Going for it in Nottingham.

[GardenMike]

Hi Everyone!
Mike here from sunny (?) Arnold, Nottingham. I have had an allotment on the Leapool site for 14 years now and am reasonably well versed in providing food for the table - plenty still to learn though.
I don't know about you but this milarkey with fuel prices has really got me fired up (sorry bout the pun) to the extent that we are having the gas fire ripped out in a couple of weeks and a log burner fitted. Phase one of the project only involves heating the living room but this will hopefully soon be developed into a full water heating system. My aim is to use as much free locally sourced firewood as possible - living on the edge of Sherwood Forest should help.
I tend towards the mechanised on my garden - having recently bought a 9hp rotavator to complement my Mantis which has been a useful tool for more than 10 years. This love of garden machinery stems back to my youth when Dad used an Anzani Land Horse to cultivate his postage stamp plot - I still have the muscles (and aches!)
Despite the wet summer its been a good year for sweetcorn and squash (Crown Prince, Butternut, Harrier and Jack O'Lantern for the kids Halloween competition.) Onions were smitten with the usual white rot and my toms have just keeled over thanks to blight but a super crop of spuds (Sarpo Mira, Kestrel and Rocket) and root crops have made up for this.
I moved plots on our site back in the Spring and have only just got things straight. My two greenhouses are sorted and I've just finished building a woodstore behind my 12' shed and a small garage (with wood drying area) for my trailer. We have a source for 'end of life' scaffold planks which come in very handy for raised beds and building projects.
I've rabbitted on enough! I look forward to learning from you all and maybe throwing some specks of knowledge into the pot.
Take care.
Mike

[Trace45]

Hello from another Newbie. No allotment but do have woodburner and loads of wood from skips to chop!

[GardenMike]

Hi Trace,
Does the wood that you typically get from skips burn very well?
Most of the logs that can be bought seem to be native hardwood so I am wondering how pallets etc compare. Suppose that if its wood and its free then its worth having.
Mike

[Annpan]

Welcome to 'ish

I find pallet wood burns very well, infact often it burns a little too hot, I would mix it with some soft wood logs to balance it well - and make sure you get a stove thermometer so you know when it is working at optimum temperature.

[Fizzy Izzy]

Welcome!

I just moved away from Nottingham, but I really enjoyed living there.

Hope you enjoy the forum

[weatherwax]

Hi, I'm Notts/Derbys border

[ina]

Hiya, Mike - welcome to the Ishers!

[Millymollymandy]

Hello and welcome!

[Rosendula]

Hi