1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,919 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Gardening with Ben. You'll go to 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,439 a podcast for all things green and growing. I'm Ben, 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,400 your allotment guide and here to help you cultivate your 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,079 garden and your passion for plants. Whether you're a seasoned 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,519 gardener or just starting out, this podcast is for you. 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,879 Each episode will dig into tips, tricks, and techniques to 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:30,000 make your garden and allotment thrive from planting, sewing, and growing. 8 00:00:30,199 --> 00:00:33,640 We will share all the tips and add advice. We 9 00:00:33,679 --> 00:00:37,039 will also have regular episodes talking about what we have 10 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,840 been up to on the Alltment. So sit back, grab 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:47,600 a brew and enjoy today's episode. Hey everyone, and welcome 12 00:00:47,799 --> 00:00:52,240 back to Gardening with Ben for a brand new episode. 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,840 BlimE me, it's Friday already. Where has the week gone? 14 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,159 Fingers crossed? We have a better weekend this weekend, but 15 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,079 we don't know yet. I'll have to check the forecast 16 00:01:02,119 --> 00:01:04,319 and see what it's going to be like. Hopefully it 17 00:01:04,359 --> 00:01:07,920 will get lots more than down at the Allotment. You'll 18 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,480 have to find out later in the week what we 19 00:01:10,519 --> 00:01:12,680 get up to down at the plot, whether we actually 20 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:17,400 get some stuff done well. Today's episode we're going to 21 00:01:17,439 --> 00:01:21,239 be talking about how I got over the winter blues 22 00:01:21,359 --> 00:01:27,640 in gardening. And this is quite obviously a personal story, 23 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:34,480 but I get over the winter blues from gardening because 24 00:01:34,519 --> 00:01:37,519 when I first started my allotment, what I used to 25 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:43,519 do is I used to go really hard with my 26 00:01:43,599 --> 00:01:46,760 gardening throughout all the spring and summer periods. But when 27 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,719 it came to October, I just leave my plot and 28 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,760 leave it until January time. I wouldn't even go down 29 00:01:55,760 --> 00:02:00,840 to the allotment to do any work down there. Probably 30 00:02:00,879 --> 00:02:04,480 just rock back up in January the first and see 31 00:02:04,519 --> 00:02:07,400 what it looks like and get started from them. I'd 32 00:02:07,439 --> 00:02:10,280 not even dug up any all plants or anything like that. 33 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:12,560 I just left them all in the ground. And then 34 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,759 I'd have a big mas mad rush to get it 35 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,039 all ready and get it all prepared for the year 36 00:02:19,319 --> 00:02:24,439 after well for the coming year, and get it all tidy, 37 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,919 get any beds remade, get it all painted, get it 38 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:32,000 all tidy again, get it all weeded, and get all 39 00:02:32,039 --> 00:02:37,360 the roots up out of the ground. And this was 40 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,199 a hard chot to get it done, and to try 41 00:02:40,199 --> 00:02:42,479 and get it all done by March time, because March 42 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,280 time is the busy period down at my lotment when 43 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,479 I'm throwing all my seeds, getting all them started, and 44 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,639 concentrating on growing them, keeping them watered, et cetera, et cetera. 45 00:02:53,479 --> 00:02:56,599 So that is the hardest job of the lot. So 46 00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:01,039 I did. I did this for years. I used to 47 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,240 do it for years, just pack up and not come 48 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,719 back for January. But whether I started blogging on my 49 00:03:06,759 --> 00:03:10,479 allotment and sharing tips and advice and showing people what 50 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,879 I was getting up getting up to or down at 51 00:03:12,879 --> 00:03:17,319 the blot, I thought. I used to get messages like 52 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,080 people used to say to me, Ben, where are you 53 00:03:20,159 --> 00:03:22,599 all right? We've not seen you down at the allotment 54 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:27,840 for ages, sharing pictures, et cetera. And I used to think, yeah, 55 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,199 I'm not staying up to date with people. I'm just 56 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,159 leaving them hanging. They'll probably think I've disappeared or left 57 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,800 my allotment or just vanished. But yeah, Then I started thinking, 58 00:03:39,879 --> 00:03:42,120 I need to carry on through the winter period. I 59 00:03:42,159 --> 00:03:45,240 need to show people what's happening down there over the 60 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,960 winter months. So I started doing my life streams again 61 00:03:50,039 --> 00:03:53,719 through the winter period, and I started showing people things 62 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,319 that you could grow through the winter. I don't often 63 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,360 grow anything through the winter, not much at all. I 64 00:03:59,479 --> 00:04:02,240 learning like I have some onions in and some garlicin, 65 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:04,919 or some broad beans in, I won't have a lot 66 00:04:04,919 --> 00:04:06,960 of things growing down at me a lot because I 67 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,599 use it now as a time for sorting out all 68 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:12,439 my plot and getting it all tidy and ready for 69 00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:17,480 the year next year. And as soon as the produce 70 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,000 starts to die come October time, when it gets a 71 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:25,000 bit colder, and when things have stopped producing any vegetables 72 00:04:25,079 --> 00:04:28,800 like your pumpkins and your squashes and stuff, I'll start 73 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,879 digging them up and clearing the beds straight away. And 74 00:04:31,959 --> 00:04:34,879 the quicker I get all my plot cleared ready for 75 00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:38,920 the year for the next year, I ticked it off. 76 00:04:38,959 --> 00:04:43,319 I've got about eighteen beds altogether. They're all the pretty 77 00:04:43,399 --> 00:04:46,560 much the same size. I like count it down, like 78 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,240 figuring I've got three more beds left to do. I've 79 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,920 got six more beds left to do, et cetera, et cetera. 80 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,079 And once I've cleared all my beds, I'm like, I 81 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,639 know that I've done the biggest part of my plot 82 00:04:57,199 --> 00:05:00,959 and tidying all them up. Because as well, I have 83 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,439 a lot of issues with bind weed on my plot, 84 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:08,120 and I can't really dig into the ground to get 85 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,639 all the bind weed groups out while things are growing 86 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,199 in that bed, because bind weed will travel all over 87 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,240 the place and you can't really get it out without 88 00:05:17,319 --> 00:05:19,279 actually getting the fuck in there and getting all the 89 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,600 pieces out and giving it a good turnover to get 90 00:05:21,639 --> 00:05:27,920 every little piece out. So come October time November time, 91 00:05:27,959 --> 00:05:30,279 when I'm digging them over, I'll get most of the 92 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,040 bind weed groups out. Yes, I'll get some more growing 93 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,120 in it, probably over the winter period, but it won't 94 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,160 grow as fast, and I'll just keep turning them over 95 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,639 every month or so to get as much out as 96 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:46,519 possible for the year ahead. So get all that done, 97 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,519 and I actually enjoy winter Now. Winter is one of 98 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,079 my best times down at the allotment. So before I 99 00:05:54,199 --> 00:05:56,079 obviously used to pack it up and not come back 100 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,480 till January. Now I absolutely love being down there in 101 00:05:59,519 --> 00:06:03,600 the winter, not because I'm growing anything, but because I'm 102 00:06:03,639 --> 00:06:09,000 building stuff and getting involved in making it look fancy 103 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,120 for the year after. Not that it looks fancy, It 104 00:06:12,199 --> 00:06:16,759 just looks fancy to me. But yeah, I absolutely love 105 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,839 winter out. And since obviously, like I say, I've started 106 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:23,240 gardening through the winter months, I get excited because I'm 107 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,680 planting all my winter bulbs for springtime. I'm tidying all 108 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,360 my shed up. Obviously, I'm doing maintenance on it now 109 00:06:30,399 --> 00:06:34,079 that I've had storm damage. But yeah, we make it 110 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:40,079 stronger and hopefully last a few more years. I sweep 111 00:06:40,079 --> 00:06:43,319 all my paths down, I trim all my shrubs back, 112 00:06:44,439 --> 00:06:47,040 I sought out all my fruit trees for the year after. 113 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,759 But yeah, I absolutely love the winter period now being 114 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,959 down there. Yes it may be freezing cold, and yes 115 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,800 I didn't do anything down at the plot hardly last weekend, 116 00:06:56,439 --> 00:06:59,160 but some days I absolutely love it. And I do 117 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:03,279 love the mornings as well down there, and just enjoying 118 00:07:03,399 --> 00:07:07,120 being down there. But winter has to be one of 119 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,480 the best periods down at the allotment. I enjoy having 120 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,959 a good fire going. Because Alan, I'm a wood hoarder. 121 00:07:15,199 --> 00:07:17,319 I don't know if you're the same. I just store 122 00:07:17,879 --> 00:07:20,439 wood down at my allotment. My shed's full of it. 123 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,199 That much fault that the cats used it as part 124 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:28,959 of their nest when they were late. When they were 125 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,480 got some kittens down in my shed, they were all 126 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:37,560 hidden behind it. But yeah, I'm a wood hoarder and 127 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,399 I'll just save any cutoffs as well, because we're not 128 00:07:41,439 --> 00:07:44,120 allowed to burn stuff through the spring and summertime. We're 129 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,000 only allowed to burn stuff in the winter months. So 130 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,680 I'll store all my off cuts and I'll just have 131 00:07:49,759 --> 00:07:53,480 some nice bonfires burning in the winter period. I love 132 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,319 the smell of bonfires as well, and you can just 133 00:07:57,399 --> 00:08:00,199 sit at the side of the bonfire just thinking about 134 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:01,920 all the things that you're going to do for next 135 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,959 year in growing. But winter is a special period of 136 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,279 the time down there now and it does help my 137 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:14,079 mental health a lot so much because people struggle more 138 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,399 with the mental health throughout the winter periods. All you 139 00:08:17,519 --> 00:08:20,560 see in a lot of the time is darkness and 140 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,920 being out in the fresh air and enjoying the passion 141 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,319 of being in your garden doing what you do. You 142 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:31,079 absolutely love it and it encourages me. And now that 143 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,080 I'm working nine to five Monday Friday, it's nice to 144 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,120 get out of the house and out of the flat, 145 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,639 being in the fresh air, getting your fingers in the soil. Yes, 146 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:41,799 it may be nippy and may be cold, but you 147 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,960 can't take an ice flask down there and have an 148 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,159 ice brewer as well. And I love making the content 149 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,879 for you all, and I just love interacting with you all, 150 00:08:50,919 --> 00:08:53,600 sharing what I'm getting up to down at the allotment 151 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,960 on my Instagram and my Facebook, and I hope that 152 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,039 you all enjoy it. So if it wasn't for you 153 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,000 guys asking me where I am through the winter period, 154 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,440 Ad Paula still be curled up again hibernative throughout the 155 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,159 winter period and getting ready to start again on the 156 00:09:10,159 --> 00:09:14,360 first of January down at the plot. But yeah, it's 157 00:09:14,519 --> 00:09:16,960 down to you guys that give me the motivation to 158 00:09:17,039 --> 00:09:19,720 go to the allotment and keep doing stuff to produce 159 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,519 for you all, and it encourages me to learn more 160 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:25,000 about the sort of things that you need to do 161 00:09:25,039 --> 00:09:28,919 in the winter as well as the things to be 162 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,799 done every day of the year in the allotment. An 163 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,960 allotment is not an easy job, and I see it 164 00:09:37,039 --> 00:09:39,679 so many times new people coming down to the allotments 165 00:09:40,159 --> 00:09:42,000 thinking it's going to be an easy job, dig it 166 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:46,559 all over or hire a j c be to scrape 167 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,039 all the top off, and then it all grows back 168 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,320 again and they soon give up after a couple of months. 169 00:09:52,399 --> 00:09:54,600 It's not an easy job. If you think you're taken 170 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:56,600 on a lot, but you think it's an easy job. 171 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,759 It is far from easily. It's a who lot of 172 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:04,720 hard work and time and effort. Trust me, if you've 173 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,120 not got much time, just go for a small little plot. 174 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,519 But I've got a massive one, and if I hadn't 175 00:10:11,519 --> 00:10:14,399 had all the free time periods, I wouldn't have been 176 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,720 able to keep up and get it all sorted and 177 00:10:16,799 --> 00:10:21,799 done now. But if you're looking for an allotment, I 178 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,600 will do a podcast on tips and advice for taking 179 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,120 on allotment coming up as well. We need to talk 180 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,000 about that again. We've not done that for a while, 181 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,679 so we'll talk about that as well coming up soon. 182 00:10:33,039 --> 00:10:35,480 But yeah, thank you all for giving me the motivation 183 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,279 and encouragement to keeping these podcasts going for you all 184 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,039 as well, and the more people that listen to it 185 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,200 encourages me more to do it as well. So until 186 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:48,960 tomorrow's episode, everyone remember keep smiling, keep shining, and keep 187 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:56,360 guardening with everyone. Thank you for joining me on this 188 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:00,320 episode of Gardening with Ben. I hope you have found 189 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,919 some useful tips and inspiration for your own gardening and 190 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,799 a lotment journey. If you have enjoyed today's episode, please 191 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,559 make sure to follow and subscribe to the podcast so 192 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,200 you'll never miss a new episode, and if you have 193 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,440 a moment, I'd love for you to leave a review 194 00:11:16,639 --> 00:11:20,960 and share the podcast with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Your support 195 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:26,000 helps us grow this community and continue bringing you great content. 196 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,879 We can also follow us on social media on every 197 00:11:29,879 --> 00:11:33,879 platform for Poor Gardening with Ben for daily gardening tips 198 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:38,120 and the days happy gardening, and until next time, remember 199 00:11:38,639 --> 00:11:42,960 keep smiling, keep shining, and keep gardening with them.