too much of a good thing

I suppose the issue that has most coloured the last two months is my addiction to black plastic, and how I came to a sticky end through it. 

I found myself becoming increasingly depressed by the overwhelming presence of black.  It was as if I was being suffocated under it just as much as the weeds.  I realised how much it was affecting me when I cleared some of it away to prepare my Yule bonfire.  I immediately felt lifted and lightened when it was off the land. I noticed how much the plastic had already cleared the knotted mass of grassy stems and leaves. Everywhere was a good clean brown. 

It was a fine structure of a bonfire, incorporating my Dad's old shed and a lot of bone dry paper and cardboard.  I was very proud. It came to life at Yule in a most beautiful and dramatic manner.  It was a thoroughly illuminating and magical fire, and a time for making hearty wishes for the future.  I really felt in tune with the turning seasons and the magnificent cosmic dance that surrounds me.  Sometimes it takes a bonfire to make me aware of it. 

The only downside was I left the car back door open again and almost had a flat battery.  Charis the Yaris bless her has a rather sensitive battery, and it doesn't take much for her to go into hibernation this time of year.  She did totally go flat once at the allotment, when I'd got carried away and left the back door open for a couple of hours.  Luckily that time she did recover by just leaving her to recharge on her own for an afternoon.

So after the bonfire I had a strong desire to remove all the black plastic, but was torn as it was the wrong time to sow green manure and I couldn't face having to weed a good 100 metre square area of land. 

However, my karma caught up with me, and the time came when I had to return what was not mine, as a matter of urgency.  I had to return it in the state I had found it, which took a lot of hard work.  Family and friends marvelled at my achievement.  Under the cover of darkness I waited until the coast was clear, then dragged my karma like a dead body into a place where it looked like it had always been.  I had learnt my lesson.  I had thought the allotment was abandoned.  Again I hear my mad medieval studies teacher admonishing me with the words 'never assume anything'.  There is a fine line between madness and wisdom. 

Blackplasticgate coincided with the beginning of the new year, with the birds singing more strongly, and the days getting slightly longer.  One by one the smaller pieces of black plastic found their way back to the communal area where I had found them.  I now only have a few pieces flapping around like massive prehistoric bats, tethered to my land by old bits of wood and bricks.  In March I will be able to set them free, as I've purchased a reassuring quantity of green manure seed.  It will mean I will no longer be dependent on black plastic, and my soil will be much healthier for it. 

I was initially confused, and then in a state of wonder, over all the different green manures there are.  Green manures to fix and lift nitrogen, green manures to smother weeds, green manure for overwintering, green manure to leave in situ for several years, and low growing green manure to grow in between crops.  I was like a child in a sweet shop.  I made my choice and took the plunge with my plastic money, then discovered the same thing in my local hardware shop for half price!  Ah well, at least I was supporting a good cause. 

Together with the green manure, I bought a healthy amount of vegetable seeds from Garden Organic.  It is a very easy to use website, and they provide a very useful paper catalogue too.  I was able to buy the two varieties of courge I'd been coveting since I'd seen them growing in France.  I've also bought some purple beans and some magenta striped barlotti beans.  Also pop corn - small red cobs that look like giant raspberries.  I've also invested in chamomile and thyme seed, so I can create paths between the beds that aren't muddy and don't need mowing.  Most things don't have to be sown until March, but I'm going to sow the long curly sweet peppers and the chilli peppers this weekend.