The Concrete And The Clay Beneath My Feet, Begins To Crumble!
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The Concrete and The Clay Beneath My Feet, Begins to Crumble…….. In The Words Of Randy Edelman or Unit 4 plus 2, if that’s the version You Remember.
Anyway, my new veg patch is beginning to look like a veg patch at last instead of a site for a new pond or wishing well.
This is how the side garden looked last November when i first started but then had o stop because of a bad back.Little did I know, at this stage, what was ahead
Yes, I’ve finally got all of my new veg patch dug over.Back in November I hit a snag when I came to plant my Raspberry canes that had arrived in the post. I’d already started digging the lawn up for my patch but the dreaded bad back struck. So, I popped out with the canes and intended digging a small trench to plant them in. However,as some of you already know, I struck a large lump of concrete which after a few sessions, I managed to get rid of.Or, at least I managed to get enough of it out to give enough depth(I hope ) for the Raspberry canes to grow in. They don’t have particularly deep roots.
After the delay for the snow, frost, ice and then more snow in November and December, I got half of the patch dug over and incorporated some lovely home made compost. I then set about skimming up what was lef of the lawn on the other half of the patch, when another problem arose. This one was much more serious. Julie’s mum passed away in early January so, of course, everything stopped whilst we went backward and forward to Sussex(where she lived).As there was a post mortem(due to the fact she’d had a small fire) to ascertain whether the fire had anything to do with her passing, there was a delay of 3 weeks when we couldn’t do much, so I set about digging again, to take my mind off it all, as much as anything.
My little mate Jack(from next door) was off school one day when his mum went to work so he came in with me and was very excited about digging, as well as testing the ph of some soil I’d dug up a few days before.As he dug he said “Paul, there’s something hard here”. I crossed my fingers and hoped it wasn’t another lump of concrete. But I obviously didn’t cross my toes as well because it WAS another lump and this one, it turned out, was bigger and more stubborn than the first.
What with running back and forth to E.Sussex to arrange funeral and clean the bungalow up etc, I haven’t spent as much time on the ‘lump’ as I’d have liked and it really was beginning to worry me. I thought I’ll never have the patch ready for planting in spring. I even wished I’d never started it.But, I only wished that for a while because I really do want a bigger patch at home as I’ve given up my large(allotment sized) plot at one of my customer’s gardens as it was so far away, as well as other problems.But, a few days ago I continued digging as well as knocking lumps off it with various implements….ie an old sledge hammer which I managed to snap the handle off, my trusty old steel post which I managed to bend, a length of scaffold pole, a crow bar,club hammer,cold chisel and bolster.
I’ve had a few days break from it and decided to re commence battle today. I wasn’t going to be beaten!!!!
We’ve got to go down to Sussex again tomorrow and maybe Monday and Tuesday to try and get the bungalow a bit tidier(mainly cleaning the smoke damage) ready for people to come back after the funeral which is finally taking place next Wednesday. Fortunately, as we’d thought all along, the smoke had nothing to do with it.She was only a week off 89 and had died of natural causes, which was, of course a relief for Julie and her sister.She’d managed to stay in her beloved bungalow until the end which was her intention. Every cloud has a silver lining, doesn’t it?
Anyway, I approached the ‘lump’ with new enthusiasm and strength today, although my strength doesn’t last long these days(I’ve got Fibro Myalgia to thank for that!) I managed to break a largish lump off and then kept chipping away at the main lump. And , eventually, (HALLELUJAH!!!!) I managed to struggle and lift the last piece out of the hole.
I really had begun to wonder if this would ever happen. Now I’ve large lumps of concrete and lots of horrible clay soil to take to the tip(re cycling centre) but that can wait for another day. Now, our soil is so heavy that it really is very difficult to dig, and now I had to fill this huge hole back up but I didn’t want to put all the horrible sub soil back in.
Some of you may think I’m exaggerating about just how heavy our clay is(well us blokes are given to a bit of exaggerating to be fair!!) but really, this is almost pure clay. And to demonstrate, I knocked up a quick earthenware cup( pretty impressive heh?) But I don’t think the pottery industry of Stoke on Trent etc, need worry about the competition just yet. My technique needs a little perfecting , me thinks. See picture!!!!
But, after all this digging ,chiselling and lifting etc, I deserved a break but decided to use one of our cups from the kitchen rather than risk my new creation!!!!!
What a beauty eh Eat your hearts out Royal Doulton!! I bet they’re trembling in their boots!!
My nice new gardening mug..a christmas present from Julie! Must try not to drop this one!
Have a break…have a Kit Kat as Mr Nestle would say!!!
That’s better…………………….
Back to digging the rest of the patch. I was tired but absolutely determined, once I’d got the concrete out, to get the patch dug over before it got dark.
This second part of the patch will be used this year for roots(potatoes mainly but also Carrots, Parsnips, Beetroot etc.) so I needed to refer back to my soil test of a few weeks ago.As I expected, the mixture had turned a bright green(much to the delight of my apprentice, Jack) to confirm that the soil in this section was very alkaline (ph 8+).As most of you know, this won’t do for potatoes (scab in particular is caused by too much alkalinity) so I really need to set about correcting it. I think I’ve left it a bit late, but we’ll see how we get on. I’ve got some old bark chips which I didn’t use when i bought them a few years ago, and they’ve started to rot down so I’ve dug them along with some sharp sand, in the hope of breaking up the clay and reducing the ph of the soil. 
I’ll let you know how I get on. But, for now, I’m happy just to have got rid of the concrete and given the soil a first dig over.
What do you reckon?? I think it’s getting there, don’t you!!!!!
Hopefully,I will be using these afterall.
And these!
I hope it made you smile. I can smile now that ****** lump of concrete’s gone
Happy Gardening
Paul The Gardener
3 Feb, 2011
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Comments
awww well done you! Lots of hard work went into that, but well worthy it in the end especially when it starts to produce goodies :)))), keep us posted won't you:))))
3 Feb, 2011
I shall keep you updated.
I don't know what the concrete was for but they were 6ft apart , so a fence of some sort,(the rotten remains of the wooden posts were still in evidence) I should think! Must've been when it was farmland though before the house was built in late 50's as this is in the middle of our side garden(we're on a corner).
3 Feb, 2011
You have worked so hard on your veg plot Paul and you have achieved so much despite all the set backs. I admire your persistence. Very well done you. :o) :o) :o)
Love the rustic cup......get it glazed and it can be the Paul the Gardener "for Perseverance against all odds" cup.
3 Feb, 2011
wow Paul that was hard work..i was shattered just reading this,you have done really well its coming along great..well done & top marks for determination..so sorry to hear about Julie,s mum, i lost my mum too on the 19th dec so i know how hard it is..i hope all goes well next wed,See what you mean about the clay but you could have put a fancy pattern on your creation..lol :o)
3 Feb, 2011
Paul you have done brilliantly, with all the pressure of Julies loss and yours. I only started gardening a year before my mum died (3 years), and it was she that inspired me. I'm sure that you will find somewhere to plant a rememberance plant somewhere in your garden. There's nothing like an apprentice to help and I'm sure Jack will learn loads, commiseration's to Julie and yourself, and happy gardening.
3 Feb, 2011
I agree with Joan ... worn out after just reading this ... and I thought our soil (Sussex clay) was bad ... it's great compared to yours! Can you dig some grit in with each planting? I found it helps to break up the clay ... mushroom compost added has helped too. Admire your persistence! : o )
3 Feb, 2011
Crikey Paul, what are you some kind of Superman? A job like that would be hard enough on decent soil for a superfit man without your health problems. You've done a brilliant job and deserve a good rest now, well done!
So sorry to hear about Julie's Mum, it's a difficult time without all the extra complications you've had.
I think your pottery skills could do with a bit of refining but your cup demonstrates perfectly what you had to contend with :o((
3 Feb, 2011
You ve worked hard Paul and derserve that cuppa just could nt believe that you could out do that big mug with another only bigger lol I thought at first you were digging to get to OZ with the size of that hole. Hope you get the right ph and all your veg and canes grow well for you good luck.
4 Feb, 2011
Good luck with your new veg patch. I hope you get good crops. Sorry to hear about your troubles.
I could lend you my potters wheel to make some mugs if you like lol
4 Feb, 2011
Well done Paul, it's amazing what you can find in a garden isn't it ? When we first came to our current house and dug the garden over we found loads of horseshoes, so I assume that the land was either used as a smithy or a dumping ground.
Much better than finding loads of concrete though we've had our fair share of that too.
I hope your new veg garden takes off well - you just can't beat home grown veg - my dad used to grow all our veggies and fruit when I was young and I hope to make a veg patch too when I've got the decorative bit under control.
Well done.
4 Feb, 2011
Well done with all your hard work...
4 Feb, 2011
wow paul worn out reading all this, firstly im sorry about julies mum and all the extra thats gone with it to, glad the fire wasnt to cause and hope the funeral goes off ok,
as for the concrete isnt it a pain reminds me of when we took the old trees out and stumps then like you lots of clay and concrete, also bricks, alsorts in there, but when its finished its a great feeling, so good luck with your new veg patch, soon be eating lovely home produce ;o)
4 Feb, 2011
WOW.....thanks everyone. I'm a bit taken aback. Been at Julie's mum's bungalow in E. Sussex(yes, horrible clay there, also,Shirley tulip. It's Horham near Heathfield) all day cleaning the smoke damage. We've got a lot in front of us but have made a great start.Had fish n chips as a reward from the village chippy!!!
Just got home and logged on to ssee all these wonderful commnets.
I'm glad you liked my cup(I'm really proud of it you know?..ha ha) Don't think i'll use the potters wheel though Hywel(I made enough mess with my hands)
I think we all have found lots of hidden treasures left by builders etc(no horseshoes in mine though, MarieK. Could've done with some for good luck!!)
I already hasd a small veg patch Sandra, but it's a bit shady there in the back garden and my large (allotment sized) plot at one of my customers' was getting too much for me and I gave most of the crops to them .So, yes, it'll be great to grow more in my own garden and keep them all.Well, I love to give some away to neighbours etc..A great feeling!
Don't you mean 3 big mugs 6d ?....The clay one, the one Julie bought me for xmas...and the biggest mug of all....Paul the gardener!!!!!
I'm definitely not Superman, Lily...But I'm a stubborn ol' devil...won't give up!!
I do love to have Jack with me in the garden, Littlelegs..Mind you we don't get much done..He asks lots of questionns. He's great.We're lucky to have him and his family as neighbours..we get on very well and help each other,(Taking each others' dogs out for walks when we're away etc...And they're always away as Jack's mum has a famous sister and they're always jetting off somewhere with her or meeting her showbiz friends etc!!!!..In fact, we're looking after their dog this weekend..She's lovely too)
I think the cup might fall apart , Homebird and joanella, if I touch it with a brush to glaze it or try to decorate it.!!!!!!! Thanks Hollyeves....I'm feeling all yesterdays hard work today in my arms, shoulders, back etc. Not to mention today's painting and cleaning in Sussex!!!!
Thanks again everybody!!!...Nice to be back!
4 Feb, 2011
You said it lol not me, I did think it a bit, for digging all that out madness or determination which I think determination.
4 Feb, 2011
I remember trying to dig out a clothes line pole from my heavy clay garden - whoever put it in certainly didn't want it to move! Fortunately lovely son in law helped me out :) You've done a good job there, Paul, well done.
5 Feb, 2011
Thanks Gee. I can't think why so much concrete was used for a wooden post...crazy!!!!
5 Feb, 2011
Paul, I forgot to say what a brilliant title for this blog. Unfortunately I have to admit that it's the Unit 4 Plus 2 version that I remember!
5 Feb, 2011
Randy Edelman wrote it Lily, but I do remember it being in the charts by Unit 4 Plus 2. It wasn't till years later that I heard it by Randy Edelman..on his brilliant album 'Farewell Fairbanks'
6 Feb, 2011
Randy Edelman ... there's a blast from the past! Do you remember his song 'Short People'? It never really made sense to me ... but one of those tunes that stays in your head for ages after ... or is that just in my head .. lol!
6 Feb, 2011
Can't say I remember that one..but maybe I'd recognise it if I heard it. I still have his album 'Fairwell Fairbanks' on vinyl from the 70's.It's one of my favourites!
7 Feb, 2011
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that garden is looking lovely now, but what a lot of hard work and you have had a bit of a tough time of it!
what on earth was all that concrete for? did the previous builders leave it behind?
happy growing
3 Feb, 2011