(Continued)The Development of Plot 46
Our Communal Plot
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April 28 2008 Some second-hand scaffolding boards have been ordered. These will be used to construct the two storage bays
April 30 2008 Having covered some of the plot with weed suppressant we ordered some wood chippings with whih to cover it - just after spreading out the first pile a second pile was delivered. As can be seen from the photograph areas that we had to leave bare of weed suppressant are starting to develop weeds so we really do need to quickly find some more surplus.
May 1 2008 Even more chippings arrived - thanks to Ossett Tree Services and Wakefield MDC for supplying us. Not just for the communal plot but for other plots too! |
May 20 2008
Decided on old scaffolding boards for the bay which have been purchased from Colmil and arrived today.
June 3 2008
Today work finally started on the storage bays on our communal plot. We have taken some time to make sure that we were choosing and sourcing materials that were going to give us best value for money and yet would provide a long lasting solution. On Monday Earnshaws delivered the fence posts and the day after construction started. Thanks to Chris Olenczyn for providing his work free of charge and also Paul on plot 38 for looking after Jack Olenczyn whilst his 'dad' was at work. The plot was so waterlogged that Chris didn't need to mix the post mix with any water at all. The holes that he dug were completely filled with water - is the water table so high?
June 5 2008
Jan, Martyn and Sue spread as much of the remaining wood chippings as possible over the weed suppressant membrance to make room for Chris (Lenny - don't ask!) to start on constructing the second bay.
June 7 2008
'Lenny' and Jan have now finished erecting the posts for the storage bays. One side panel has been attached as this needed cutting to size due to the irregular shape of the plot. Jan now has the job of completely the task with any willing helpers that he can muster. The inside of the bays will be lined with weed suppressant membrane.
Once completed we hope to plant one or two shrubs under the pussy willow tree - just to make it look nice!
The side adjacent to the roadway will be edged using scaffolding boards to prevent the chippings from slipping away. (See above photograph). Once this is completed we will think about constructing the raised beds. Ideally we would like a type of gazebo on the plot to provide shelter for meetings or gatherings during times when the weather is too wet or (ever the optimist) too sunny. By the way Jan - don't forget to pop up Pat's signs!!!
June 9 2008
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Work on the storage bays is progressing well - thanks to Jan, Phil (plot 49) and Paul (plot 38).
The only blot on the horizon is that someone doesn't really appreciate what the bays are for and has already dumped something in one of the bays - please don't!
The bays are to be used for wood chippings and horse/cow manure ONLY! |
June 10 2008
The bays were completed last night. Even down to having the signs - that were arranged by Pat - being erected so that people can be in no doubt as to what should be stored in the bays. They still are not ready for use as we need to line the bases with weed suppressant.
August 3 2008
We are steadily progressing with the communal area in spite of a large stpe backwards courtesy of a local tree services company. They were working in the area and decided to offload three lorry loads of chippings onto he area that we have cleared and covered with weed suppressant membrane. A phone call later and they arrived to remove what was an enormous mountain of chippings but in the process ripped up much of the weed suppressant. Another phone call was needed and GEOfabrics Limited, Skelton Grange Road, Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RZ agreed to help out by providing us with more fabric. Andy on plot 44 offered to collect the fabric for us and did so with Jan's help. Today Jan, Tracy plot 51 and Paul plot 48 lined the storage bays. Now we just need to get the council to deliver us a load of chippings to fill the chippings bay. The manure bay is not as straightforward as we are reluctant to fill this with manure since our experiences with contaminated manure so for the moment that bay may house the can collection.
The next step is to sort out the rest of the plot AGAIN!!!
August 22 2008
The first load of wood chippings for the communal pile is delivered! We will only be using council supplied wood chippings for the communal bay as these are chippings from deciduous trees and so will not affect the acid levels in the soil. The council also tell us that there should be no problem with chemical contamination
For now the communal manure bay will be used to house our can recycling collection - until the situation is such that we can fully trust a manure.