Another hello

[sharlr]

Hello folks. I stumbled across this site tonight whilst surfing for advice on growing sweetcorn. This is just the kind of site I've been looking for.

I live in Hastings, in the UK, with my daughter and three cats. We have a large balcony where most of my self sufficient(ish) activities take place.

I've built myself two slightly ramshackle composters, both of which are pretty ripe at the moment. Just next to one of those is a mini-lawn which the cats like to chill out on. A fair amount of space is taken up with plant containers made out of old catering tubs, paint tubs and the occasional real plant pot.

I've been experimenting with new crops this year, as until recently I'd only ever grown things at an allotment. So, we've got carrots, barrel potatoes, sweetcorn, courgettes, spinach and tomatoes alongside one or two flowering plants.

One spare corner is taken up with stuff for building projects and recycling.

Thankfully, there's still enough room to cook and eat out there.

We recycle a lot, and due to the fact that our local Council have only just got their recycle scheme up and running, I take in a lot of my friends recycling and add it to our own.

I'm part of a composting initiative, which is taking some time to get going, but it's early days and we're hopeful for the future.

I'm also a member of a local food co-op, another new project.

So, that's me. Was going to add a pic to my profile to show you all, but was unable to upload it. not sure if it was my pc being stubborn, or if it was a site-relsted issue. Would be cool to get sorted if possible.

[Muddypause]

Hello Sharlr, welcome along. I used to spend my summer holidays near Hastings many years ago.

Several people seem to have had trouble uploading an avatar to their profile. I finally managed it by first uploading it to my webspace, and then pointing my profile at that. No idea why it's a problem. Meantime you'll just have to make do with Margo looking her usual grumpy self.

[Millymollymandy]

Welcome to the forum Sharlr - hope you find the site useful.

Your balcony sounds like it's thriving and good for you with your recycling and composting initiatives.

[2steps]

hello

Your balcony sounds excellent!

Went to hastings camping alot when we were kids. Used to stay at a campsite on top of a huge hill. I remeber one year we went with some of my dads friends and had a caravan instead of the tent and my dad and some of the other adults had to get out and push the caravan from behind as the car just couldn't manage it up the hill!

[Wombat]

G'Day Sharlr,

What you are doing sounds great! Smelly composters are a problem, I am building a clay pizza oven and had to move two full composters so that they didn't stink the area out!

Nev

[shiney]

Welcome Sharlr!

You are certainly busy with all your growing. I hope that you get some good yields.

I did the same with my avatar by uploading it to my webspace and then uploading it to here. I still have to suss out the file sizing though. Not one of my strong points!

[ina]

Hi Sharlr

Your balcony sounds huuuge! Great, though. One of my future flats had two balconies; so I had one "veggie" balcony and one "flower and herb" one.

(Why can I edit this one? Has some site wizzard or other realised that I've been writing rubbish - of course it wasn't a future flat, but a previous one... ... and it wasn't even that late in the evening, and not a single drop of alcohol had passed my lips!!!)
And I am glad to see somebody else has recognised the value of catering tubs. I used to work in a hotel kitchen and still have marmelade buckets and soup containers (green square ones), which I use for plants as well as (with their lids) small indoors compost waste buckets. Wish I had more of them; stupidly I gave away all my gravy powder buckets - they were a nice cheerful yellow.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the forum

Ina

[diver]

Hi Sharir.....how big is your balcony????...sounds bigger than most....I did the Hastings half marathon last year and all I remember about it is the hills ...they felt like mountains at the time. Welcome to the site I am sure you will enjoy it.

[gunners71uk]

hi sharir pls to meet you i used to live nr burgess hill on the way to lewes hastings rail route.all the best

[Andy Hamilton]

Hi shair a very delayed welcome to the site. Give me a pm about your pic if you still want it up.