It Finally Happened !

A visit to the allotment this morning and it was very cold. I went to dig out bed 16a, however the loft conversion finally gave in to gravity and wind.

In the words of Freddy Mercury "It finally happened Oh No!" so the decanting of soil from bed 16a was put on hold. Dormer components were recovered and cleaned and timbers found and cut as its clear that the glue gun was not enough on its own. all the parts are now in the potting shed awaiting assembly.

I need to find some screws of an adequate length and re-assemble the dormer loft conversion. I will need assistance cleaning the glue off the greenhouse frame and someone more mobile than me to fit the dormer back in place, as my climbing ladders days are well behind me now.

For the moment I have jury-rigged a cover that has little wind resistance but covers the hole and hopefully keeps the rain out as my cardboard for the raised beds is in the greenhouse.

Carrots from bed 15a harvested, small but lots of them. They were sown very late in the season, and should have been thinned more than they were.

My hand to give some idea of just how small the carrots are

ALPEN Gelbhorn 140 pruning shears were used to trim off the carrots stem and leaf's, It's a nice and light tool for the job, and I can see me using these a lot. The cuttings went in the Hotbin wormery with the really small carrots to feed the worms. I'm guessing at least another 6 - 7 Harvest like this still in the bed to come yet.

ALPEN Snip Rigi 300 Harvesting & Trimming Snip

ALPEN, the new brand of pruning tools and accessories born in Switzerland, you know that place that came up with the Swiss army knife that we all wanted when were were boy scouts, because in those days we carved tent pegs and didn't use them for stabbing other humans. 

Switzerland thus has a reputation for producing, robust, durable, ergonomic, reliable and carefully designed quality tools. I'm happy to say that ALPEN have sent me a couple of their tools to trial and blog about. 

ALPEN also produce pruning shears, loppers, hedge shears, saws... There entire range is available online, and now in many outlets in the UK.

So far I have only used the Snip Rigi to trim my Japanese Onions, but now I have them I will be using them more and letting you know how I get on with them.     

Some more information about the ALPEN Snip Rigi 300

The Rigi 300 snips are an essential tool for trimming your plants and harvesting fruit and vegetables. Its ultra sharp blades easily trimgi shoots, herbs and flowers, and being made from stainless steel do not rust and are easy to maintain. The long, thin blades with rounded tips make them an ideal tool for careful harvesting of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

FEATURES

• Blade: Japanese stainless steel Handles: Metal handles with black oxide coating and yellow PVC grips (Phthalates free) / ALPEN logo laser engraved
• Spring: Spiral with black oxide coating
• Locker: Leather
• Weight : 115 grams

MAINTENANCE

Take care of your tools to keep them for a long time. It is recommended to sharpen the blade of your pruning shears as soon as it seems dull. After use, clean and store your tools in a clean and dry place. It is also necessary to oil your blade regularly. Use a quality grease from ALPEN Tambo line.

RRP 9.90 euros in the UK they are selling for 

ALPEN Pruning shear Gelbhorn 140

ALPEN, the new brand of pruning tools and accessories born in Switzerland, you know that place that come up with the Swiss army knife that we all wanted when were were boy scouts, because in those days we carved tent pegs and didn't use them for stabbing other humans. 

Switzerland thus has a reputation for producing, robust, durable, ergonomic, reliable and carefully designed quality tools. I'm happy to say that ALPEN have sent me a couple of their tools to trial and blog about. 

I have two grape vines and some plumb tree branches to cut up, and the ALPEN Gelbhorn 140 will be put through its paces, and I will write an honest review. 

ALPEN also produce pruning shears, loppers, hedge shears, saws... There entire range is available online, and now in many outlets in the UK.  

Some more information about the Gelbhorn 140

Maintain plants and trees with ease using the Gelbhorn 140 pruning shears. Don’t let the lightweight in your hands deceive you, the Gelbhorn 140 is a powerful cutting tool that delivers precise and clean cuts of branches up to 18mm / 0.70 in. Thanks to its PTFE coated blade to ensure smooth cuts and steel reinforced lightweight 2 component plastic handles, the Gelbhorn 140 can comfortably handle a variety of pruning jobs in the field and garden.

FEATURES

• Counter blade: Carbon steel with hard chrome plating / Sap groove
• Handles: Yellow PP handles with black TPR injection (Phthalates free)
• Spring: Spiral with black oxide coating
• Shock-absorber

MAINTENANCE

Taking care of your tools, replacing worn parts, and storing them properly is a simple way to work in harmony with your environment.

To get long lasting and optimal use of your tools, be sure to maintain them properly. Do this by sharpening the blade of your pruner as soon as it appears dull, clean it after use, and store it in a dry place. Also regularly oil your blade to keep it cutting smoothly. Spare parts available.

RRP £19.99 but I have seen these selling on Amazon (uk) for between £11 to £12