I’ve spent many hours this weekend picking, preparing and turning fruit – strawberries and blackcurrants, into jam and jelly. I must say that I’m close to having enough of strawberries, something I never thought I would say. But yesterday, even though it rained while I tried to gather the last few ripe berries, it was a delight to wander around the allotment site admiring everyone’s hard work. Unfortunately not all the plots are well tended, some are totally overgrown and I wonder why when there is such along waiting list to acquire one.
Anyway here are a few phone pics I took while I was wandering around.
It isn’t just veggies!Weekend over, now I’m taking my ant bitten self to work.
Lucid Gypsy 
I’m waiting for strawberry season glut (we harvest ours in Winter) and have just completed making 10lb Cumquats into Marmalade!
” Unfortunately not all the plots are well tended, some are totally overgrown and I wonder why when there is such along waiting list to acquire one.”
Maybe people have already signed up for those plots but have lost interest in caring for them? How long do you get to keep the plot once you have it?
As long as you pay the rent! Its annoying when the weed seeds spread everywhere and unfair to the people waiting – I think some complaints may have to be made!
Yeah. I’m afraid so.
wonderful and so productive…..you’ll fall in love with those strawberries all over again come autumn and winter when you’re spreading that delicious jam across your toast and its cold and wet outside!!
As an aside I guess that sometimes peoples lives get complicated and the allotment suffers….I have two people I’m seeing at work right now who are feeling incredibly guilty that their allotments have gone to wrack and ruin this year…one lost her mother and the other has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour….I’m guessing there will be a story behind the neglected allotments 🙂
Yes always it’s just a bit frustrating!
I know…but that’s the story of my life!!
I’ll happily take some of those strawberries off your hands, Gilly! Also, some of that blackcurrant jam! 🙂
Berries out of the field!! Love it:) 🙂
Yum fresh jams sound wonderful! I hope the untended plots are not due to it’s owner being ill.
I used to love visiting my daughter’s allotment to spend time wandering around the other plots and seeing what was growing. Got some lovely sunflower and bee photos there! She gave hers up after several years because it became too much hard work, but I did like to receive her surplus veggies 🙂
Wish I could have some of those jams. 🙂
Now why don’t the ants eat the strawberries instead of eating you? 🙂
Sounds lovely. I remember making jams up into my teens with my mom. Nothing compares to the labour of love and the sweet taste of summer in the middle of a cold winter.
Reading your words, I can almost smell those strawberries bubbling away on your stove. My mom used to always be making jams, jellies and chutney with produce from our dad’s allotment. It was his pride and joy. 🙂 Lovely photos!
Reading of your efforts, I ‘m now wishing for buttered toast to sample some of your jams.
Allotments are a lot of work to maintain but so much joy if you have the time. I think they have some sort of rule over here that if your allotment gets out of control and you do not maintain it another person from the waiting list can take it over
Sounds like you’re having fun Gilly. A pity about the lots that aren’t well looked after. There must be a reason for it.
Tell the ants to go for the jelly instead of you. 😆
Great shots! 😀
Making jam and jelly… wow Gilly, not all who cooks or prepare food can do that! A creative woman with many talents, you are.
We are being infested with ants in the garden!