The Lookout at Toaves 🌱

Working an allotment through the seasons in the north of England.
Instagram: Lookout at Toaves

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

@Englishomestead Have you had a visit from the sourdough police?

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Today's selection.

#hardworkpaysoff💪 #toaves #slicing #freshveggies #freshflowers #zerofoodmiles #zerowaste #freezerstash

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Homegrown loveliness in the pan, slowly simmering. Will look forward to eating this rainbow in the depths of winter.

#chutney #allotmentcolour #allotmentharvest #eatingtherainbow #toaves ##zerowaste #zerofoodmiles #peelingsforcompost

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Progress is gradually being made bringing my plot under control.

#toaves #plotclearance #allotmentrenovation #allotmentrevamp #allotmentlife #nettlerootremoval #canseewhereivebeen #earlydays

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

A bit of lagging for the tap.

#toaves #tap #lagging #modcons #allotmentlife #allotmentupgrade

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Further progress. 3rd bed complete & 2 more beds marked out.

#toaves #allotmentrenovation #newbeds #tamingtheslope #terracing #allotmentlife

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Raspberry canes planted up in new bed (still being weeded).

#toaves #newplot #newbed #raspberrycanes #allotmentlife #allotmentrenovation

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Making good progress on the new plot. Gooseberries, & blackcurrants (from another plot holder), planted up. My technical assistant is a dab hand with recycling bits of wood.
#toaves #newplot #gooseberries #blackcurrant #allotmentgifts #allotmentcommunity #allotmentlife #path

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

More nettles, weeds & rubbish removed from the new plot. Hopefully I'll be able to plant something this season after all. 😀

#toaves #weeding #soilpreparation #preparationiskey #allotmentrenovation #allotmentlife #2023growingseason

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Garlic & some of the shallots planted up on the old plot.

#toaves #garlic #shallots #plantedup #allotmentlife #beautifulsoil #2023growingseason

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

A little more weeding, and shifting of top soil.

#toaves #weeding #coveringwithtopsoil #allotmentrenovation #allotmentlife #preparationiskey #2023growingseason

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Layering up. Manure on top of the clay level. Shifting some weeded top soil on top of that. Unglamorous, but necessary on the new plot.

#toaves #bedpreparation #manure #topsoil #weeding #allotmentrenovation #soilimprovement #allotmentlife #preparationiskey #2023growingseason

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

A bit of fence repair, with missing posts replaced.

#toaves #allotmentrenovation #fence #fencingproject #rabbitdefences #newplot #preparationiskey #allotmentlife

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

The first seeds are sown.

#toaves #seedstarting #andwereoff #2023campaign #2023growingseason #seedsowing

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Operation steps. Heavy old concrete slabs moved from my old plot. Many thanks must go to my technical assistant.
#toaves #plotwelcome #steps #solidsteps #slipprevention #allotmentrevamp #allotmentlife

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

His 'n' hers allotment gates. At last we have adjacent plots. A long overdue renovation is required to enable planting to begin.

#toaves #allotmentwelcome #allotmentgates #welcometotheplot #allotmentrevamp #loveaproject #allotmentlife

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Gate installation in progress. It fits, it hangs, & it closes. Some practical & aesthetic modifications to be made. Good teamwork with my technical assistant.

#toaves #gate #gateinstallation #upcycled #plotwelcome #allotmentlife #allotmentrevamp

[Reading, Gardening. Surviving @MichellePraiz]

This is my dream.
To garden this spring. It’s such a wonderful way to feel good.

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Checking our new creation to ensure it will fit the entrance to my new allotment. All upcycled wood.

#toaves #gate #upcycle #newallotment #rabbitdefences #allotmentlife #allotmentrenovation

[The Lookout at Toaves 🌱 @ToavesG]

Despite some gentle flurries, I persuaded my technical assistant to help me improve the perimeter fencing on the new plot.
#toaves #newplot #preparationiskey #fencingproject #antibunnybarrier