I'm not quite boring enough, apparently, so Green Books have asked Mark and myself to push on with Polytunnel Handbook II - The Musical. Without talking too much about it - and I'm told this is punishable by death - we need a few victims volunteers in specific areas of the UK for data for the new work, and for taking part in a small experiment which is kicking off in about ten days. Contributors get bothered by Mark and myself intermittently, their name in lights (well, all right, in the acknowledgement section) and it's all quite jolly until someone loses an eye. So, here's what I'm looking for.
New Tunnelers anywhere in the UK: If you've put up your first tunnel this year, or are about to, we want to hear from you. I haven't forgotten the magic of my first polytunnel season, but I can also remember learning a hard lesson or two - so I'd love to hear how you get on.
Tunnelers in the Cumbria / Northumberland belt: For some reason you're a bit shy up there. Go further north and tunnelers are throwing themselves at you and showering you with photographs, but the Geordies are notably retiscent and in the Lake District they're too busy stuffing themselves with Kendal Mint Cake. Or so it seems, so speak up.
Tunnelers in the Midlands: I used to live up there, but that was before I discovered how fast everything grows when you hide it under an oversized plastic bag. Black Country people too - it's okay, I can hire a translator. (NB For readers unfamiliar with the Black Country region of England, this area has a truly magnificent Chaucerian accent but the translator is actually more to help us cope with the eclectic sense of humour. If you ask one of the Folk how they are, they're quite likely to say 'Fer to middlen' or possibly 'Worse'n ever, thanks f'rasken'.
Tunnelers in the Channel Islands: It's all a bit of a mystery down there, frankly, but there is apparently enough light to produce freesias in the dead of winter. I must know.
Any tunneler, anywhere, that reckons they have an unusual way of growing. Having heard yesterday about a tunnel in the North of England that has a solar-powered heating system that keeps it frost-free all winter, I know there are some scarily inventive people out there. I want to hear from you!
To join in, e-mail me at cantburp hyphen fimp at yahoo dot co dot uk.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Help Wanted
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5 comments:
How bizzare, MOH has just purchased your first book as an Easter prezzy for me, as it's my intention to make my own tunnel in true allotment stylee. While not in Northumberland, I do live in the North East. However I point out the word intention, as things are mighty busy at the mo!.
Oh P.S nice first book, already saved me making a load of mistakes (door position wrt prevailing wind for example.)
Excellent - chip in using the e-mail address in the article (otherwise I can't reply to you!)
Hiya,
I'm in Leeds, and have an allotment on a small tenant-run site where there is a derelict polytunnel. We've just got funding to get the thing re-covered, and then we'll be sharing it between us all.
Not sure if that'd be helpful to you, but you're welcome to get in touch via my blog. I'll probably end up doing something weird to it - I usually do.
Hello!
You're very welcome to glean what you can from my blog (and ask direct questions). Just updated news on progress so far in our new polytunnel.
I think it's going okay so far. Just worried we won't have room for all the tomatoes I have planned.
I've tried the email honest. Getting a tunnel next week, up by May. Has to be I've plants all over the house waiting for it. I've been going on about one for years - self sufficiency for my retirement as far as possible is the plan. two old lady hens, we'll live on eggs and veg. I'm hoping to work some solar heating and ventilation in too (knew the engineering background would be useful)
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