There is always work to be done around the allotment site. The Rule of Six came into operation at the beginning of the month it meant we could feel comfortable about having contractors on-site. Placed on the back-burner when Covid-19 turned up the up-grading of the bays plans could now be got out and dusted down. There were two tasks to tackle. We needed to replace the old manure and wood-chip bays at the North end of the site. Better easier access bays, so that the manure was better contained ,and easier to drop into by our supplier. We could then work on improving the mud and grass roadway on the West side.
Out with the Old
So what work to be done over the week? Thank goodness that the weather held out. Sunshine days. The old bays were taken down and materials removed to a skip. Concrete posts put in and new concrete wall slabs slotted into place. The floor was scraped by a bucket digger. Stone chippings created a base for the new concrete screed floor to be poured and left to set. All overseen by the Secretary and Chair. Delivered on time and in budget.
How we use the manure
Manure is delivered to site in a tractor and trailer. It is purchased by the association for the use of plot holders on the allotment site. A local DIY Livery business, Clifton House Farm, is our supplier. The horses and ponies liveried there create the nutrient rich piles. Horse manure conditions the soil. There is a lot of worms in it, as they love horse urine, and their digesting helps it break up. Breaking up the soil makes gaps for water to go into. It takes between 6-8 months for horse manure to compost to a granular soil type structure. It can be left on top of soil or dug in. Some people put it in a composting bin for a while to break down over the autumn and winter and then spread it in the spring.
Bob and Fay took over a petting farm run by Salford Council. The farm is roughly 18 acres and they share it
with a lot of cats, dogs and some donkeys. Some of the cat were feral and have been kept inside to get them used to people. They are then released to join the other cats roaming the farm … 21 at the time of writing and counting! In this very horsey area, there is also a riding school based opposite Clifton & Kearsley .
Next job? More work to be done
So whilst the manure bay concrete is setting, there’s more work to be done. Road surface improvements can get underway. [Updated: the first load of manure on the solid base of the new bay.]
