Normanston allotment 22nd Nov 2012

Location: Normanston allotment, Lowestoft
Project: EastFeast and Waveney Food for Thought

Normanston community allotment is another of the six sites that the Waveney Food for Thought project works with. The other five include Ringsfield Hall (see other post) and Warren school, and the latter regularly visit this allotment with another creative practitioner.  Today is my first visit to the allotment and it's charmingly chaotic; different sized raised beds are dotted about the place, bits of polytunnel, items that aren't quite broken enough to throw away, and at least two wheelbarrows in dire need of repair.  It's how allotments should be.

A work in progress

First job of the day - light the camping stove and get the kettle on, second job of the day - measure and map out the plot and take pictures.  So, cup of tea in hand, Dano (another member of the EastFeast team) and I wander about the allotment and try to figure out what's what.  Whilst the allotment is lovely now, the people who already work here want to improve it and establishing a level of order would help when encouraging more participation. 

Area marked out for the second polytunnel

There is a polytunnel which acts more as a tea room at the moment - thankfully because we've had to make several dashes for cover with the weather being on the damp side.  The second polytunnel, in the process of being put up, will be used for sowing seeds and growing only. 

Compost bays

Dano and I get the plans finished, it's already looking like order could be restored by focusing on one area at a time, that way the project won't feel overwhelming.  The photos on this post serve mostly to have something to compare to in a few months time - I'm always amazed how quickly you forget what you've achieved without images to remind you.

Large raised beds at the entrance to the allotment

The existing polytunnel at the entrance to the allotment

Another view of the plot