My Kitchen Garden Story!

[JustGrowVeg]

This is my story of how I caught the 'Grow Your Own' bug

It all began during a trip to B and Q, where I caught sight of some scraggly-looking tomato plants. Into the trolley then went, and...



Before my poor mum knew what had happened, I'd already started digging up a healthy-sized patch of the garden! (I must add that this is not how it originally looked - this photo was taken today.)

After a surprisingly successful first year utilising only the patch and some grow bags, I embarked upon the second year with some brand new additions - a 6' by 8' greenhouse and a half-sized allotment!






It's not always been a walk in the park, but it certainly is a lot of fun. The proof is in the pudding! Or stew...pie...roast...
Unfortunately, I've been unable to dig out photos of the allotment from when we first acquired it - this is how it looked around March/April 2010. It's not such a pretty sight at the moment, but with a few hard weekends' work it should be back on form and ready for the new season!

Later that year, the back garden suddenly became even more interesting...




When these ex-battery hens first arrived, they were looking rather worse for wear; feathers sparse, combs pale and terrified of the outside world. We gradually nursed them back to full health and they are looking feathersome again but since the very first night these ladies have been laying like clockwork! We originally had four chickens, but sadly one passed away due to old age

Now onto this year, and yet another new addition!



I've extended the home vegetable patch with a new raised bed! This is how the garden is looking at the moment, and all I've got left to do is start planting! The best bit

This hasn't been my handy-work alone; I have to give thanks to my partner Abi who has put in many an hour of hard work, and my parents who also help when they can

I hope this will prove just how easy it is to get started, and with any luck will inspire people to do the same as us!

Josh

[johnmichael]

i started growing veg in my mothers garden 40+ years ago,encouraged by a friend in the local pub giving me a few cabbage plants and instructions on planting. Now being retired i spend happy hours in my own small back garden,utilising all the space for veg.growing that i can.

[JustGrowVeg]

It's amazing how everyone starts out growing veg! I hope that I continue till I'm retired I never want to lose interest in something that is so satisfying

[Andy230262]

looks great and just love those hens.
Why raised veg patch?

I am new here
Regards
Andy

[Jesse_Richards]

Some beautiful allotments here

[colin1957]

Looks very nice indeed, both garden and the allotment. It has inspired me to crack on with my small patch at home

[Kimby]

This looks brilliant Josh. I moved into my house at the end of March 2010 and within 2 weeks we'd started building my raised beds. I now have 3 for veg and one 6ft tall x 3m long netted fruit cage (to keep birds and cats off!) I agree that this is the best use for garden space and incredibly satisfying.

[GMB27]

Fantastic looking allotments!

[love2dig]

Brilliant - looks good and is certainly an inspiration.

[Alison_Kristina]

I'm envious! And if we had a proper back garden (or even a secure back yard) we'd definitely have some hens.

I've heard about adopting battery hens, it's a fab idea, and gives them a wonderful retirement they could never have imagined.

P.s. Here's the address for the UK adopt a hen scheme http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

Ali.

[vegetable-gardener]

We bought some multi coloured hens. Well worth keeping. We bought 4 chickens: a brown one, blue one, black one and a white one.

[Organic Kitchen Gard]

SO jealous of the allotment and the chickens!!

[GMB27]

Id love to try keeping hens! Very jealous! How often do they lay?