M, our 'allotment apprentice' has just begun some formal study at Organiclea our local organic charity. Last week M told me how to suppress weeds under the fruit trees on her new plot by laying down unwanted flattened cardboard and then putting woodchip on top. Apparently the cardboard and woodchip biodegrade over time. After this has happened you dig them into the soil and then lay a fresh layer the following year. I could immediately see how to apply this for a garden to which we hope to add some interest to at the weekend.
Mulching was obviously still on M's mind as we visited the plot today. She looked at one bed which I have not had time to dig over and asked why I was not covering it. Particularly as we had cleared it together as we took out the tomatoes at the end of last summer. A good point. We unearthed some old carpet and a rug from underneath our plastic tool store, disturbing a small toad in the process which promptly hid itself under our shed. Then we took the carpet and the by now disintegrating rug and covered the area in question, which is awaiting winter squash when the danger of frost is past.
In talking it over with another friend I reflected on M's 'distance travelled' in terms of confidence and competence from student to peer . Our part has almost come to an end.
No comments:
Post a Comment