Page 12 - ALG Issue 3 2021

the young plotters club Tom’s tips...
I love the summertime! The things I like about it most are the long sunny days which makes it feel like we have so much extra time after school. I do like school, but I really like having extra time at the allotment.
It is a really busy time at the allotment, and I have been busy transferring lots of plants I have grown from seed in the greenhouse to the outside.
As some of you may know, I keep honeybees and have three hives that are doing really well. But honeybees aren’t the only animals that help pollinate our flowers and vegetables. I have been busy over the last few months trying to make a wildlife area at the bottom of my allotment plot to attract more wildlife and insects that help pollinate plants.
I found an old pond on a recycling site, and it was a lot bigger than I thought itwas!Oncewegotit,Ihadtodiga huge hole in the shape of the pond
and eventually managed to get it in the ground. It’s not perfectly flat, but it’s
not meant to be! I scattered wildflower seeds around the outside of the pond to help grow British wild meadow flowers that insects love. It is not finished yet, but it is looking really good! I hope to attract butterflies, moths, beetles,
and other insects that will pollinate
all of the plants on my allotment and beyond. Making a wildlife area is really simple and can make a big difference
to your allotment site. Just by keeping
a small area of your plot to grow wild will produce wonderful flowers that bees and insects will love. You can
also make a simple pond by burying a small washing up bowl or bucket in the ground which will become full of life shortly after!
I have planted lots of veg on my plot this year including broccoli, pumpkin, tomatoes, peas, and sweetcorn. Sweetcorn is amazing as it self- pollinates. You have to plant them in squares, not rows because the male part of the corn which grows at the top of the plant drops its pollen onto the female parts further down the stem. The wind helps blow the pollen down from the tassels, so it doesn’t need insects to help!
My chickens are doing well, and they are really enjoying the warmer weather. They are laying lots of eggs which I sell
My chickens are doing well, and they are really enjoying the warmer weather
to other people at the allotment. It helps me pay for their food, but I also used some of the money for something else...
I did something really crazy... I BOUGHT A GOAT! I volunteer at a small wildlife sanctuary at the weekend and the mummy goats all had babies, called kids. I was lucky enough to look after them the days they were born, and I bought one to help me learn how to care for animals. Her name is Matilda, and she will stay with her sisters, but I am responsible for taking care of her. I will learn all about them and hopefully she will move to my own farm when I am older.
12 Allotment and Leisure Gardener