Three hours spent digging this afternoon and the second swathe is now done. As this last corner of the bit I've done was where I had the heap and the bonfire there was a lot of rubbish. I had the fire here because that is where the previous plot holders had had their fire. I found lots more carpet, umpteen plastic compost bags, lots of metal bits and pieces, and loads and loads of small bits of a green plastic net. It took all that time to get the rubbish out...it is done now.

I estimate that I have done over a third of the digging now.....and that includes the worst bits....so from now on should be plain sailing!

I intend to get it all dug once, removing as much weed root as I can, then I will use our little Mantis cultivator on it to reduce it to a "fine tilth"! Then I will mark up the permanent beds and begin my no dig experiment. The beds will be 3'6" deep and about 14' long....six of them altogether. I will just loosen the soil when I weed in future and not step on the soil at all.

I am a bit puzzled as to how I am going to do "firm" conditions for the brassicas. I expect walking on the beds will be required for that. I will have to research a bit more.

I'm thinking of doing straw paths between the beds...if I can get some that is.

Hopefully we will get a fine day with a north wind soon. Then I will be able to start burning all that rubbish shown in the second picture. Any other wind direction sends smoke all over either the Sports Club or the flats. I know if I lived there I'd get annoyed if there were lots of fires.....so I am hoping to be able to do it without upsetting anyone.....! Probably a tall order!