Page 17 - ALG Issue 3 2023

poem
Allotments Week 2023 by Clare Donnison
A lot is going on at allotments near you
And not just at the surface, but underground too Beneath beds and rows – views of bountiful green
A dark world of soil multitasking unseen
The plants up above help themselves to their needs They’ve been ‘soil dependent’ since starting as seeds It helped them to germinate, grow, reproduce
We need to replenish what is left via their roots!
And microbes and fungi are part of the team
With nematodes, spiders, bacteria; Unseen
They regulate nutrients and decompose waste
All this cooperation prepares a base.
For optimum vegetables, flowers and fruit
Pride for those gardening, and plots of repute
But they’re not on their own, they get help from above Allotment folk demonstrate hard work and love Adding egg shells, banana skins, comfrey and more - Compost and - best of all, rotted manure
They’ll help protect the soil as it helps protect us. Sequestering Carbon is a definite plus,
The soil needs protection to maintain its health.
We don’t want erosion or leaching, we’ll help
So celebrate soils for this week and have pride
In all our allotments and what they provide!
Allotment Association
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Allotment and Leisure Gardener 17