Hydrating Coir

 

I purchased these 6 blocks of Premium Coir Compost from ebay for the princely cost of £15.49 including shipping which works out at £2.58 for every 10 Litres worth 

These blocks measure 140mm x 140mm x 50mm thick and the volume is the same as the older 180mm x 180mm x 30mm blocks, that changed their packaging each year, but remained 99p or a £1 a block. Until that was, those that want to save the planet decided on our behalf to stop selling peat compost to domestic growers. 

Coirs value increased as it became a critical component in peat Free composts and in a very few years is now 2.58 x more expensive than it was for many years. 

I hydrated the six blocks of Premium Coir Compost using 3 litres of water, in square flower buckets from my favourite supermarket that I've had for years. as these smaller blocks don't come inside a plastic bag like their larger flatter cousins.  

Equigrow Order Arrives

Arrived safe and sound between the delivery window I was given of 2pm to 4pm

 

The Large 50 Bag Variety Pallet looking well what can I say "Very large on the doorstep" 

What can be spied on the top of the pallet, are a couple of additional bags, above and beyond what I ordered. More on that later .........

I did offer the courier a drink if he could walk the sacks through to the back garden for me, alas he was on a time crunch and had I been his last drop off, he would have done. So there I was with all these sacks on my front door, scratching my head, how I was going to get them into the back garden?!!. 

Hold that thought again, all will be revealed later on in this post.

Focusing on the Blue Pallet at the base of this mega stack of compost.

Blue pallets almost universally indicate ownership by CHEP, a global supply chain and pallet pooling company. They are rented rather than sold, meaning they legally remain the property of CHEP and must be returned, as buying or selling them is prohibited.

The Meaning and Origin of Blue Pallets

• Ownership: The blue colour is a registered trademark of CHEP. It allows the company to track, maintain, and retrieve its equipment across the global supply chain. 
• The "Pooling" System: Instead of buying pallets, businesses lease them from CHEP. After a shipment is delivered, the pallets are meant to be returned, repaired, and recirculated rather than discarded. 
• Legality: Because blue pallets are private property, it is illegal to buy, sell, trade, or upcycle them for personal use. Keeping or attempting to sell them can result in legal liability or civil penalties.

Other Pallet Colours

Colour-coding is a standard industry method to instantly identify which company owns or manages the equipment. 

• Red: Typically owned by LPR (La Palette Rouge) in Europe or PECO in the US/Loscam in Asia-Pacific.
• Brown: Indicates ownership by the IPP Pooling network.
• Blue Plastic (FDA/Hygienic): Some unbranded blue plastic pallets are utilized in the food or pharmaceutical industries to indicate they are made of virgin plastic, meet FDA hygiene regulations, and are easy to sanitize.

What to do if you have one

If you are a business or individual with unauthorized blue pallets, do not throw them away or attempt to sell them. You can arrange for them to be legally collected through the CHEP Return Portal. CHEP provides free pick-up services to clear their equipment from your premises.

I've completed the information on the Return Portal now I will just wait and see how long it takes them to come and collect their property. 

The 20 sacks of Real Farmyard Manure stacked adjacent to the Kitchen back door  

Now I have to say, the back garden is looking a wee bit crowded as one might expect having just brought 52 sacks of various composts from the front to the back of the house.

I would love to say it was me that did it, unfortunately that's not the case. Kelly brought 7 sacks through bless her before she had to pop out on a mission as in driving her old car with a broken clutch to the car dealer, she has just bought her new car from. 

It was my neighbour Sid's grandson Dave who came to my rescue, he is in his 40's a scaffolder and as fit as I used too be when I was in my 40's. 

He would not take a drink as a thank you and was happy with a simple thank you. 

As my old dad used to say, there is no taste in nothing, so I will be buying him a substantial quantity of his favourite beer and giving them to Sid for him. In that way I can ask him for a favour in the future again.     

Fertile Mulch on the decking beside the gate

Two additional sacks added to my order by Erika of Equigrow for me to trial, Premium Soil Conditioner and Finest Topsoil. I will be posting about these in a little while. 

Organic Green Compose stacked up by the greenhouse 

A couple of stragglers 

Tomato plants looking happy having been rained on heavily 

I made modifications to the height of the step to make it a better height.

The bottom part of the stepper just pulled off with a little persuasion. 

I have placed them behind the top of the step to pack 

it out from the rear of the building. 

The carpet covers a multitude of sins 

Decking Under The Storage Unit

Photos dropped, words and explanation to follow shortly ......

Getting The Netting On The Beds

 

Photos dropped, words and explanation to follow shortly ......

 

It Rained Last Night ?!!

Kilimanjaro Challenge For The Greenfingers Charity

 

23 trekkers. One mountain. £237,000 raised. One extraordinary achievement. Kilimanjaro challenge for the Greenfingers Charity

23 trekkers. One mountain. £237,000 raised. One extraordinary achievement.   After months of preparation, fundraising and anticipation, the Greenfingers Charity Kilimanjaro team has completed one of the world’s toughest trekking challenges, pushing themselves to their physical and mental limits in support of children with life-limiting conditions and their families.   The challenge was the brainchild of Greenfingers Ambassador, Kate Ebbens, who brought together colleagues and friends from across the horticultural industry and beyond, under one ambitious goal: to take on Africa’s highest mountain and raise vital funds for a new Greenfingers garden.   A total of 23 were united by a shared purpose to help create a magical therapeutic garden at Naomi and Jack’s, a children’s hospice in Winchester, for children with life-limiting conditions, their families and carers.     Over eight days on the demanding Lemosho Route, the team tackled the immense challenge of Mount Kilimanjaro, reaching altitudes of 5,895 metres at Uhuru Peak and experiencing some of the most extreme conditions.   The journey tested every aspect of endurance. Trekking for up to ten hours a day, the team faced freezing overnight temperatures, thinning oxygen levels, relentless climbs, exhaustion, altitude-related illness, aching muscles and sleepless nights. As they climbed higher, communication with family, friends and supporters became increasingly limited, with only brief updates from the mountain capturing fragments of an extraordinary experience.     While the challenge demanded everything of them physically and mentally, it also delivered unforgettable moments – breath-taking sunrises above the clouds, shared laughter in camp after long days on the mountain, encouragement offered at exactly the right moment, and the deep bonds formed through a truly shared experience.     Throughout the expedition, one constant remained - the spirit of One Team. One Dream. No matter how far individuals were able to go on the mountain, every member of the team played a vital role in the journey, supporting one another and contributing to a collective achievement far greater than any single summit.   The defining moment came in the early hours of 18th June, as the team made their final ascent from Barafu Camp. Setting off shortly after midnight, they climbed through darkness, bitter cold and thinning air before reaching the highest point in Africa as dawn broke across the continent.     A lasting legacy Their achievement marks the culmination of an outstanding fundraising effort, with the team now raising more than £237,000, with donations continuing to grow each day.   The funds will help create a brand-new therapeutic garden at Naomi and Jack’s children’s hospice, designed by acclaimed garden designer Helen Elks-Smith. The garden will provide a beautiful, accessible outdoor sanctuary where children with life-limiting conditions, their siblings and families can spend precious time together away from clinical surroundings.     Boyd Douglas-Davies, Chair of Greenfingers Charity, said: "What this team has achieved is nothing short of remarkable. Kilimanjaro is an immense physical and mental challenge that demands everything of those who take it on.   Every member of the team showed outstanding resilience, courage and determination, and together they truly embodied exceptional team spirit. Their commitment to one another throughout the expedition was inspiring, and because of their efforts another Greenfingers garden will become a reality for children and families who need it most."     Kate Ebbens, of Woodlodge and originator of the Kilimanjaro challenge, said:  "When we first talked about taking on Kilimanjaro, we hoped it would bring people from across our industry together to do something special for Greenfingers Charity, and seeing that idea become reality has been very meaningful.   During the challenge, the team and I adopted the strapline ‘One Team. One Dream.’, and it quickly became the heartbeat of our journey. Kilimanjaro tests you in every possible way, physically, mentally and emotionally, but what carried us through was the strong support we gave one another. Every day someone needed encouragement, and every day someone was there to give it.   This challenge was never about individual achievement. Instead it was about coming together as one team to create something lasting for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Knowing our efforts will help bring the Naomi and Jack’s garden to life makes every step on that mountain worthwhile, and I couldn’t be prouder of what this team has achieved together."     Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Greenfingers Charity, added:  "Watching this journey unfold has been truly special from start to finish. From the first conversations through to training walks, fundraising milestones and finally the expedition itself, this team has shown exceptional commitment and spirit.   They have demonstrated what can be achieved when an industry and friends come together behind a shared purpose. Their determination, generosity and support for one another has been remarkable, and thanks to them, another Greenfingers garden will soon become a reality for children and families who need it most.   We are now within touching distance of £250,000, and we would love to see this inspiring team reach that milestone together."   Help the team reach £250,000 The Greenfingers Charity Kilimanjaro team has now raised more than £237,000, with donations still coming in daily.   Every donation will help bring the Naomi and Jack’s therapeutic garden to life, creating a magical therapeutic outdoor space where children with life-limiting conditions and their families can enjoy precious moments together.   To sponsor the team, click here: Kilimanjaro Trek 2026 - JustGiving Kilimanjaro Trek 2026 - JustGiving   Pull out box Meet the Killi Trekkers Kate Ebbens, Woodlodge, Greenfingers Ambassador Heidi Baylis Towse, Greenfingers Trustee and Blue Diamond Phillippa Stubbs and Libby Stubbs of British Garden Centres Greenfingers Ambassador, Bob Marley Alexa Blackmore from The Gardens Group Matt Jones of Sipcam and his partner Nicola Matthew Rowlandson, Dobsons Daniel and Jodie Rowlandson, Team Max Foundation Tara Adams from Woodmansterne Nicole and David Higginson of New Leaf Plants Richard Howard of Doddington Nurseries along with Tia Blunt Johan Huibers from Huibers Co. Richard Quarmby from AKN Build Thomas Forsyth from AKN Build Helen Taylor from Allan Morris Estate Agents Tammy Woodhouse, Greenfingers Trustee Rene Assies of Assies Jess Dollimore of Ruxley Manor   Congratulations to the Greenfingers Killi Trekkers