavender to share

This place

Sat down at the allotment
in late summer sun
with a welcome can of ale
the weeding here all done
The no dog plots are looking good
and our labour is well spent
as everything is looking great
almost as if with intent

No chumps here

In the cold frame go the seeds
which I have today just sown
the frame that was just two weeks gone
with brambles overgrown

Elsewhere as day by day we toil
and clear a a little more
the plots are getting ready 
for a winter crop in store

No hose

We've hidden the hosepipe away in the shed
as the long lack of rain has inevitably led
to a ban of the sprinkling of water for gain
pending reservoirs filling up once more with rain

From this our piece of land

The extended lotty's taking shape
as Sal and I are there to make
the best of all the toils we take
from this our piece of land

It's looking good and we are proud
so we will shout that fact aloud
no hiding behind veil or shroud
from this our piece of land

Resident Penguin

Buried in the undergrowth
we found a penguin hiding
brushed him off and gave him
somewhere better to reside in
thought that it must surely be
a sign for better things
as for our new allotment a
new life with him begins

A bigger space

We've doubled our allotment
it's now twice the size it was
and though the new bit's overgrown
we don't mind much because
it's all quite superficial
bindweed covers most of it
so we will pull that up and prove
that it's a false culprit
and when we've given it a strim
and tidied things to spruce
we'll put the hidden plots to
some really worthwhile use

Allotted time

Down on our little parcel of land
it's looking quite lovely and fine
the sweetcorn and squash are flowering now
and the lavender's gathered in time
the grass is all strimmed and weeds are at bay
and the pond is topped up to the brim
so we're both quite chuffed and the way it looks now
with everything looking quite trim

Lotty looking lovely

The lottie's looking lovely
more like it's owned and loved
instead a patch of weed and grass
abandonment has shoved
and it didn't really take that long
we have a system there you see
as Sally does the strimming
leaving heavy stuff to me
So the lottie's looking lovely
once again our patch of land
on which we'll grow our produce
and keep it looking grand

Withy 22

Despite the worst that winter had
with storm force winds and rain
come Spring the withy fence I built
stood proud and there remained
It's greying now and brittle from
the allotment's changing clime
but it's still something I'm proud of
and it is uniquely mine

Overgrown

The grass on the allotment
was very long indeed
the no-dig plots were overgrown
and needed thorough weed
but after we had strimmed it
it once again took shape
so I don't thinks it will be
too long now til we make
it start to grow some produce
for our table and for more
to brighten up this place
which both Sal and I adore

The Plan (Part VII)

No. 7 in the continuing Jemverse series ‘Allotment’

The plan came to fruition
and gave us more than we had dared
and now that it's November
I am really pleased we cared
For the produce it has yielded
from the 'no dig' plan we made
has come in its abundance
so I'm pleased with it we stayed

Glad for gladioli II

The gladioli on our allotment
are growing very tall
and their variegated colour
looks lovely when we call

They make a pleasant change
from the vegetables we grow
and have varying success with
through the year as well you know

And today with August sunshine
so lovely did they look
which I'm pleased to say I captured
in the photograph I took

The plan (part VI)

No. 6 in the continuing Jemverse ‘allotment’ series

For the first time I sat back
and knew that 'we'd done good'
at our allotment established
as we'd hoped that it would

And now we can harvest
the produce and fayre
of the things we have laboured
for and groom right there

And keep up the momentum
to see it prosper and grow
and keep on producing
with grandeur to show

Radishes

Had a bumper crop of radishes
from our allotment, pleased to say
filled a big sack with them
when I picked them yesterday
They have a lovely pepper taste
and they'll make a tasty lunch
and I'm pretty sure they'll soon be gone
not certain, just a hunch

The Plan (part V)

It won't win any fence awards
but I don't really care
as I've used up all the withy
and it looks quirky there
And it's all part of the masterplan
we've been putting into play
as we visit our allotment
down the road 'most every day

Dandelion Bouquet

We have an evening pastime
now the 'lotty' is in full swing
a little wander down the road
to do some watering
It's cathartic and a pleasure
and with my air-pods on
I get to hear an album
on my i-phone with a song

Beginning IX

aka ‘The Plan (Part IV)’ (9 of 12 in the Jemverse series ’12 months IV’)

A new beginning at our 'lotty'
and we're both as pleased as punch
as the planned 'no dig' solution
is paying off from just a hunch
For now we've built with withy
two climbing frames by hand
and planted all the seedlings
we have grown upon our land
And we've strimmed the grass around
so it's looking pretty neat
showing off the lavenders
which are blooming in the heat
Now lots and lots of water
we will add by hose each day
to bring the plan close to fruition
and the vegetables our way

The Plan (Part III)

I’ve carried the frames

one by one down the the road

as they were quite awkward

so, to lessen the load

I decided four hikes

was better than two

to get the frames there

well you would, wouldn’t you?

The Plan (Part II)

We built some raised borders

for the allotment to grow

laid them out in the garden

where they’re ready to go

…

Just one minor problem

they’ll not fit in the car

but the allotment is close

and not very far

Back to the allotment

Got back to the allotment
armed with strimmers and a plan
spare batteries in the backpack
and refreshments in a can
The grass had taken over but
we kind of guessed it would
not that this would stop us
as with strimmers there we could
remove those months of overgrowth
and flatten it once more
revealing something of the plan
for it we have in store

The Lotty

The Lotty’s looking wild this year
we haven’t been there much
Lockdown saw to most of that
but we’ve still kept in touch

Emily’s been there more than us
and kept it in some shape
but living several miles away
it’s quite a trip to make

So long grass meadow is the norm
with wood chip in between
coupled with a lovely pond
the best we’ve ever seen

First Lavender III

We’ve not been to our allotment
Covid-19’s seen to that
But Emily our daughter
has been keeping it intact
We’re seeing lots of pictures
which she takes from time to time
and I’m pleased to say as ever
that it’s looking mighty fine

Our bit of land

Went to the allotment
it was quite overgrown
and not too much sign
of the things we had sewn

But after a while
spurred on by the weather
it was looking quite peachy
as we worked together

Enough rhubarb there
for a crumble or three
and the last of the lavender
just waiting for me

Cherry blossom lovely

The cherry blossom’s in full bloom
on the allotment in the sun
as I sit here and write a while
now the strimming is all done
The grass grows quick this time of year
so I’m down here quite a bit
with spare batteries in my bag
in case the good ones quit

Our Allotment

On our allotment
In the sun
Shadows caught
Whilst having fun
Strimming grass
We laugh and smile
Whilst planting stuff
For quite a while
For this is ours
This little plot
Where we will plant
And grow a lot