Wheelie Bin recycled as a wheel barrow

Wheelie bin converted to wheel barrow Found this burnt out wheelie bin dumped on the allotment and converted it into a useful wheel barrow. You can see at the bottom of the wheelie bin where the plastic has melted. So I cut most of the burnt out top section leaving the bottom half to hold waste and soil. It's not the perfect solution by any means. It does tip over for emptying with a bit of effort by pulling the wheels up and pushing the top down. Because the wheels are made of solid plastic it would never be as efficient as inflated tyres over rough ground so one tends to pull it along rather than push it. However it does hold a surprising amount of top soil and rubbish when you need it. Not as efficient as a brand new shiny wheelbarrow of course but it does work after a fashion when one gets used to its peculiarities and is now used all the time. I have used a abandoned damaged product, recycled it and made good use of it. And of course it was free ! Wheelie bin wheel barrow If you have recycled anything in the same way let us know in the comment box below, it would be great to hear of your ingenuity and resourcefulness.

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Identifying frogs and toads : PDF : Information

We found a frog on the allotment and if you have trouble working out if it's a frog or toad or any type of amphibian here is a useful PDF for identifying frogs and amphibians in your garden from the Amphibian and Reptile Group UK (ARGUK)

Recommended Book - Allotment Month by Month By Alan Buckingham

Allotment Month by Month By Alan Buckingham

Allotment Month by Month By Alan Buckingham from Amazon.co.uk This is a book I use all the time. Working and growing on the allotment can get to be a complicated task trying to remember what to do, when and what to grow. Alan Buckingham's book helps to simplify this process. A clear well thought out book with lots of pictures, monthly tasks, details on individual vegetables, fruits and herbs. If you are having problems with pests and diseases there is a also a trouble-shooter section to help combat them.

Crab apple fruit tree in an arch

Crab apple arch in walled garden A graceful arch of crab apples in the walled garden at Arley Hall Gardens in Cheshire, UK. The time of the year is late October and this cultivated crab apple is dripping in juicy fruit. I'm certain it will be covered in apple blossom at the beginning of the year which would be a delight.. Don't know the variety but they look healthy and delicious as can be seen below. This idea would make a great addition to any garden if there is the space, patience and ability to make use of all those crab apples. Crab apples aplenty 10 facts about the crab apple 1. The crab apple is the ancestor of the modern cultivated apple. 2. The wood  of the crab apple is very consistent in form and excellent for woodworking. 3. Fruit is used for crab apple jelly and wine because of the high content of pectin. 4. Crabapples are widely grown as ornamental trees, either for their flowers, the colour and shape of the fruit or both. 5. Crab-apples are popular for use in bonsa. 6. The wood of the crab apple as with all apple trees gives off a pleasant scent when burned. 7. Also the wood when burned can be used for smoking of food. 8. The fruit is rarely eaten because it is sour in taste. This I know because I have tried to eat crab apples raw. 9. The wood is good for cooking because it burns hot and slow with little flame. 10. Certain types of crab apple are placed in the orchards of ordinary apples as an aide to pollination.

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Pictures of Green Beans : Vegetable

Vegetable : Green Beans

Lots of green beans to eat, yum yum !

Green Beans and their flowers

Beside being delicious to eat they the flowers of green are very nice to look at and would not be out of place in the ordinary garden.

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Video : Terracotta Pots : Easy self watering irrigation for plants

Here is a very useful system for watering your plants while you are away, keeping plants watered for up to 3-4 days without your intervention

Pictures of Aster flowers thriving in the autumn sunshine

Aster Flowers thriving

In a corner of the allotment there are Asters that are thriving. Click on the images to see more.

Aster flowers closeup

The reason might be that the soil is slightly more damp and has lots of organic matter incorporated into the soil.

Aster Flowers

The time of year is late September, early October.

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