5 Questions, 5 Answers and 5 YouTuber’s
Amanda from AJ’s Allotment asked me to answer 5 questions and then tag 5 additional people who I’d like to see answer the same questions.
There’s no obligation to answer of course, but if you fancy it, then I’m sure people would appreciate the answers.
So first, thanks to Amanda at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCozBzyVZ2U7KK5qM0pg2Rsw
My nominees are:
Richard from The veg Grower podcast
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKy6HWpf4as1gNFiGFm7tBg
Nigel from MuddyBootz
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXArJgv9p3jqnQL-Cv-nIIg
Mike Hurdiss
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7LWcSDp0rlEXyPcMfvWkuw
Michael Brotherton
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqEi7lhxLzkZtdkuGp581w
and last but by no means least (and if you’ve seen his allotments then you know I’m not just being kind) Nic from Nic’s Allotment
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyGAu1K7eYq2PeWPnx5gqvA
If you are new to my allotment videos you might find a bit of context useful. We have three allotments in my family, mine (Steve), my wife’s (Debbie) and one of our daughter’s (Jennie). We also have a small kitchen garden at home. They are all managed in an integrated fashion, so don’t expect to see the usual mix of veg on each plot.
On Jennie’s plot, for example, we focus on potatoes, squash, alliums, and brassicas. This video provides an overview https://youtu.be/q1k-2vIoSQ8. I do a monthly tour of each allotment, roughly one a week, you can find the tours here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFhKoRR-NiCJn5Y6rZf0RCCqycu3xvofX.
Our approach to allotment life is to: grow as much as we possibly can, to be self-sufficient in veg all year round and in fruit in summer, to give away our huge surplus to friends and family, and to have as much fun as possible.
My wife and I spend about 4 hours a day, 4 days a week on the plots (on average) and we keep nudging that down as we eliminate non-productive work: like grass cutting, weeding and watering as much as practical. We are both newbie gardeners, only starting the allotments in 2016.
I’m a bit obsessive about the nutrient density of the veg that we grow and making the plots easy to work because it’s through this allotment lifestyle and food that I’ve overcome a debilitating auto-immune disease.
I’m always aware though that it might not last so I make sure that I don’t work too hard, eat the most organic fruit and veg I can and design the plots so that I can still work them if I flare up again.
