The bycycle diaries part 3 and Leaf mould

Posted by Andy Hamilton - 12/11/08 at 02:11:25 pm

Oxford – Northampton Day 3

Got up nice and early at Paul Kingsnorth’s house and made faces at his baby whilst eating a nice hearty breakfast. Just round the corner was the Oxford Cycle Co-op and what was to be the first nice bike shop. I got talking to a bloke called Stephen who took my bike in and had a look at the gears, there were bikes queued up but they still took a look. There was also an odd coincidence, as Stephen lived in the same house as Dave used to, just up the road from the Co-op.

These were some of life’s nice people (not like the bloke in the bike shop at Clifton).  I would strongly urge anyone in the Oxford area to go to this bike shop in fact, I am almost tempted to get the bike trailer I have my eye on.

The journey to Northampton was a dream, the wind was behind me, the sun shone and I even enjoyed getting lost. I did have to pull over once to give a newspaper interview to the Bristol Evening Post about this bike ride not sure if they have run that article yet.

There seemed to be signs everywhere on the way protesting against an eco-town. I was not sure what it was and no one else seems to know either one to look up when I got back I thought (which is now). It seems that Weston on the Green is one of 15 sites proposed by the government for the first new towns in 40 years. Although I am generally 100% for eco towns; I am starting to have searious doubts about how green placing 10 000 people in the middle of rural England really is. After cycling up thought the North and seeing countless empty properties I would suggest that it would be much more ‘eco’ to do up existing properties and invest more in the public transport structure that we already have. I guess this is not a vote winner though, can you really boast that ‘this government has invested in the transport system it already should have invested in and has retrofitted houses in areas that it should have invested in back in 1997! Perhaps not, an eco town right in the middle of undecided votesville would be a much better idea.

Cycled on a bit past the controversial eco-town area and got to Silverstone, I had a quick look at the racetrack, which is massive and saw a car whizzing around it. Perhaps if the Grand Prix moves next year then Silverstone racetrack could be converted into eco-flats or it could be covered in yurts.

Arrived in Northampton in really good time, you have to cycle down into a bowl that Northampton sits in. It has one sight, the express lift tower which is also the highest building in Northampton. Each time I cycle in I always think that this tower poking out in the middle looks like the whole town if giving you the bird. Perhaps this is also the best way to describe my home town.

Visited a few friends one of them John Randal said to me, “kind of wish I had joined you”. I told him he could do and it was then obvious it was not much of a heart felt wish more of a whim as he made some mutterings.

Got to my parents house, the stop for the night only to find they were having a party to celebrate the local history book my Mum had been working on for the the last year or so.  3 of the people their had a routine to the Beverley sisters “Sisters” song and proceeded to show us. It was rather amusing especially as one was a man with a beard if a little odd after cycling on my own for two days.

Leaf Mould

Luckily we have a park on our doorstep so I was able to nip out and fill up a couple of bin liners with Autumn leaves in order to make leaf mould to dig into my allotment in a year or two.

Leaf mould makes for a really simple and free soil improver, here is how you make it.

1. Gather up loads of leaves and put them into a bin liner
2. If you can be bothered cut them up a bit and wetten them, I just pick them up after rainfall (don’t use evergreen leaves)
3. Make holes in the sides of the bin liners and tie them up
4. Leave in a shady spot for a year or two*. – After one year they can be used as mulch or can be dug into the soil as an improver such as when gardening advice says “use organic matter”.
5. *After two years you should be left with a dark crumbly mixture that can be used as a potting compost or as part of a potting mix.
6. That’s it, it is that simple to get some free stuff for your garden/allotment.

2 Comments

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1. Oh I like the idea of Silverstone covered in yurts. What a fine home one would make for that silly Mr Clarkson who so likes cars.

   I agree that it would make so much better sense to re-use old buildings for homes rather than building new. Frankly, I’ve never understood why this doesn’t happen.

   Comment by Jon in France — November 12, 2008 #

2. I am sure the reason would have something to do with money.

   Comment by andyhamilton — November 13, 2008 #

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