I've started - there may be risks.. ah well

I'm really pleased that the new business is slowly but steadily getting going.

With a few recommends and some chance encounters, various jobs are appearing. Having visited both Gotherington Nurseries and Blooms on a regular basis to source plants and do some research, I can tell spring has sprung with all manner of tempting plants appearing - just waiting to be purchased by unsuspecting 'gardeners'. Also, I am seeing some marketing opportunities with some local businesses having a frontage to their business but having very poor planting - there are opportunities here to sponsor and provide plants and offer 'free' maintenance along with my business advert....so if any readers of this blog know of any such 'opportunities' please get in touch. Email via my web-site.

I'm enjoying putting some planting plans and plant suggestions together for some clients as this is stretching and improving my plant knowledge.

The allotment is just about ready for the spring sowing/planting to begin. Last week onions, shallots and garlic were planted out. All had been started off under glass at home to ensure they had a good start and to avoid being taken out of the soil by birds - who seem to delight in tugging out the newly planted onion sets before they've even started to grow and leaving them out on the soil surface to dryout/rot!

This week I'm hoping to get parsnip seed sown and the 2nd early potatoes planted.

On the Woodmancote Church front, I'm organising a Woodmancote May Day stand this year. I'm really looking forward to this, as I'm hoping this will turn out to be a good community event. Currently plans are in place to have a fully covered marquee so that we can sell plants under wind/rain proof conditions, and also provide information stands to inform the village community just what Woodmancote Church gets up to, who we are and who we support. Weather wise, May Day can be one of two extremes (fine weather or pants...)

If ever you have a few moments spare and want to be inspired to get up and 'just do it' (whatever just do it might be), take a look at The Big Africa Cycle. I've heard this guy (Pete Gostelow) talk, and he was very inspirational in that whatever you might want to do in life, you can only do so much planning. At some point you have to start doing it - take risks; risks that you don't even know about - but he seems to revel in the experience. His current endeavour cycling Africa has been fascinating to follow with his 'tweets' and his online blog/record.