Making paths

Thanks to the wonders of B&Q and their builders section we now have shiny new paths for our veg plot. The builders section is cheaper than the ornamental stone in the gardening section. We bought many (many many....many) bags of limestone chippings (2 person job to push the trolley) and a roll of weed-proof fabric, which we then tried to cut and fit on one of the most windy days in May so far. They may have been some bad tempered muttering...and one accidental stoning.

More Hard Labour

So this weekend was one of labour. On Saturday end of the garden was attached by me and my mate Ant (friends with muscles help), we've managed to dig out almost all of the turf now, the only bit left is under the pile of dug up turf we have created (the floor in an otherwise winning plan). In the evening it was off out to buy a Hippo Bag for the waste.

I realised with dismay that the rat problem is still excalating, not only are they are refusing to take the bait from the bait boxes but they have now discovered the delights of the compost bin. I have done some reading and have decided that I shall be buying a pre moulded plastic base tray for the bottom of the bin to provide some rat protection and wrapping the whole thing in chicken wire (maybe overkill but I am so sick of bloody rats in the garden!). I have also just purchased a Bokashi system.

The Bokashi system cleverly pickles down your waste (even meat, fish and dairy), fermenting it into a better state for composing in your cmpost bin (or burying in the ground). It also apparently creates a hotter compost bin, which should nicely speed up the rotting. This is good from two aspects, the rats apparently dislike fermented waste, and the compost should be ready quicker than it would in a slow bin. I found out my local council offer a reasonable deal on Bokashi bins, so I bought mine from their website (birmingham.getcomposting.com)

Sunday was the big push. We worked from 11am to 7pm without a break, we being me and Nath, plus my mom and dad. We've cleared 90% of the turf, rubble and junk from the end of the garden, and lots from all over the garden really. It was surprisingly easy to fill a 1ton Hippo Bag! I think we may need another! Today I ache like a bugger, but I am hoping that one more serious session in the garden, plus buying and errecting the boards to make the raised beds will be enough to have a useable veg garden. Hopefully the rats will be eliminated soon. Not sure I want to even think about eating from where rats are walking!

The start of new things

Today we made a start on changing the garden at our new house. We bought our sub-urban mid-terrace house in the late summer/early autumn of 2009 but have not really had time to do much to the garden yet. We wanted to create a vegetable garden at the far end. At the time of purchase the end of the garden was a waste land of plastic, metal bedsprings and ash. The groud was uneven, strewn with huge rocks and covered in grass. The section was elevated from the main garden using 1ft concrete knickboards. There was lots of work to do.

It all started here

This is the garden when we started. No fences other than council wire mesh, plenty of bind weed and plenty of overgrown grass and half burnt rubbish.