16. It's not about you joggers...

It's about harvesting veg grown by my own fair hands (if slightly muddy).

I had my first harvesting day (mid July when I started writing this post!), and it was such a great feeling!

The car boot was full of onions and garlic, and it was a gorgeous day. As I left the allotment, I thought that this is what life is about. It might take away some hours from my free time, but in the peace and quiet of our allotment, protected by 8ft high hedges from the rush of city life, it certainly doesn't seem like a chore. And after a few months of turning up and doing a minimal weeding, I had a bumper crop. Admittedly, they won't be winning prizes, but I can confirm that they taste great!

And now to the weather...

Where has the sun gone?! I have possibly a hundred small green tomatoes in the greenhouse (I went a bit overboard), and they are not showing any sign of turning red. I have taken down the screening, that I had needed to protect my baby plants in the spring - back in the days when we had too much sun! Now the plants are as tall as me, and covered in flowers and fruits, the sun is nowhere to be seen. The weeds outside are loving the wet weather, however!

And of course, not forgetting the wildlife...

I am pleased to announce that we are doing our bit for the honey bees which are in decline. They absolutely love my tomato and tomatillo plants in the greenhouse (there are plenty of bee sized gaps between panes of glass even with the windows closed!). I have also bought a lavender plant, which will be a permanent fixture near the blackcurrant plant. My lavender plants at home are always covered in bees, so this should keep them coming back when the tomato flowers have finished.

Mr Fox has also had a fun time lately. Mark forgot to close the greenhouse door last week, and the fox got in and had a great time throwing gloves and empty fruit juice cartons around the allotment! I wish I saw him more often, so I could get a photo.