Rebecca's Blog

2010-08-25T03:24:00.004+12:00

Foraging for Wild food

I have a soft spot for foraging as it reminds me, as I'm sure it does many other people, of childhood trips to hedgerows laden with berries and abandoned orchards creaking with the weight of apples, pears and plums. As a child I spent many a day up a tree dropping the best apples to the less agile of the scrumping party below. These days it's me catching the fruit as common sense has, unfortunately, set in and has me firmly rooted to the ground.

Since coming to Ireland, and with the exception of a one off trip to Howth for mushroom collecting with the Slow Food society (highly recommended), I've cautiously stuck to picking wild blackberries and strawberries. This year though I've branched out (excuse the pun) to elder flower, elder berry, plums and this weekend, weather permitting, I'm off to the wicklow hills with The Irish Raw Living Food Meetup Group led by Geraldine Rothwell - a naturopath and nutritionist. I found this trip on a great site called Meetup.com and would encourage everyone to come along.

2010-08-25T03:02:00.004+12:00

Elder flower cordial - full recipe

Pick the whitest, freshest looking flowers you can find and don't forget to leave a good few on each plant otherwise you'll have no berries later in the year.

When picking try to avoid those at dog height and pick as little greenery as possible.

Zest of 4 lemons etc

2lbs sugar and 3 pints of boiling water into something large enough to safely hold that amount of hot syrup.

Stir and leave until cool.

Grate and slice 4 lemons.

Pick the big bits of stalk off the flowers and give the flower heads a rinse in cold water.

Add the zest and slices plus 50g of citric acid (which you can buy in any good chemist) stir and then add the elderflower heads.

Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to brew for 48 hours.

Then strain through a muslin cloth into a clean bowl.

Pour into sterilised bottles and enjoy.

2010-03-28T09:57:00.000+13:00

You have to love this guy!

2010-02-08T12:25:00.001+13:00

GIY Blanchardstown - launch success

Thank you to each and every one of you who came to the launch meeting of GIY Blanchardstown last Wednesday; we were delighted to have such a turn out.

A special thank you to Michael Kelly for his presentation and to him and David for coming up from Waterford especially for the launch; also to David Skelly for providing technical support.

We were delighted to find so many people with an interest in gardening and growing vegetables and look forward to getting to know all of you.

Going forward Ger will be contacting all those who showed interest in becoming involved in the steering group. Following which we will release details of the next meeting and of events coming up in the near future.

There are many events in the pipe line such as GIY week at the end of February and Green Fingal Week in March, which is being organised by Fingal County council. As more details are released about these and other events we will pass them on to you.

If anyone is currently looking for an allotment in the Dublin 15 area here are two contacts, and some information, that might be useful:

· The Fingal Parks Department will be officially launching the new allotments in Blanchardstown on Wednesday 10^th and in Turvey on Saturday 13^th. Anyone interested in these allotments should contact Fingal Coco: info@fingalcoco.ie or 01 8905000.

And...

· Beechpark allotments in Clonsilla have extra allotment plots coming available. They have very generously offered a 10% discount to anyone looking to get an allotment with them that mention GIY Blanchardstown...in the next 2 weeks only. Contact is Ray: beechparkallotments@gmail.com

Don’t forget to plant you garlic and not to plant it too deep!

From Ger and Rebecca.

GIY Blanchardstown.

GIYBlanch@gmail.com
February Grower’s Calender

2010-01-25T10:10:00.000+13:00

My first Irish garden; a balcony above Howth.

I grew lettuce and potatoes, tomatoes, beans and attempted broccoli.

Just goes to show - you don't need a big patch of land to grow your own.

2010-01-25T09:00:00.000+13:00

Allotment #146 continued

As planned today was a day of digging as Chris, Sharon and I started to prepare our allotment plot for planting season.

Here's how I left the plot last week:

Shocking isn't it! The worst thing is that, weed growth wise, this is an improvement!

Thankfully Casey the dog was onsite to lend a paw with the digging. Here he is with his bounty of weeds.

Chris, Sharon and I got stuck in with some digging too.

Here's Sharon

Here's Chris

As a result of today's hard work section 1 is completely dug over and ready for the manure to go on. Section 2 is dug over and weed free, except for 1 patch of 2009 spinach which will be cleared another day. In section 2 Chris planted some onion sets (red and white*).

Sections 3 & 4 will be revisited soon.

Here's Chris's onion patch, the long strip on the right.

All in all today was a productive today setting on the path to allotment victory.

The dug over section in this picture is section 1 before section 2 got dug over and the onions went in.

Won't make it to the allotment until Feb 6th so lets hope the snow stays away until we cover up the patch!

Chris and Sharon bought the onion sets in Mr Middleton's store on Mary Street but you can also buy from their online shop. (For €4 you get apx 100)

2010-01-18T13:35:00.000+13:00

Allotment#146 in 2010 - The Plan

Just 7 days ago my allotment, an indeed most of the country was covered in snow. Now that it's gone we are left with mud, flood and (thankfully) brighter days.

10/01/2010

17/01/2010 (Before I tidied up!)

I am determined to get the allotment into better shape ready for when the real good weather comes. As I'm convinced that there is more snow and most definitely more rain to come I and my allotment friends, Sharon and Chris, will be working hard to get the weeds out, manure in and ground covered. Here's the plan:

As you can see the plan for 2010 has ambitions of growing a wide variety of vegetables including pak choi and pumpkin; neither of which I've grown before. Sharon and Chris hope to grow rhubarb too, although Sharon is a little dismayed that she'll have to wait until it's 2nd year before reaping her rewards.

Before we can start sowing seeds we have to do the ground work, literally! Today I started by clearing away any rubbish, spreading manure on the designated pumpkin patch, which I started preparing in November. I have started to dig in manure around the front left quarter of the plot, which will be lettuce and pak choi according to the plan. Once it was dug in I covered the ground and will continue in this fashion until the whole thing is covered. The idea is that it will A - keep down the weeds and B - keep the soil warmer. Fingers crossed.

There is a lot more digging and weeding to be done so Chris has inlisted his brother to help us next Sunday and Sharon will be baking biscuits for us to munch as we work hard! Sharon is designated as 'Creative Director' and will be making the allotment 'aesthetically pleasing' whilst Chris and I get on with the hard graft! We have a plan to win 'Best Allotment' this year - it's just for fun and run by the allotment managers but we're as competitive as Olympic gymnasts* and will be doing what we can to win.

I'll let you know how we get on next week.

*but not as flexible or able to do backflips.

2010-01-16T12:18:00.006+13:00

Nana Jean says...

In a nut shell: My Nana Jean is older and wiser than me and for as long as I can remember I've taken her word as gospel. So, from now on, whatever gardening nugget Nan shares with me I'll share with you.

This week spuds:

Ever find that one or two potatoes in your kitchen veg rack have started sprouting and gone a bit wrinkly? Fear not there is no need to throw them out!

For years I have let spuds in my veg rack sprout a bit rather than by the expensive seed potatoes from the garden centres. Then I would chit them [take off the smaller sprouts and leave one or two stronger ones on the same side] and plant them out. This has worked perfectly well and I've never failed to get a crop from them.

However...Nana Jean says...

Put the potatoes that you want to use as seed potatoes under the sink/or in another cool dark cupboard. Leave them until the sprouts are between half an inch and a inch long. Then chit them and plant out.

Nana Jean says that giving them more of a chance to sprout will give me a better sized crop and I believe her.

2010-01-16T12:16:00.001+13:00

Spotted in Dublin...

Redwing

2010-01-14T09:46:00.000+13:00

Interested in growing your own food?

First Meeting of GIY Blanchardstown

GIY (Grow it Yourself) Ireland is a new not-for-profit initiative that is literally sweeping the nation. It aims to get people interested in growing their own food and provide them with the practical skills they need to do so successfully. The organisation gets growers together (in the community and online) on a regular basis to talk, learn from each other and exchange tips, produce and war stories. GIY activities include monthly meetings, talks and demos; garden visits, seed and seedling swaps; produce bartering, mentor panels and grower’s meitheals.

GIY Ireland aims to establish a GIY group in every community in Ireland. There are currently 40 GIY groups in 20 counties nationwide and over 50 other groups in development. Meetings are free and open to people who are growing at all levels – from those who grow a few herbs in a window box to those who are completely self-sufficient, from absolute beginners to old hands. The organisation was founded by journalist and author Michael Kelly and patrons include Diarmuid Gavin, Darina Allen, Clodagh McKenna and Joy Larkcom. Your local GIY group needs a mix of interests, abilities and experience to make this a success – so don’t be shy. Come along and bring any family, friends or neighbours who might be interested too.

GIY Blanchardstown will be based in Blanchardstown Library. The first meeting takes place on Wednesday the 3rd of February at 7pm. For more information visit www.giyireland.com or email GIYblanch@gmail.com.

2010-01-12T03:01:00.002+13:00

As you can see in the photo (left)....winter has completely taken over at the allotment. In some ways this is an improvement as, pre-snow, we were awash with weeds. The snow certainly makes the plot

I had, naively, hoped that the snow would kill off the evil creeping buttercup and dock plants but it would seem that they are just waiting beneath the snow looking as lively as they ever did!

The plan is as soon as we get enough of a thaw I will start to cover the allotment with a layer of cardboard, newspaper and carpet (I should have done this pre-Christmas but as they say 'hindsight is 20:20'). The idea of covering the ground being that A: it will suffocate/weaken the weed colony and B:help the ground warm up a bit quicker...fingers crossed.

On a happier note my mini tunnel is still standing, a little battered by the snow but standing all the same. I had a peek inside and the ground is frozen solid as you'd expect and wouldn't you know there's a fresh generation of creeping buttercup looking very cosy indeed!

Well, it is most certainly weather for planning so I'm off to write up a wish list of what to grow this year.

2010-01-09T12:58:00.000+13:00

A very exciting week indeed...

On Thursday this week I met up with Ger Skelly for a coffee and a chat about setting up a GIY group in our area.

Turns out Ger is incredibley organised, thankfully, and by the time we parted ways we had already applied to Blanchardstown Library to book a room, selected a first meeting date, drafted a marketing plan (of sorts) and got to know a little about each other. Not bad for two people who had never met before!

We are just fine tuning the first meeting date now as we're hoping that one of the GIY Representatives can attend. It'll either be Jan 26th or Feb 3rd - I'll let you know.

2009-12-10T11:16:00.000+13:00

Blog posts on behalf of ChristmasFM.ie
Christmas FM is a deadly radio station that gets everyone in the mood for Christmas. Better still it's all for charity! I am delighted that I was able to contribute to their blog this year and hope it goes some way to helping them reach their fund-raising target.

Liven up your Christmas!
Shake off the Festive Blues
Your very own Christmas elves

Check out all the fun on www.christmasfm.ie

Bex
Merry Christmas x

The Good Life meets the future

2009-08-25T07:54:00.001+12:00

Irish Property Blog | MyHome.ie

Shared via AddThis

2009-08-24T07:52:00.004+12:00

Philosophy of a weeds

Today was my first visit to allotment #146 in over 2 months. I was expecting weeds but not the unrecognisable weed jungle that was waiting where my lovely allotment used to be. Had it not been for my trusty beanstalks waving desperately from the center of the plot I think I would have turned on my heel and run off home to hide.

I tentatively entered the plot the smell of lavender drew my attention to the two plants that I had put in months ago. I have never, until now that is, grown lavender successfully it always seems to give up on me no matter how hard I try. Maybe that was where I go wrong, maybe I try to hard. These two lavender plants were certainly proof that they are not high maintenance or indeed delicate plants, going forward I shall just leave them to it.

I waded further into the plot familiar stalks catching my eye off to the right, Leeks! I was surprised to see that the stalks were green not withered and brown with suffocation. I cleared the weeds from around them; they're small but healthy. I'll leave them to carry on for a while yet. I did vow to them (yes I talk to plants) that I would keep the weeds at bay from now on, after all they are the National Emblem of my home land.

Off to the left were the most enormous cauliflowers. It's quite a site seeing something like this growing in the plot. Sadly most of them had succumb to rot, possibly caused by recent weather conditions (and neglect). I took up all of them for the compost heap, saving the one good one to take home as my bounty and the leaves for Dorris and Daisy my pet bunnies.

Next to be checked were the beans, they looked so healthy and as they were growing up the cane frame I had put in for them they had not yet been drowned by weeds. The beans were mostly ready for harvesting and were absolutely massive. So far dinner is cauliflower and beans.

I spent 6 hours clearing weeds and eight trips to the compost heap with a wheel barrow full of dock leaves and creeping buttercup (do not be fooled by it's name this is an evil weed). All that and I've only managed to clear this much...

Before I left I spied the remains of potato plants in the debris of weeds which could mean one of two things. Either the spuds had got blight and dies a nasty death or they had done what they could and there were brand new spuds waiting to be unearthed. I was lucky, there were spuds, not many and not massive but spuds all the same. One last chore before I called it quits for the day and that was to tackle the weeds that stood tall where the tomato plants used to be. There were small yellow tomato flowers peeking out through the weeds - they were alive? Yes, there was one tomato plant strong, with fruit but sadly also with blight - it had to go. Good news though, there is still an aubergine plant that I had completely forgotten about - Happy days.

So, having come away with quite an unexpected bounty I have reached the following conclusion:

Sometimes we can't always give a garden the attention that is needed. Then when we realise that it has become neglected we sometimes choose to bury our heads in the sand and hope that it will right itself. Generally it won't. It's best to take the bull by the horns. Sure the garden will be overgrown but don't dwell on this; dig in, clear away the weeds and rubbish and take a look at what you have left. Then start again. You live and learn.

2009-08-19T20:38:00.003+12:00

"Je Suis un Petit chou-fleur" - That's about all I can say in French. That and "Merci Beaucoup" which is what I'd like to say to the lovely people at Mondadori who were kind enough to include my Bloom entry in their magazine l'Ami des Jardins et de la maison.

Merci

2009-06-13T01:20:00.002+12:00

Voice of a community

The lovely people over in the Community Voice were kind enough to write a follow up after their original article about Bloom. Click here to read the follow up.
Click here to read the original.

2009-06-10T03:36:00.002+12:00

Get what you want out of life

This isn't particularly related to anything on this blog other than doing "your thing" (yes I'm quoting a diet coke ad) of which I'm a big believer of.

A friend of mine told me about the site 43things.com so I checked it out took a quiz and it turns out that I'm a Self-knowing healthy builder whatever that means. So if like me you're hurtling towards 30 ( 1 year, 7 months, and 23 days to be precise) why not log on to 43things.com and write yourself a list of goals that you hope to acheive before the big birthday bash!

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a

Self-Knowing Healthy Builder

2009-06-09T03:12:00.000+12:00

News from Architecturenow.ie

First carbon neutral international convention centre

The convention centre Dublin has announced that it is the first carbon neutral international convention centre as the net impact of its construction on the environment is zero. This is the result of low carbon cement and by offsetting unavoidable carbon emissions by investing in carbon credits.

The building was designed by Pritzker award winning Irish Architect Kevin Roche and is situated at Spencer dock and cost €380 million. The purpose built national conference centre can accommodate conference of up to 8,000 people in 222 rooms and includes a 2,000-seater auditorium, 4,500 metres of exhibition space and banqueting facilities for up to 3,000 guests.
Posted: 08/06/2009 10:53:27

2009-06-09T03:11:00.001+12:00

News from Architecturenow.ie

Public Park will generate own electricity

A new public park which generates its own electricity from wind turbines has been opened in North Dublin. The 52 acre Fr Collins Park in Donaghmede has been described as Ireland’s first sustainable park. It will source all its power from five wind turbines worth €1.2 million.
The turbines will generate about 250kW/hr of electricity a year and it is hoped the turbines will pay for themselves by providing floodlights for the park, powering five dressing rooms, maintenance buildings and water features. The park is named after Fr Joe Collins who died 30 years ago.
Posted: 08/06/2009 10:32:56

2009-06-04T23:30:00.001+12:00

RTE Nationwide June 3rd 2009 - click link to watch interview

2009-06-04T01:06:00.009+12:00

A few of the people who popped by for tea...

Mary and I get ready for Nationwide - Wednesday June 3rd 7pm RTE1

My Nana Jean found the garden incredibly relaxing!

Pat Fitzgerald took a break from the MyPlant exhibit in the main pavillion

I'd like to say Thank you (in no particular order) to...

Javier, Anna, Jeanne, Claude, Sharon, Chris, Helen, Andriy, Sinead, Dave, Debbie, Joe, Mags, Gerry and Ger, Karol and Monica.

Janet, Albert and Dominic - brilliant Bloom neighbours and you were so generous to help me clear up! Thank you

Jer Doran, Pat White and the team at White's Agri - you've been amazing suppliers and supporters - Thank you

Pat Fitzgerald from MyPlant - With no plants there would have been no garden...Thank you for coming to my rescue!

Chad Gilmer and VAZUMO.COM - with no digger we would still be digging - Thank you

Peter Donegan - you advice and support has been invaluable - Thank you!

Paula Banks and Michelle O'Kane for your amazing photographs

Eugene Higgins for covering the story in the Irish Mail on Sunday

Fergus and Mary for the write up in the Community Voice

Everyone who popped by to say hi at the show!

Mum, Nan, Barry for letting me nick your tools and for your continued support.

A heart felt Thank you to each and everyone of you!

(If you think I might have missed someone off this list, infact if it's you I've missed - just let me know as it's not intentional)

2009-06-04T00:38:00.009+12:00

The Big Bloom Blog

(I wrote this at 6pm Thursday May 28th 2009 - just adding to the blog today)

It's wind down time on site at Bloom 2009 as today was the opening day and it has been long, hot and emotional..and completely worth it!

I set out on my Bloom adventure to see what I could achieve, what my strengths and weaknesses are and I certainly did, I've learnt an awful lot in a very short space of time.

I'll bring you up to date with the last few days of the build:

The final build weekend went well; Pat from MyPlant dropped in the 3000 Carex buchani and with an army of, very lovely, volunteers, the plants were placed into position along with the Stipa. This weekend was also the weekend that I realised that the wooden seating area could be a problem. Monday flew by and despite the generous help of dome fabulous volunteers, who stayed way past bedtime to lend a hand, I knew that some aspects of the design would be unachievable in the time frame we had left. By Wednesday I was overwhelmed with crushing disappointment in myself; the seating area was a shambles and I was on site at 6am trying desperately to improve it...to no avail.

Granted a medal was never my goal but I had hoped that I could at the very least impress the judges. A predicted call to my mobile confirmed that the "judges were concerned with the safety" of the seating area and suggested that the woodwork be removed and the sunken area be lined with turf. Point taken - I did as they suggested.

Needless to say there was no medal awarded to 'In Amongst the Grasses' according to the rumour mill "the garden wasn't judged at all as it wasn't finished". Such encouraging rumours to add to the already sickening embarrassment that I have.

So I'm down (a bit) but I'm not out. I've achieved what I came to achieve. The judges also told me that I "shouldn't feel discouraged" and I'm not. In fact I already know what I'm doing next year.

2009-06-02T22:39:00.004+12:00

Link to photographs of 'In Amonst the Grasses' by Paula Banks and Michelle O'Kane

2009-05-25T23:12:00.002+12:00

In the news

Irish Mail on Sunday 24/05/2009

Irish Times 23/05/2009

Click here to read irish Times article

Community Voice 22/05/2009

Click here to read Community Voice Article

2009-05-23T04:37:00.003+12:00

The final plee...

Alrighty people, I'm begging you!

If you can spare some time this weekend (even if it's only half an hour) then why not head down to the Phoenix Park and help me plant up my first show garden 'In amongst the grasses'.

I can't guarantee good weather but I can guarantee a good laugh and fresh air.

i really look forward to seeing you there :)

2009-05-22T19:32:00.004+12:00

The Irish Garden Magazine hits the shelves today - go grab your copy to get your 30 page Guide to Bloom and to avail of the exclusive 2 for 1 Bloom Tickets offer!

Here's a video to give you an idea of just how fantastic Bloom in the Park really is...

2009-05-22T04:25:00.001+12:00

Green roofs from the National Geographic

2009-05-22T00:34:00.000+12:00

So far so good

View Photo Slideshow

2009-05-21T22:42:00.007+12:00

Then there was grass...

Thank you Javier, Helen and all the volunteers for being such good sports and coming along last night to help me out again!

2009-05-21T05:07:00.005+12:00

Pics from sand laying...no turf pics because there was no light left fpr photos!

2009-05-20T23:15:00.008+12:00

supported by

"It's like laying carpet"

"It's like laying carpet"..that's what I kept getting told in regards to laying down rolls of turf.

I'd like to point out that when laying carpet it is not neccassary to purchase 1tonne of sand, level and rotovate the ground and then shift the 1 tonne of sand onto the ground, level again with the back of a rake then pack down by treading like a Seagull dancing for worms (see video if you don't know what I mean).

All before the turf goes anywhere near it's final destination!

Thankfully we had a secret weapon...Helen! Helen read Mr Donegan's 'SOS Garden' blog and decided to come along and help us out. Despite the mud, the rain and the general chaos Helen stayed until it was dark and was a huge help... THANK YOU HELEN!

So now the path is turfed, well I need to shape it this evening as it is quite hard to do that in the dark!

The lovely Mr Pat Fitgerald also got in touch today to let me know that the plants would be arriving Saturday morning :) I'll be there with my troops ready to get them planted before I head home to work on the seating area wood work.

So much to do...such determination to do it!

ps to all you that prayed for the rain to hold off last night - thank you - it held off long enough for us to do what we needed and then poured down as we left. Phew!

2009-05-18T11:00:00.018+12:00

Supported by

Mud glorious Mud

What a week! Started off good with the previous weekend’s work having set us on a good path for the Bloom build deadline. Then disaster struck...having put up nearly a half of the wooden path lining I realised that my measurements were out and that we’d have to take it out and do it again..aghhhh!

Then the plants arrived and wouldn’t you know they’re too small & the supplier had failed to mention they’d be charging me €239 for “packaging”! Aghhhhhh again!

Then, to top it all off, it started to rain – a lot! And this started to happen, which quite frankly was disheartening.

But I'm no quitter so...we took down the path fencing and we started again.

And bit by bit it's getting back on track and starting to look like it's supposed to.

Thankfully we had another bunch of fabulous volunteers helping us over the weekend...Thank you to Anna & Javier, Chris & Sharon, Gerard and his magic spade. Especially for sticking around despite the mud!

So, what to do about the plants? I hadn't got the foggiest what I was going to do about the fact that the plants were A:too small and B:to few. I had visions of me running around every nursery in Ireland grabbing all the Stipa I could get my hands on. I even caught myself eyeing up a lushly planted roundabout near home wondering if the local council would miss a few plants for a week or two! (I wouln't do that of course!). Then, out of the blue Peter and Sara Donegan arrived on site to say hello. I tried to look optimistic whilst I filled them in about the path fencing setback but I don't think they bought it. In fact I know they didn't because Peter very kindly put up a post on his blog appealing for helpers on my behalf (Thank you Peter). It wasn't long before Pat Fitzgerald of My Plants got in touch and offered to supply Carex buchanii for the garden....FANTASTIC!

We're back on track. Tonight we're laying the turf on the path and I hope that rain stays away until after we're done! If you're reading this thinking 'poor thing, what has she got herself into' then feel free to pop down to Phoenix Park and lend a hand...and bring your wellies!

Myplant.ie
C/O FitzGerald Nurseries Ltd, Oldtown, , Kilkenny
info@myplant.ie

056 7728148

Peter Donegan Landscapes

info@doneganlandscaping.com
01 8078712

Whites Agri

Ballough, Lusk, Dublin, 01 8438521

info@whitesagri.com

2009-05-12T20:20:00.016+12:00

Supported by

The Big Dig Gig

8.30am and it was lashing down, we were literally soaked through but not enough to dampen our spirits. Especially as we had been blessed with a Mini Digger thanks to the kind folks in VAZUMO.COM. After a crash course on how to drive the digger the dig volunteers were off like Bob the Builder on a mission!

As we were digging past a certain depth it was necessary to have an Archaeologist present as we dug. Poor Darragh, out designated Time Team Member, had to stand over the hole and watch as it was slowly dug just in case we unearthed some hidden treasure. A few hours on (and thankfully it had stopped raining) and the hole is done. Sadly no gold was found, sorry Darragh!

Throughout the morning fantastic friends arrived to help with the Big Dig. This project would be impossible without them so a HUGE THANK YOU to...

Javier, Anna, Gerard, Claude, Jeanne, Andriy.

Your hard work and encouragement is really appreciated, thank you all.

By the end of Saturday the main excavations were done, the path was edged and the garden was really starting to take shape.

Sunday morning was designated to cutting the posts for the path wall after which we loaded them into the car and headed down to the garden site in Phoenix Park. Sunday's progress was good, the posts went in and now stand firm and the path wall is really starting to take shape. Although, in it's unfinished state it does resemble an unused mine shaft! We left at dusk only because we could no longer see where we were digging.

Our determination to finish this garden project to the high standard we want means that we will be there every evening this week installing woodwork and preparing for planting.

Create a Free Slideshow

2009-05-08T03:08:00.003+12:00

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Turfs Up!

The Big (Bloom) Dig started yesterday at 8am and I loved every minute of it! I've posted new pictures in my photo album for you to see what I got up to, which was basically laying it all out and taking up the turf from the areas that will be dug out at the weekend.
I finished up there at 7pm and after a spot of dinner got cracking on the wood work. Most of it is cut to length now and I'll hopefully be able to start putting it all together tonight and tomorrow.
I am very excited! :)

Step 1: locate site

Step 2: measure out plot and mark out features with twine

Step 3: Grab spade and dig in

Step 4: Swap spade for fork and start making progress!

Step 5: consider running away with the circus

Step 6: think better of it and crack on

More to come...

2009-05-02T00:06:00.003+12:00

supported by

Bloom...the count down begins

Working Bloom around the day job is tough and this week I'm fighting with a cold from hell too (no it's not swine flu!). I always say "I like a challenge" but this is madness!

I need to get the final timber measurements over to the lovely chaps in Whites Agri who are going to take what I need from their seconds pile. I need to call my plant supplier as he's a little slow on getting back to me and I'm starting to panic a bit.
Edited designs need to go back to the judges to show plans for wheelchair accessibility. Will send those next.

Heading over to Wales first thing tomorrow to pick up the 'natural sculpture' which my mum and stepdad have kindly been storing for me for the last 10 years! I'll tell you all about that another time; it's a great story. Hoping that I can borrow my mum's amazing stash of gardening tools for the Bloom build...don't tell her or she'll hide them all.

Next on the list is contact all the lovely volunteers and give them directions, check times and check if they have any mates that like to dig holes too. Then call all the 'slow to volunteer' volunteers and make them feel bad!
Then, when I finish work I'm going to call Mr Peter Donegan and pick his brains for tips for Bloom. Hope he doesn't mind.

Hmmm, pretty sure I've forgotten something?

2009-04-30T01:11:00.015+12:00

Building Bloom

Years ago I read an article about Diarmuid Gavin's early career. According to that article Diarmuid turned up to build his first Chelsea Show Garden in 1995 with borrowed tools and a bunch of friends to help him complete what was to become an award winning garden.

True or not that story has stayed with me for years playing over and over in the back of my mind. The simplicity of Diarmuid Gavin’s plan, which I can only assume was driven by his ambition to succeed, appealed to me back when I read the article and appeals to me even more today.

Inspired by Diarmuid’s determination I will be turning up to build my very first show garden with tools that I’ve borrowed, time that I have stolen* and wood that I’ve begged for.**

There are two main components to the garden I’m building for Bloom in the Park 2009. The first is Stipa Tenuissima a wispy type of ornamental grass that I’ll be using en-masse. The other is good old fashioned timber. As a firm believer in the need to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as we can I set about sourcing recycled and waste wood to use in the build.

After corresponding with many businesses around Ireland I settled on two main contenders. One was a privately owned waste disposable company and the other an Agricultural Supplies business in Lusk. I visited both at the weekend and to see what, if anything, they could offer.

The first trip was out to Lusk, on the old Belfast road (R132) to visit agricultural supplies business Whites Agri. Whites Agri supply all manner of products and have a drive through depot which I think is brilliant; no more lugging heavy loads out to the car on wonky trolleys!
I met with White's Agri Director, Jer, and went through the design and details of Bloom before heading outside to see Whites Agri’s timber-seconds pile. The timber on this pile can’t be sold due to weather damage etc and so was going nowhere until I came along. I have to say I was really pleased with the timber and with the enthusiasm of Jer and Pat White (owner of Whites Agri). Although the timber is damaged there is enough of it that can be rescued and cleaned up to build with. Happy days!

After Lusk I headed over to the other side of the county to visit the waste disposal company. Kitted out with hard hats and steel toe cap boots I received a tour of the depot and a brief insight into what they do before heading over to the wood pile they had created on my behalf. The pile was huge, about the size of my house. Unfortunately though it was a case of take it all or nothing. Had it all been usable I would have gladly have found a place to store it all but as far as I could tell the majority of it was MDF and the similar waste types. The timber planks that I could see were ruined and splintered. All in all I was disappointed. Although, I am very grateful to the waste disposal company for offering what they could and for going to the trouble of putting what they had to one side for me.

So with the timber sorted now all I need is to put it all together and build a fabulous garden...lets hope I make Diarmuid proud!

For more details about White's Agri you can contact them or take a look at their website;
http://www.whitesagri.ie/
Office Phone +(00353) 01-8438521 Fax +(00353)01-8437574
Email address: info@whitesagri.com

*(from friends & family who I am very grateful to)** OK, I suppose ‘asked politely for’ would be more accurate than ‘begged’ but then the sentence doesn’t flow as well!

2009-04-22T01:35:00.000+12:00

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2009-04-21T02:08:00.008+12:00

Allotment #146

I came across this allotment site a couple of weeks ago and after a little investigating decided to sign up. It's only a 10minute cycle from my house and is on the main bus route too, perfect.

Strolling around the sight I couldn't help feel a touch of 'Allotment envy' as I observed seasoned gardeners hoeing the ground like old pros. One chap was in the process of staining his brand new shed whilst others took well earned breaks to take a look at their perfectly aligned drills; most of

them had only been working on the plots a week or two! I'll have to work hard to keep up with these guys but I'm up for the challenge!

There's something quite intimidating about an empty allotment site. For a first time allotment owner for myself it was hard knowing where to start. As it turns out I needn't have worried as walking around my recently rotavated plot I noticed that I would have to start by moving out all the rocks and stones that seemed to be everywhere. Taking a look around my neighbouring allotments I could see that they too had this problem; one had started to move them to one corner, another had ignored them and planted anyway the other seemd to have cleared all his away, perhaps I had his too!

As I had planned to seperate my plot into managable sections I decided I would utilise the rocks and stones and use them as edging to mark the different sections and the main path. Not only does this get them out of the way but it also means I don't have to worry about having to buy an expensive edging of some type.

Having spent nearly two hours clearing rocks and stones and laying my mini-drystone wall I rushed to get some plants into the ground before I ran out of light. In roughly dug mini plots I put in young cauliflower (I bought these to give myself a headstart) and spring onions. The latter have been sitting around my garden at home in a seed tray for well too long. Then, on a recent trip to London I saw aome giant ones in a grocery store and figured I'd give mine a shot forat the big time too!

I plan to have elements of the allotment as just flower beds, cottage garden style. So at the entrance to the plot I have to round lavander plants and a small camomile for the soon to be created herb garden.

All in all a good first day at the allotment. Let's hope the local rabbits haven't fed themselves on my baby caulifllowers!

2009-04-03T11:46:00.000+13:00

Don't forget that you can book your tickets for Bloom online at www.bloominthepark.com you can also follow them on twitter at www.twitter.com/bloominthepark

2009-04-03T11:43:00.000+13:00

Woo hoo! I am in to Bloom 2009!

I am shocked and amazed that I even got as far as being considered and now I am actually going to be in the show!

Brilliant stuff! Lots of planning, and recruiting volunteers to come.