Firstly, Thanks for all the congratulations and I wish the best to you all who are about to or just have had a child. Lots of good tips on managing the plot with the little un in tow too!
I am really looking forward to having the baby and mum in the fresh air up the lottie and growing good things for us all to eat.
The reason I'm looking at putting a fair sized area under green manures is this: I don't have a single plot, I have four! Its a long story but basically my dad and his mate couldn't manage their 3 plots due to ill health so I took them on being as tho I'd spent the money making them all rabbit proof. Our site is privately owned, no rules, just respect your fellow plotters. My plots are isolated from the others so i don't bother anyone.
Plots 1 and 2/3rds of plot 2 have willows (approx 400) growing on them. They all need coppicing this winter. Regular work is mowing the paths between rows for weed control and keeping the rabbits out.
Plot 3 (inc 1/3rd of plot 2) is for fruit and veg which has established soft fruits, apples trees, rhubarb etc. I'm going to extend the raspberry bed come
Plot 4. Half is fenced and all prepared for a comfrey bed and willow structures. The other half is rough mown for picnics, barbies and camping with mates and thier kids. Plot 4 also has a 21ft static caravan on it (which I've re-roofed but mum-to-be won't set foot in it), I didn't put the van down there but upto 6 years ago it was lived in!!
So ordinarily I have a fair bit of work to do up there to say the least.... What i plan to do long term is put a third of the large plot under hardy overwintering green manure (alfalfa, upto 2 yrs growth, cut and mulch or compost) and treat this as part of a 3-4 yr rotation to improve soil structure and fertility.
In the shorter term from now til autumn 2009 I plan to have 2/3rds under overwintering long term green manure and the rest under crops/short term green manures. Ive got mustard, clovers and winter tares to go in. best laid plans and all that but I realistically reckon i can manage this and I can always dig up a bit more to put crops in as needed.
(Good info on the site from John under "Info - Manures and fertilisers - Green Manures")
Whadda ya think?
cheers amc