Selfsufficientish.com

Did you find anything interesting or useful as you cleared that jungle?

I was glad to finish the clearing part and put in some garlic and onions, still loads to do (as with all plots I think). Going to get rid of the back pigeon lofts left from previous owner and put in a polly tunnel, I am a big chili and tomato fan so would love to do loads of them . A new shed and a small area to 'chill out' (or chili out) is needed too as I seem only to work from the moment I get there till I leave. Its such a lovely site which looks over a part of Dover, should make sure I get some time to soak it all in.

Left on the plot wre a few wonders. 3 cherry trees, 5 apple, raspberries and rhubarb.

Oooo sounds like what we've just taken on. Especially the brambles, not looking forward to hacking and hauling through them

We beat a couple of paths through it yesterday with the trusty machetes and today it feels like my thumbs going to drop off.

And we only managed about 30ft of clearance! Its going to be a long summer...

All good fun though

my garden has become overgrown again, as after i took my crop, i had little time to begin weeding, and due to the wet wether, and humid conditions, it grew back covering my plot just as bad as when i started it, but oh well, i will just spend another week clearing it, and if i dont plant anythin, ill just put a few tarporlin sheets on it.

all work and no play makes jack a dull beanstork

jenko wrote: Does anyone know anything organic that can kill brambles? Or is it just a fork and pick afair for me?

We got a plot which was FULL of bramble roots. The allotment committee had slashed them back, but all the roots were there, ready to grow back. We dug them out using the right angled fork from http://www.get-digging.co.uk/tools.htm after getting a tip regarding them and how VERY good they are for getting bramble roots out on growfruitandveg.co.uk forum.

I can't begin to tell you the massive difference it made once we used this rather than a traditional fork! I've heard that pick axes and mattocks are good too, but they were too heavy for me.

The other tool I can't recommend too highly, which is available at the same site, is the azada. We use that all the time for breaking up new ground and for digging generally. Much better than a spade, and our backs thank us Later, after finding how good the first 2 tools were, I got a smaller implement (can't remember the name) from the same site, which is an azada on one side and a fork on the other. I use that a lot when digging small holes to plant out stuff, or to make a small trench, etc. I'm glad I got it, but it isn't quite as useful as the other 2.