More hot compost

Start of another batch of quick compost.

This got a bit too hot and needed more turning

New compost bay

According to the news we've just had the wettest autumn on record. Depressions in underlying clay on the allotment site cause water to pool in certain areas and as the 12x6 tin bay was sitting in a puddle it had to be relocated.
After moving it we replaced the old pallet bays, which were rotting, with one made from 1 inch thick oak flooring rescued from a builders skip.
The new wooden bay measures 8'6 x 4'4

Hot Compost

After assembling a full stack of compostables the heap was aerated by turning every other day. It's possible to achieve usable compost in 18 days, ours took 31.

First Frost

October

Dogs Vomit fungus growing on the woodchip pile. Looks revolting but it'll be breaking down the wood into compost.

A very wet autumn and although the compost is getting hot it's drawing up too much ground water and becoming anaerobic. Covering with a tarpaulin keeps the rain off but prevents evaporation.

Mid October and the plot still looks good

End of October harvest

August Sunflowers

Most of these self-set sunflowers blew down a couple of days later in mid-summer gales.

Ten homegrown veg on a plate.
Toms, basil, beetroot, lettuce, radicchio, radish (and in the bulgur) garlic, carrots, onions and herbs.

July

Elephant garlic harvest

Charlotte potatoes grown under rotted woodchip (with a little fish blood & bone)