Finally back to our plots after our holidays! While going away is lovely, coming back to your little green paradise is SO exciting. The familiar paths, the occasional weed to pull and gorgeous smells of ripe fruit and veg!

Vicky did a successful watering swap with an allotment neighbour while Paul, scarred by last year's dry disaster, redeemed himself with a fortnight full time watering schedule.

All in all a good reunion :-)

Have you ever thought about why we adore our compost so much? We've come to realise that perhaps because it's a living entity. Feeding, nurturing, turning, measuring and watching it mature into something you are proud of is much like having a pet or a child!

This episode was recorded 2 weeks ago, it's short and sweet whilst we are away on our holidays! We'll be back with you with with a packed full episode next week!

P.S. You might notice Vicky has a bit of a cold, so apologies for the sniffles and the occasional passing plane.

With so much of the new plant growth being nibbled back on the plots, this week we focus on the growth of our compost and mulches instead!

Vicky’s been creating hot compost and is thrilled with its rising temperatures and her neighbourly fox has been turning it for her. How kind? 

Karin has been using community cuttings and cartons to build up her numerous heaps and the cut grass has been making her temperatures soar too. 

We’ve also been experimenting with green mulch, making lasagne layers of greens and browns and an effective microbe and seashell mix.

It’s a busy weekend coming up, with the very last day of the Biodynamic Gardening Course at Waltham Place and the main event of Sust Fest, St Albans Sustainability Festival. As part of the festival, we popped along to the documentary feature film showing of Six Inches of Soil. Karin enjoyed it so much, she was gently lulled into a little snooze so Vicky’s conversation is as new to her as it may be to you! 

Enjoy the pod?

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As always, thanks once again to Alex Kizenkov for the intro music.

Join Vicky and Karin as they share their newfound knowledge in mushroom growing, thanks to a fellow allotmenteer. Big plans follow for experimenting further in their raised beds, with Black Pearl and King Oyster already having made it into the online basket.

You can be witness to our pathetic attempt at a catchy trailer. Clearly we need to record another one but hey, this will do for this week!

In slug news...in a night of anger when a red mist fell over the plot, Vicky counts over 100 slugs on her courgettes and sunflowers. But what does the world do with these little pests and how on earth do we deal with the consequences of radical action?

We're talk GRASS this week. Karin makes a mess of No Mow May with a botched attempt of a wistful mowed path and we get sucked in whether Vicky should be wild and wonderful or suppressing growth with woodchip paths,,,,

It would be great to hear from you lovely listener, please rate and review our podcast as it will help us get under the noses of other like-minded gardening types and grow our little community. Or come and join us on Instagram, The Plot Thickens Pod

Vicky has started a permaculture course and Karin is about have her training as a Wildlife Champion, without really knowing what this entails. After having filled her newly constructed compost with several layers of greens and browns in one go, Vicky has invested in a compost thermometer. The results are pleasing while Karin’s heap is unexpectedly chilly.

We're obsessed. There's something so satisfying about the gentle swoosh of hoeing the grid lines in the finest layer of compost on the top of our beds. We're dreaming of the ultimate tool, the copper swing hoe. It's a thing of absolute beauty and completely beyond our budget.

We'd love to hear about your dream tool, even if it only appears on a birthday wish list! Do email us at tptpod@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram @theplotthickenspod.

Vicky and Karin have had a visit from Martyn from Agriton on possibly the coldest day of the spring, necessitating a morning in the shed. No mow May is in full swing, reaping rewards for wildlife but leaving the compost piles lacking in green material.

Link below to the lawn podcast that Karin is referring to.

With thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro music.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/growing-greener-greener-grass-with-david-hedges-gower/id1540573682?i=1000630256253

From bokashi to nettle, comfrey to horn manure, Karin and Vicky are well into organic stinky teas and preparations for indoor plants, pots and plots. Listen in as they describe their favourite natural ingredients as alternatives to chemical fertilisers.

Clearly Vicky's glee and fascination of terrariums has blended with her excitement for geraniums and so throughout this episode she now refers to terraniums. Apologies. She means TERRARIUMS.

Terrariums Talk referred to Ben Newell, @worcesterterrariums and Tony Le-Britton, @notanotherjungle

Please do rate and review this podcast to help us spread it further across the globe or email us with your stinky tea recipes to tptpod@gmail.com. Thank you!

Vicky has been busy with her sowings again, extending her IKEA shoe racks almost across the whole length of the back of the house. Karin has had her first bag in the new Clothing Loop with a sweet little handy surprise inside. And of course it was The Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast with Kate Bradbury (season 12,ep 3) that Karin was rambling on about, not Garden Organics.

A jam packed episode this week as the sowing seasons ramps up! Tune in to hear about all that's been sowed, pricked out and transplanted this week on the plots, in the greenhouse and along endless windowsills!

You'll be delighted to hear Vicky's mollusc update and our listener tips for snail and slug management!

Karin is excited to start the Clothing Loop, a St Albans Clothes Swap Initiative to reduce clothes waste and pass on old favourites...Vicky's still waiting for her invite...

It flags up the question of Sustainability - whether in using the word in our title, we are diminishing its value? Check out the new tag line and listen in to hear why.

The warmer weather has arrived and with it has the slugs. Vicky’s broccoli has been obliterated but she thinks she has found a solution to the problem with a slug stew. Karin’s plot is surprisingly slug free and she puts it down to the pond with it’s hungry inhabitants. Vicky has been to an inspiring B and B over the Easter holidays; right up her street with birds everywhere.

Early morning on the plot chatting about all things allotment, foxes, watering (and a lack of) and great useable items from the St Albans Reuse site.

This week we unravel the enigma of springing forward, but end up lost in time! Please do not refer to this episode for any sense-making on the clocks going forward. We clearly hadn't had enough coffee when we were recording.

This week, with Vicky's mishap, we're all about slowing life down, The chilly, soggy weather gives us the perfect excuse to embrace a leisurely pace on the plot. Tune in as we delve into eco-friendly gardening practices, from reusing coffee grounds to encouraging the frogs to gobble the slugs.

Our seeds might be flourishing but our understanding of time? That's still up in the air.

Want to catch us on socials?

Skip on over to Instagram to find us at ThePlotThickensPod or email tptpod@gmail.co.uk to get in touch.

Oh, and please do hit the 5 stars and review the pod if you can. Little things like that are hugely appreciated and make us smile for a week. Thanks.

Thanks as ever to Alex for the Intro music.

The spring equinox has arrived and with it lots of seed sowing, using newly found 'potting benches' from the St Albans Reuse site.

Vicky gets excited about being able to see Karin's shed across the allotment, albeit at a safe distance, and devises a plan for a colour coded flag system. Vicky also puts Karin through a humiliating test of her own seeds; revealing Karin's lack of knowledge of anything seed related.

With thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro music.

Oh dear. Production values are lacking on this episode people - sorry about the wind and reverb.

If you can bear to bear with us, we’ve got an uninterrupted episode as we dive into a good long chat about all we’ve sowed this week, plans for the plots.

If you love endless seed-sowing talk, you're in for a treat! Karin shares an idea about using a seed tray as a mini replica of a bed to ensure frugal seed sowing and Vicky talks about the satisfaction of prepping seed compost in module trays ahead of time and a whole bunch of other seed-related nuggets of information

As always thanks so much to Alex Kizenkov for the intro tunes and to the Birds on the plot for the outro tunes.

What have we planted this week? 

Marigolds

Borage

Sugar snap peas

peas

dill

fennel

sweetpeas

sugar snap peas

tomato

red onion

spring onions

cosmos 

peppers (nothing happening here) 

Jerusalem artichokes

After a quick debrief about their first ever interview follows lots of chatting about Vicky’s new ’home’; a pretty little shed that was put up in an hour and a half by a couple of very efficient shed builders. All she needs now is a nail gun to make her life on the plot complete.

With thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro music.

Vicky has been prepping her plot for shed delivery and is worrying about her levelling not being up to scratch. Karin has been busy sowing some experimental seed batches, documented in a newly bought 5yr diary.

We’re bathed in a spot of sunshine this week.

Karin finds an interesting opportunity to share a small holding for free in Ware, Hertfordshire via the AllotMe website. The lure of beekeeping and a poly-tunnel for free gets Karin all excited but she decides its suited to someone on an allotment waiting list locally.

AllotMe app is a great place to go if you can’t wait to grow in a green space but the local allotment waiting list is too long. AllotMe matches the growers with owners of gardens that can be rented out as an alternative to an allotment.

Vicky talks about the Green Belt Villages built with biodiversity, permaculture and replenishment in mind. She’s also been inspired to turn off the lights in her bathroom at night to save wildlife’s circadian rhythms by Paul Bogard, author of  “The End of Night” 

Vicky reveals a secret in her pocket too….

The usual flurry of love for a day at Waltham Place's Biodynamic Gardening course!

We honestly couldn't wait to talk through our amazing day so this episode was recorded in the car! It makes for an excellent studio so this week's sound is a treat for your ears!

We found out so much more about :

• seed compost mixes and which may be the most sustainable
• all manner of green or time saving seed trays
• the beauty of a planting plan to reduce "noise" in the mind
• sharing space - making room for spring bulbs whilst retaining seed heads

It's Vicky's birthday today - join for the unwrapping of Karin's kind gift!

Thank you for listening and thanks to Alex Kizenkov for the intro tunes.

Vicky's mood has lifted and she makes plans for her not so 'wild' wild life area of her plot. Rewilding is on the menu and she discusses the benefits of a bit of human intervention when it comes to biodiversity.

Karin has finally made the sandpit that has been hanging around in the shed for a couple of years into a mini raised bed. A little handy Ikea tip is also squeezed in, in this week's short episode (making up for last week's 42 min navel gazing).

With thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro music

Busy busy busy on the plots this week, Karin preps her beds, builds the compost heap and takes a peek at how her winter sowing is coming along.

Vicky's in a wrestling match with her plot layout. It needs a proper kick into shape before the sowing season kicks off—starting with widening the central path, because once that's set, it's set for life!

As ever, compost and cardboard dominate the chat and there's little bit about hair dye too.

Instagram and Facebook: The Plot Thickens Pod.

Email: tptpod@gmail.com

linktr.ee/theplotthickenspodcast

Alex Kizenkov we love your intro music, thank you.

In a not-so-subtle attempt to impress Vicky, Karin has Darwin up and measured her plot, and the beds that will be part of her 5yr rotation. The goal is to grow ingredients for a nice Greek salad. Vicky has tested her soil and had more success with that than with her attempts at drumming up interest on social media. Karin is interested however, and they agree that whatever the results were, they were just going to add organic matter anyway. With thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro music

When you've been making your own compost for over 20 years, its hard to then just order it in! Karin's struggling with the wish to make all of the Plot 2 beds with her own inputs and yet, wants the job done like, now!

To buy or not to buy, that's the question.

Day one at Waltham Place for a Biodynamic Gardening Course and we're hooked.

We were too excited to wait until next week, so we took this re-record on Sunday to share the day's highlights with you today.

Big thanks to the team at Waltham Place for their amazing warmth and wisdom, and to the amazing Andre Tranquilni, Estate Manager & King of Biodynamics.

If you feel like a pig in mud reading about biodynamic farming, take a look at Waltham Place's website

To hear more from Andre himself, we loved this episode on Accidental Gods: Meeting the Spirit of the Land: exploring spirituality in farming with biodynamic grower, Andre Tranquilini.

Big thanks to Alex again for the Intro title music.

Can you have too much soil? Vicky and Karin don't think so, and make big plans for Karin's front garden as a make shift community composting centre, using their new -found app MakeSoil. A lockable dalik and shredder will rub shoulders with the trees Christmas that Karin has already collected from her neighbours.

Dreams also feature, with King Charles making a surprise visit, and Vicky resisting joining the fungi club.

As always, thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro music.

Good news for sleepy heads! We've removed the loud drum beat at the end that has woken many of you up. Instead, we've replaced it with some birdsong from the plot to lull you as you sleep.

However, If you do manage to stay awake, here's some of the things we talk about:

• Self-sufficient with water
• Winter planting in milk bottles 
• Trying to live more sustainably, we know we are playing catch up to so many who have done this for years and years.

Books:

Entangled Life, Melvin Sheldrake

Seeds: 

www.incrediblevegetables.co.uk/

Podcasts:

Climate Heroes - Cindy Ford 

Apps

Share waste 

Initiatives:

The Clothing loop 

In this episode, Vicky shares her passion for birds, making Karin feel distinctly lacking in knowledge. However, as often happens with these two allotmenteers, the conversation quickly turns to compost, and a new potential source of material.

Books were on the Christmas list; Vicky has read about permaculture and Karin guerilla gardening.

As always, thanks to Alex Kizenskov for intro/outro music.

On the plot in Christmas week, reflecting on things we're grateful for and how we'd like to be buried! Merry Christmas everyone!

Ps. Excuse the munching in this episode - Vicky promises never to eat on the podcast again!

Join us for another episode from the allotment, where Vicky and Karin have received the Garden Organics Heritage seed catalogue. The excitement is palpable as they discuss the Global seed vault, seed monopolies and the beauty of small spaces. And Basil, the unusual tomato specimen survivor. With thanks to Alex Kizenskov for intro/outro music.

We swap the coffee for mulled wine this morning, Karin lights a candle and shares the gingerbread and we settle down under a warm blanket in the shed to share our Allotment based Christmas wish lists!

In this episode, Vicky has a fantastic compost surprise; three hip high compost bays full of black gold. Karin is still on about the leaf mould, and have discovered a way of speeding the process up.

In this episode, Karin shares her plans for coaxing reluctant seeds into action over winter. It might be chilly, but Karin proves that it's the perfect season to sow the seeds of anticipation for a vibrant spring garden.

In the meantime, Vicky's been snuggling on the sofa with cups of tea watching these wonderful things:

The Wild Gardener

A National That Rebuilds Itself, Rebuilds It's Soil: The Role of Women with Professor Karen Johnson

Big up to Alex Kizenkov for intro and outro music!

In this episode, Vicky takes Karin through a biodiversity survey, checking off 50 (!) or so questions on how well they are doing in biodiversity terms on their plots. From wildlife ponds to bat boxes, join the pair as they explore ways to make their plots more welcoming to wildlife.

Thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro and outro music.

Karin has just finished the last of the ratatouille she made QUITE a few days ago, as expected no one in the family were keen to try it. Vicky has renovated her compost heaps, and is in full swing rearranging the beds on her plot to maximise growing space.

Saving the best 'til last, Vicky has big news, introducing her new project Soil Squad! Have a listen!! All very very exciting :-)

Karin’s been on a mission to tackle food waste in her kitchen, she’s declared a 'stop shop time,' raiding her cupboards and fridge to give those forgotten remnants a second chance before turning back to the supermarket.

In the meantime, Vicky’s been turning her living space into a winter garden, proving that you don't need acres to grow your greens. She’s been uncovering the magic and science of growing of microgreens in recycled pots.

Tune in also for an up date on their primary permaculture project!

Thanks to Alex Kizenkov for the intro outro music 🙏

Join Vicky and Karin as they sip coffee and chat all things allotment. Get ready for an engaging conversation as they dive into topics like composting, Vicky's new duo apple tree and even an unexpected use for a hay bale.

So grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy this green fingered adventure with Vicky and Karin.

Thanks to Alex Kizenkov for our intro/outro music.

This week, Karin and Vicky, are joined with their two daughters (and a fox) as they all get into the spirit of Halloween on the plot, from making pumpkin soup to brewing a witch's cauldron of biochar. We chat about all manner of things that Karin has been busy with this half term on her plot including prepping bokashi pots, planting broad beans and her brolly brainwave!

Who said autumn wasn't busy???

Come with us on a stroll with us from Karin's up to Vicky's plot. We'll pause every now and again along the way for imaginative growing ideas, inspiration and engaging conversation. We discover clever water collecting solutions and chat about local community harvest initiatives. Karin shares an impossible-to-forget episode of the podcast Table Manners featuring Miriam Margoles, while Vicky worries about potential disturbing coat sounds.

And again, big thanks to Alex Kizenkov for our intro and outro music.

It's finally a typical autumn day in the UK, it's cloudy and windy on the plot so Karin and Vicky are tucked inside the shed today. But, being the intrepid gardeners they are, they're all set to burst forth onto their allotment as soon as the recording wraps up. Vicky's super excited to share her plans to plant her flowering bulbs, onions, and garlic ready for the winter, Karin sneeks a peek inside her daughter's second-hand wormery and their excitement bubbles over as they contemplate the limitless potential for establishing an eco-friendly garden at their daughters' primary school. If you want to share your musings on the peculiarities of your plot life, or feel inclined to provide your own little insights into the world of horticulture, or just want to say hello, we'd be delighted to hear from you at tptpod@gmail.com NB. Vicky was mistaken in the podcast when she talked about the school sustainability leads and action plans! The strategy states: “By 2025, all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan”. And from December 2023, «…we will begin to roll out a free programme of support » Big thanks to Alex Kizenkov for our intro and outro tunes.

A drowsy episode on Karin's allotment, not made any better by a headache inducing discussion of gravity and it's role in water pressure. Apologies. If low energy had a face, this would be it.

The sun shines once again at Sandridge Road Allotments as Karin get to grips with her new headset and the pair try to improve the sound quality! They reflect on their week on the plot, planting in the gooseberries, popping along to Festival of Permaculture with You Tube's Huw Richards, and Vicky gets a little political talking about Chris Packham's Environmental Protest. September is proving to be a flurry of activity on the plots, chopping and dropping, prepping the beds, pruning and planting the fruit trees and generally loving life at the allotment as we move into autumn. You might want to check out some of things we chat about: Becky Searle at Sow Much More on Instagram and her podcast with Richard Chivers, The Seed Pod, interviewing Professor Dave Goulson Huw Richards' You Tube Channel for Permaculture inspired, no dig, kitchen gardening Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer As always, thanks to Alex Kizenkov for our intro and outro music.

After a mini tour of Karin's cosy shed, it's time to leave and take a saunter up to Vicky's plot - self professed organised chaos. The pair natter away about, layers of cardboard to suppress the couch grass, Hugelkultur developments, Vicky's plans for fruit trees and bushes and the inherited potato plant.

Ps in case you're interested, the quote Vicky was trying to remember was : "He who plants a tree plants hope" - Lucy Larcom

Thanks to Thanks to Alex Kizenkov for our intro and outro music.

As per the tradition on The Plot Thickens, the coffee pot is bubbling away, and today the duo Karin and Vicky embark on a tour of Karin's allotment. They explore the flourishing crops, from the tiny, fuzzy chickpea pods to three plump pumpkins. And there's an unexpected surprise hiding beneath the soil, waiting to be uncovered.

Karin harbours dreams of expanding to a second plot and soaring to the pinnacle of the allotment waiting list. Her vision includes a unique hugelkultur circle, a mound of compost-rich soil where her veggies can thrive together like a happy, hugging family!

Meanwhile, at "The Plot Thickens" headquarters, Karin and Vicky are knee-deep in a discussion about amping up their sound quality. They're currently on the hunt for top-notch microphones suitable for recording outdoors. If you've got any recommendations, folks, they're all ears - email us at tptpod@gmail.com

Thanks again to Alex Kizenkov for the intro and outro music on the pod.

Ok, skip straight to 08:00 to avoid the cringeworthy start to our second episode when we are desperately trying to work out how to be podcasters! 

If you bear with us, we find our flow as we forget about the mics and get into the chat about the the vibe of the allotment, hugelkultur and weeds. 

Thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro and outro music 

The day that Karin has been waiting for has finally arrived; she has been offered another half plot in addition to her existing one, after a 2 1/2 year wait. At first glance it is an odd triangular shape, but this has advantages in terms of defining the compost set up of her dreams. Mimicking Vicky’s pallet compost masterpiece, this four bay baby will produce enough compost to cover the new plot in no time. With thanks to Alex Kizenkov for intro music

Today, we're brewing up something special for you as we embark on this exciting journey into the world of gardening, community, and all things green. Grab your favorite mug, pour yourself a steaming cup of coffee, and settle in as we take you on a delightful exploration of our shared passion – allotment gardening. In this episode, we'll transport you back to where it all began, right here in Karin's shed on her plot, where we planted the seeds for this podcast!

In this ep, we share stories about plot waiting lists, choosing a plot, tackling overgrown spaces, and where to start if you're a newbie. Plus, we'll touch on the fascinating world of no dig, compost and mulch. And just so you know, dear listeners, we're learning as we go - no experts here! So, whether you're a seasoned gardener or just beginning your green journey, join us as "The Plot Thickens!"

Music by:

Mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms!

How do you grow yours?

Karin has some beautiful white oyster mushrooms ready to pick for a creamy pasta dinner. She's extended the mushroom theme throughout her plot like mycelium - she's now layering spores in her raised bed!

Vicky's been moving her mushrooms like the Hokey Cokey around her plot with not very impressive results, unlike her 4 small perfectly formed cucumbers.

So sorry people, the mic batteries started to fail so this episode is very short and sweet.

Back next week with a monster episode as we have NEWS!

A busy week in Hertfordshire with inspiring visits to both the Kitchen Garden and Groundswell, the Regenerative Agriculture Festival. On the allotments the growing has finally started after the hot weather, making all the hard work worth it.

We had a lovely natter on a sunny plot - the sun is finally beating down on us!

We’ve become Wildlife champions with Wilderhood Watch in St Albans but what does that actually mean?

Karin’s little one spotted what she thought was a possum on the plot, but no, it was a Hedgehog ! So the whole family are now fully focused on operation hedgehog home building this week!

Are you going to Groundswell? We’ll be there on Wednesday 26th June and are so looking forward to meeting so many wonderful people and talk freely about compost and soil ALL DAY LONG without boring anyone! 

Last week, we popped along to Folly Lane Allotment as part of Sust Fest's. We got a lovely tour of 3 carying plots insluding one focused on butterflies, one on apples and the 3rd on compost! We got to taste some Ashmead’s Colonel apple Juice!

We're also planning ahead; Johnson Su building, Hotbed creation and sowing for Winter!

This week Karin’s cooking up globe artichokes & potatoes and Vicky's eating raw peas fresh from the pod. 

Wilderhood Watch

Wilder St Albans