Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!

After a summer hiatus, the podcast is back to reflect on an exceptionally hot summer that tested our allotment commitments. We also look ahead to the weeks and months to come as the season slows down but there's always plenty to do!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us:
Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @sunflowerpod1 

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! 

This episode we discuss the searing and and soaring heat we've recently had on the plot and look at the tips and hacks to effective watering. In a time of climate change, we also discuss sensible water use and how to protect the soil. We also discuss the jobs for August and our plans for a month with time planned away from the plot.

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!

This week we take shade under Peter's apple tree with Sharon Copple, our allotment site rep and seed buyer on our site. Amongst a host of things, Sharon discusses some allotment history of our site, as well as her thoughts on mental health and gardening, her take on soil, Potato Day, the role of a site rep and the joy of being the first plot on the allotment site! 

00:00 - Introduction including the allotment committee and her role. 
08:58 - Allotment history, including it's fight for surival in the 70s.
19:05 - Allotment committees and soil mangement .
27:40 - Allotment officers and the challenge of allotment theft
32:33 - Funny sights on the plot
34:15 - Potato day

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us:
Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @sunflowerpod1

 Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! 

This week we come full circle as we finally harvest the potatoes we chitted in episdoe 1! With great enthusiasm and celebration we recorded the moment Tim digs up his first early  potatoes while Peter offers advice on effective digging technique. We also discuss lifting onions, as well the most effective conditions for growing garlic. 

If you would like to share your allotment stories or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch via email [email protected] or via Twitter: @sunflowerpod1 

00:00 - 12:52 - Harvesting potatoes 
13:00 -24:49 - Lifting onions and advice on growing garlic  

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! 

This week we start by discussing the ups-and-downs of life on the allotment as both Peter and Tim have had enforced time away from their plots. We also discuss Peter's new polytunnel purchase, along with tips on growing comfrey and we endulge in our love for trees on allotments. We also discuss some messages we've had including the question, what is the best perennial vegetable? If you would like to get in touch, contribute or share your allotment stories, please do get in touch via email: sunflowerallotmentpodcast@gmailcom or Twitter: @sunflowerPod1

00:00 - 14:15 - Introduction and our weeks on the plot
14:15 - 18:26 - Comfrey - how and why
18:26 - 26:45 - Trees on allotments 
26:45 - 34:40 - Emails and Twitter correspondence

Welcome back to the Sunflowe Allotment Podcast! 

Summer is offically here and boy don't we know it! Summer storms, rising temperatures and endless weeds. This week Peter and Tim discuss their week on the plot, some holiday reading and importantly beans! From their fascinating Incan history, to planting, cooking and storage. Peter also shares his creative tips on making an arch to best support the beans.  In the final section, Peter poses the question for the week: apart from plastic pipe, what do people use to make hoops (for covering) that's cheap, economic, recycling or reusing?

00:00 - Introduction 
14:24 - Beans and their history 
25:00 - Planting beans 
35:17 -  Storing beans 
37:20 - The week ahead 

Please do get in touch:
[email protected] 
Twitter: @sunflowerpod1  

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!

This week we were delighted to welcome Clare Birkett on the show for a special episode to discuss the important topic of the cost of living crisis and how it affects gardening and allotment holders.

As an educational economist, Clare gives us the lowdown on the crisis and how we might spot it in our gardening purchases through the effect of shrinkflation. As a group we then discuss how to save money on the allotment (planting expensive fruits and maximising productivity) as well as the all important gardening hacks including Clare's vertible beds and bicycle helmets for hanging baskets! Links to websites and radio programmes discussed below.

00:00 - Introduction
02:33 - The cost of living crisis
10:20 - Shrinkflation
14:28 - The cost saving of growing your own versus supermaket shopping
16:55 - Practical tips on our vegetable plots
 24:45 - Clare's gardening hacks and tips

Links discussed in the episode:

BBC The Food Programme: Jack Monroe:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016pjy

Jack Monroe Twitter Thread:
https://twitter.com/bootstrapcook/status/1492538937067606016?lang=en

BBC Money Box:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0016xr9

Sunflower Allotment Podcast Thread:
https://mobile.twitter.com/SunflowerPod1/status/1519657598567469058?cxt=HHwWhMCy7Zmi9JYqAAAA

Grow it yourself Ieland:
https://giy.ie/

Growing Communities London (great blogs):
https://growingcommunities.org/

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!

It's May, one of our favourite times on the plot. We therefore decided to record an episode walking around Tim's plot. We discuss this seasons progress, the growth and the relevant jobs that need to be done. Peter also gives Tim some great advice on potatoes and the pair discuss plot design, wild fennel , our shared sweetcont plot and the importance of the allotment during lockdown. 

Finally, Peter poses the question, what are the skills and qualities needed on the allotment? An interesting question and we would also love to hear your thoughts. Please do contact us email: [email protected] or through Twitter: @sunflowerpod1 

00:00 - The joy of wandering and Tim's plot location 
06:50 - Our shared sweetcorn progress and surprise fennel
12:47 - Potato progress and tips
16:10 - Lockdown on the allotment
19:22 - Pheasant sightings on the allotment
21:10 - Final section of the plot
26:28 - What are the important skills on the allotment? 

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast!

This week Peter and Tim discuss one of their summer favourites, Sweetcorn. From germinating to planting and eating, the pair explore tips and ideas to growing healthy and tasty sweetcorn. They also discuss their shared sweetcorn plot.

Peter and Tim also discuss the week on the plot, sharing the spare and their plans for the upcoming week!

00:00 - Introduction
07:55 - Super sweetcorn
23:25 - The week ahead

Please do get in touch!
Twitter: @sunflowerpod1
Email us: [email protected]
 
Thanks for listening!    

Welcome back to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast

This week we celebrate the beautiful beetroot by discussing the history, planting, storing and eating of the hardy and versitile vegetable.  We also follow up on last week's converastion on gardening philosophy, chat about our week on the plot and even fit in a short section on planting courgettes which includes the return of woofer extrodinaire Fleur. 

00:00 - Introduction
11:20 - Our week on the plot
17:56 - Beetroot: history and planting
33:19 - Beetroot storage 
37:42 - The week ahead