The long wait is almost over.

The chairman of the allotment committee has emailed to advise that the contractor will be on site next week "to subsoil to 16” then disc, harrow and rotavate the soil incorporating the extra top soil over the whole site". The contractor has then agreed to allow next weekend for plot-holders to mark out where they want their raised beds and he will then put them in place and fill them with top soil commencing on Monday 15/3/10. The contractor has asked that any obstructions be moved to the far end of each plot so as to allow him unrestricted access with his machinery.

So, the long wait to do something constructive on the plot is almost over and I am raring to go.

I have just been up to the allotments. It is a glorious Spring day; clear blue sky; no breeze; still very cold. There was quite a bit of activity going on with people spreading muck and moving things out of the way of the contractor. When I dug the plot over in December I made a couple of piles of vegetation, weeds, roots, and sticks etc which I had unearthed. I have moved them into one mound at the far end of the plot to make sure that they don't get ploughed back in next week.

Whilst I was changing into my wellies in the carpark, etiquette which would be frowned upon at a golf club but which is perfectly acceptable at the allotments, one of the old farmers from the village came over and had a chat. I have often seen him bow-legedly waddling around the village in his tweed jacket, cords and flat cap. He'll stop and talk to anyone. He has not got an allotment but is keenly following progress on the site.

He told me that this has been the longest Winter he can remember. He must be well into his 80s and says he has lived in the village for 66 years. He says Winter around here usually lasts about 70 days but this year it has lasted for not far off 90 days. I don't know what events he regards as signalling the start and finish of Winter but it is encouraging to hear that he thinks that Winter is over now.

Less encouraging for me was his opinion that carrots will perform excellently on my plot but potatoes will not do so well. Anyone who has read my seed order list might recall that I have not got a single carrot seed but I have gone for potatoes on a big scale. I have got 200 or more seed potatoes ready to plant later this month. I will still go ahead with my spud plans but I'll also see if I can pick up some carrot seeds and find a bit of space on the plot to fit in a couple of rows of carrots.