Bed 16A Decanting Humus IV

The weather didn't turn out as predicted today, this morning was sunny 7C a little windy and more importantly, the rain expected at 11 didn't arrive until 2pm.

As I was awake at 5:30, I breakfasted, washed, dressed, medicated and was out of the front door just before 9am, arriving at the allotment just after 9am.

I immediately got to work excavating the last of the humus material from the footprint of raised bed 16A, my anticipation was that I may get the excavated material backfilled with woodchip in the dry 2 hours predicted.

First barrow load of woodchip

Woodchip consolidated by foot traffic, i.e. me shuffling backwards and forwards over the area so 115kg and size 11 trainers. 

Another wheel barrow load of woodchips from the car park

Again spread and consolidated

I was working for 50 minutes and taking 10 minute breaks for a drink and a short rest, I managed to screw the base if 16A to 16.

Then filled the lower frame with branches from the ash tree that was pollarded in Autumn last year, then adding two more wheel barrow loads of woodchip into the first level raised bed scaffold board framework.

The branches were cut up and spread around a little more and then covered with another wheel barrow load of woodchips.

Another two wheel barrow loads added to the base raised bed frame

A final (for today) wheel barrow load of woodchips added and spread evenly. Andy started to also get wheel barrow loads of woodchip to top up one of his paths on his allotment. He commented on just how heavy the woodchips were because they have been rained on everyday since Christmas. 

I got Andy from plot 12 to give me a hand to lift the raised bed 16A frame off the boards on bed 16 and place it on the top of the bed 16A base framework.

It was 12:45 and becoming overcast. I did not cover up the bed again as now it is half full of branches and woodchips I would like the woodchips to settle and consolidate and any rain will help that process. 

I made my way home for lunch.