NEW HOLES IN THE GROUND ALLOTMENT PLOT IDEA.

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NEW HOLES IN THE GROUND ALLOTMENT PLOT IDEA.
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john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 06 10:53 am Post subject: NEW HOLES IN THE GROUND ALLOTMENT PLOT IDEA.

Hi ALL,may I put forward another idea of mine to do with having a allotment plot to grow things on done in a different way,which you may like to try out on a over grown allotment plot that has not been dug over for a long time.
This I'm putting forward to be used in the South East mainly where we are having less rainfall each year,and we are having a hose pipe ban imposed on us now.
What I'm suggesting is we change our normal way of growing things to fit the drought situation we are now in.,done in the simplest of ways like my container system, which I would have been doing if I had not covered my half allotment plot in unwanted wooden pallets and plastic containers to help reduce them going into landfill sites.
Stage one,clear your allotment plot of weeds first by using a fast acting weed killer,which allows you to grow things soon after using it.
Next decide what and where you are going to grow things ,for example potatos,beans,peas,carrots,lettuces,sweetcorn.,
Now comes the different way I was going to do it,against all the so called experts advice,as I believe they have not tried it out before,which I'm sure I will now get every one talking about in a negative way at first,which I'm sure will change after trying it out to a positive one in the future.
What I propose is that we dig lots of round or square holes all over a plot of land the size we think is the best size for what we intend to grow.
This way it would mean us leaving a surface which can be walked on,remembering with the old way of growing things we nearly always leave a space in-between crops whether it's in rows or individually,leaving a lot of space that been dug over but never gets used,
My way saves all that waste of time and effort in digging over ground surface area to not be used.
The new idea part is just digging holes in a allotment plot that has not been used for a long time,or land that's not been used to grow anything in before. YES,the normal way we would grow things in the ground such as in the garden, we would dig over and over again to keep the weeds down, and to also make it look good too,followed then by planting things in holes.
My way is different you only dig a hole in the ground,thus leaving the area around it to walk on just like you would have a container standing on a patio. If you work out say what a farmer uses of his field,and what is left in-between his crops so that he can get wheels to pass by his crops without flatterning them,it works out a lot,which means he can only grow things in rows,my way works in the same way but you don't have to dig over the land first,which all allotment plot holders do exsept for me.
The end result of my idea is,a plot growing what I want to grow in holes dug out and filled with what ever surrounded by a barrier of soil which will allow any surface water to collect in it,but will not effect the water table because it will slowly drain away after feeding your crop roots first,and you can do the same thing on a slope too,done by digging channels across the slope with holes dug in them to act in the same way as a water guttering channel system does leading to a water butt,but the water butt is your crop hole,plus it will act like it does when we plant trees in the soil to hold the land in place too.
Less digging involved to make your plot have a grid like system,made up of lots of round or square holes with something growing in them.
It's just another way to grow something in a contained space which I'm offering to the world for FREE because I'm like that. John. J.R.P.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 06 11:13 am Post subject:

I thought one of the main reasons for suggesting the ground is dug is to remove the weeds so they don't compete with the plants? Established weeds will easily smother seedlings, even if the hole has been made quite large. You may get away with it with something that will grow quickly such as a squash plant or potatoes; but you may need somewhere to start off many of the plants. Perhaps you could dig part of the allotment and leave the other part? In a way many people seem to do that in their gardens. Permaculture mulch beds also offer a good way to prevent digging and can be made quite small so you can walk round them.

One thing to not about the water table, water falling during the summer doesn't seem to filter down to the water table - that's what the water companies keep telling us in the South East. The water either evaporates directly from the soil or is taken up by the plants and either stays in them or evaporates from them.

john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 06 11:47 pm Post subject: POINTS RAISED.
Hi Treacodacty,thank you for showing your interest in my idea,they say it's good to talk,whilst it's to late for me to reply to your points raised now,I will tomorrow. In the mean time please visit my website www.recycling.moonfruit.com there you will see why I can't use my own allotment plot to prove my system will work. Good night. John.J.R.P.

john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 06 6:22 pm Post subject: WATERING WHAT WE GROW?

Hi Treacodacty,yes raised up beds work surrounded by a path to walk on,and the slabs help to stop the weeds too,and they help to make it look neat and tidy too. What I can't understand is why do we have to water what we grow so much,when mother nature grows so much without everything dying when we have no rainfall for weeks,that's why I said I would not dig over all my plot only the place where I intended to grow something,even to the point of letting the weeds return to cover the surface,which would more than likely have short roots,which I believe would help to stop evaporation.
Can you or anyone else out there tell me why weeds can survive in a drought situation,and yet we have to water what we grow,even though they have mostly the same root systems.
I happen to look over a large community garden surrunded by trees and bushes and a lot of grass yet everything is ok,yet we have to water what we grow if we don't want them to die. WHY. John. J.R.P.

ross

Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Posts: 123

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 06 6:41 pm Post subject:

John, I cannot see how this is a new idea, but to help answer your question on watering:

1) We are growing many plants not native to this country and hence are artificially keeping them thriving
2) Modern cultivars have often been bred to grow quicker and bigger, hence needing more water
3) Many people actually don't water that much, and leave the plant to find it's own water and grow deeper roots
4) In many cases the plants would still survive (like the weeds) without much watering, but would not provide us with a good yield.

crackapple

Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 204
Location: teeside

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 06 7:53 pm Post subject:
john, instead of digging holes all over your plot, why not use large containers. using this method you will not have to waste any time or energy digging! me, i'll stick to the tried and tested way, i'll get my lottie partner to dig the plots.

oddballdave

Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Telford, Shropshire

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 06 8:18 pm Post subject:

Hi John,
this is the growing technique for rice in paddy fields, I have also seen it done in Kenya for cash crops. I also believe the technique is used in many parts of Northern India, mountain areas where the soil is thin and shallow. Pockets of compost are made for each small plant.
Used to concentrate the food for the plant rather than the water, but since watering is done with a bucket of water and a cup, each plant gets its own allocation of water directly at the roots (in the style of square foot gardening).

Mad Dad

Joined: 12 May 2005
Posts: 407
Location: Nowhere near where I want to be

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 06 11:15 pm Post subject:

crackapple wrote:

i'll stick to the tried and tested way, i'll get my lottie partner to dig the plots.

Your lottie partner must be a mug if you can get him to do that. My money says you have got no chance

john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 06 11:33 pm Post subject: GOOD POINTS RAISED FOR ME.

Hi All,great points raised so far,which I'm taking note of.
Whilst I did claim my idea was new to try out,it seems I was right over 8 years ago when I first thought of the idea,along with other ideas too,it's nice to know the system already works in other countrys,which is great as I did not know this.
It's a shame Crackapple you haven't visited my website www.recycling.moonfruit.com because I alone have used over 8,000 plastic containers on my allotment plot to prove you don't have to dig the land to grow something,plus Addballdave I think I've spoken to you before about my simple transportable water recycling system to help feed the poor,if not could you also please visit my website too,as I need people like you who travel the world to help me to spread the word that you can grow rice in a container and other things too. May you and your live long and happy. John. J.R.P.

crackapple

Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 204
Location: teeside

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 06 8:14 pm Post subject:

Mad Dad wrote:

crackapple wrote:

i'll stick to the tried and tested way, i'll get my lottie partner to dig the plots.

Your lottie partner must be a mug if you can get him to do that. My money says you have got no chance

he is!!

oh, and john, i have been to your site ages ago.

oddballdave

Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Telford, Shropshire

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 06 9:15 pm Post subject:
Hi John went to the website a while ago. We discussed the idea that the 'waste' you are using is a currency in the third world, which would limit the numbe rof people willing to take up your challenge. Dave

john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 06 10:56 pm Post subject: PERMACULTURE?

Hi ALL,for those who are interested in my ideas. I went on the internet and I found someone who might be able to help me to spread the word,as most of what I do involves PERMACULTURE in one way or another. He's a Mr Graham Burnett at www.spiralseed.co.uk who I sent a e-mail to the other day,I'm waiting for a reply.

I think I can now call my self an expert on Permaculture on what I've read so far,you might like to visit his site to find out more. John. J.R.P.

john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 06 7:56 am Post subject: PERMACULTURE.
Hi ALL,I did get a reply from Graham Burnett,but he's extremely busy with other verious projects,and life in general,at least he took the time to reply. For those who are interested in my ideas I hope to be on SKY Three TV again The Secret Life of Suburbia this week or next at a different time than before 8am or 1pm. John. J.R.P.

john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 06 10:03 pm Post subject: ASKING FOR HELP?

Hi ALL,for those who are interesed in my ideas,I sent a e-mail to the Permaculture Council of Management UK the other day to see if they can help me to get my ideas used,and I've sent a e-mail to Sir Cliff Richard too,to see if he can help me,as he believes in tying to help others too,in his own way.
I'm waiting for a reply from both of them,I wonder if I will get a reply, as one has two people at the heart of a big organisation,and the other one is a fames person with a big heart who is in his sixtys too,like me.
May you and yours live long and happy. John. J.R.P.

john

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 309
Location: s.e.london

Posted: Thu Aug 17, 06 5:47 pm Post subject: MY FRIEND HENRY.
Hi ALL,good news I have a friend called Henry who is using my hole in the ground way of growing things on our allotment plot site now,who is trying out lots of different crops and ways to see what he can grow. I will try and get him to post on this forum topic to answer any questions you might want to ask him. John. J.R.P.

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