Title
Allotment Diary March, April, May & June 2025
Description
English version
Upon my arrival at my allotment plot on the 2nd March 2025 I was deeply amazed to see that last year’s beetroot crop was still there - which means I will continue to harvest and eat this crop as well as sharing with my daughters and friends.
So what are the tasks to be done at my allotment plot today?
My allotment plot has spent quality time resting during the winter months. Now being at my allotment today I have noticed that some unwanted weeds have cosily sprouted among last year beetroot crop, on my allotment plot paths and other plot beds. Seeing this kind of activity of the weeds they have embark or let’s say they have intentionally taken on board in this situation I immediately took a quick decision to remove them. This is the best solution to deal with the weeds in this manner. The reason is simple because I don’t want to allow them to takeover and slow me down when preparing and planting the vegetables / crops.
After I removed the weeds from the above mentioned areas - I looked at the weeded plot beds and felt that my mind was ignited with serenity delight. I also thought that it was worthwhile to visit my allotment today. Then I sat down to quench my other allotment duties. For example relaxing and listening to the sweet melodies of the various birds echoing from the trees. These birds that tend to visit this vicinity seem to utilise their time wisely either resting or expressing their expertise in their musical talents.
However I have to point out that it is marvellous to hear these birds sing at the allotment. Hearing them sing tends to transport me back to my village in Mazvihwa, Zimbabwe where I grew up enjoying seeing and hearing birds especially doves singing adorable cooing melodies in their favourite chosen trees.
Needles to say - this allotment is a pull factor too for insects like tiny grasshoppers, bees, butterflies, beetles (see some of the insects and the harvested rhubarb photos attached). And on the 9th June 2025 I saw something I thought was a different species of butterfly and I messaged my younger daughter on WhatsApp a photo of this insect. When my daughter replied she pointed out that it was a Cinnabar moth. My encounter with this Cinnabar moth was a very beautiful happiest moment. Why? Due to the fact that this allotment is furnishing me with surprises and not to forget to say the moth’s amazingly pretty combination of orange and black colours fed my mind with joy. What a moment to cherish and fully appreciate such encounter and also for being grateful for the Fairview Allotment Association for giving me this special place my allotment.
Munda wangu muweddzi ya Kurume, Kubvumi, Chivabvu naChikumi 2025
Shona version
Apo ndakasvika pamunda wangu ndakakatyamara apo ndakaona beetroot yandakanzwara gore rakapera iripo pamunda wangu, saka zvinoreva kuti mbeu iyoyi ndichaikohwa ndigodya navanasikana vangu ne shamwari dzangu.
Nhasi mabasa ekuita pamunda wangu ndeapi?
Zvino nokuda kwekuti munda wangu hadina kuurima mumwedzi yechando parizvino ndiri kuona kuti paita bundo riri mumbeu yebeetroot yandakarima gore rapera, panzira dze makandiwa emunda, nemamwe makandiwa awo andakakohwa mbeu dzegore rapera. Zvino ndaona irori bundo ndakabva ndakurumidzira kurishakura.Kurishakura bundo irorori chinhu chakanaka chaizvo nokuti harizokunetsi apo wotanga kurima zvirima zvaunenge uchida kurima gore rino.
Apo ndapedza kushakura bundo nhasi pamunda wangu ndakafara chaizvo kuona irori basa randaita nhasi. Ndakanzvazve moyo wang uchiti shuwa chinhu chakanaka kuti nhasi ndawana nguva yekubva pamba pangu ndichiuya kuno kumunda wangu.Uyezve ndakambogara pasi ndichizorora kuitira kuti nditeerere shiri idzo dzinouya munzvimo iyoyi yeminda yevanhu.Idzodzi shiri dzionuya kunzwimbo iyoyi unodzihwa dziri mumiti dzichirira apo padzinenge dzichiimba nziyo dzadzo dzinonakidza.
Asivo kureva chokwadi ndinoti ini ndinofara kunzwa shiri idzodzi dzichirira mumumba iyoyi nokuti padzinorira dzinenge dzichndifungisa kumusha kwandakakurira KwaMazvihwa, Zimbabwe iko kwandinoenda kuhoridheyi nemwanasikana wangu muduku. Kana tiriko tinofarira kuona nekuteerera shiri dzichiimba nziyo dzadzo. Dzimwe dzacho shiri tinodzionera pamba pavabereki vangu ikoko kunzwimbo yekwaMzvihwa.
Pakupedzisira ndinoti munda wangu unouyisavo zipepenene zvakaita semashu, nyuchi, bhatafurayi (butterflies) nemabhitoru (beetles). Izvozvi nemusi wa 9 Chikumi 2025 ndakaona chipepenene chandaifunnga kuti ibhatafurayi(butterfly) ndikamsg mwanasikana wangu nefoto yacho pawhatsaap akati hayi imotsi (moth) zita racho rinonzi Cinnabar moth. Ini musi wandakasangana nemotsi (Cinnabar moth) iyoyo moyo wangu wakafara chaizvo kuti munda wangu urikundionesa zvinhu zvakasiyana-siyana iyo motsi (moth)yacho kara yacho yanga yakazonaka zvikuru iri orenji nenhema. Zuva irori randakaona motsi iyoyi richagara mumoyo wangu ndichitendazve chaizvo Fairviw Allotment Association kundipa munda wangu.
Author & photos
By Florence /Mai Thandiwe
Harvested Rhubarb and rhubarb growing on plot 15/16.6.25
Cinnabar moth & Beetle on Field Bindweed 9.6.25
Sage 16.6.25
Upon my arrival at my allotment plot on the 2nd March 2025 I was deeply amazed to see that last year’s beetroot crop was still there - which means I will continue to harvest and eat this crop as well as sharing with my daughters and friends.
So what are the tasks to be done at my allotment plot today?
My allotment plot has spent quality time resting during the winter months. Now being at my allotment today I have noticed that some unwanted weeds have cosily sprouted among last year beetroot crop, on my allotment plot paths and other plot beds. Seeing this kind of activity of the weeds they have embark or let’s say they have intentionally taken on board in this situation I immediately took a quick decision to remove them. This is the best solution to deal with the weeds in this manner. The reason is simple because I don’t want to allow them to takeover and slow me down when preparing and planting the vegetables / crops.
After I removed the weeds from the above mentioned areas - I looked at the weeded plot beds and felt that my mind was ignited with serenity delight. I also thought that it was worthwhile to visit my allotment today. Then I sat down to quench my other allotment duties. For example relaxing and listening to the sweet melodies of the various birds echoing from the trees. These birds that tend to visit this vicinity seem to utilise their time wisely either resting or expressing their expertise in their musical talents.
However I have to point out that it is marvellous to hear these birds sing at the allotment. Hearing them sing tends to transport me back to my village in Mazvihwa, Zimbabwe where I grew up enjoying seeing and hearing birds especially doves singing adorable cooing melodies in their favourite chosen trees.
Needles to say - this allotment is a pull factor too for insects like tiny grasshoppers, bees, butterflies, beetles (see some of the insects and the harvested rhubarb photos attached). And on the 9th June 2025 I saw something I thought was a different species of butterfly and I messaged my younger daughter on WhatsApp a photo of this insect. When my daughter replied she pointed out that it was a Cinnabar moth. My encounter with this Cinnabar moth was a very beautiful happiest moment. Why? Due to the fact that this allotment is furnishing me with surprises and not to forget to say the moth’s amazingly pretty combination of orange and black colours fed my mind with joy. What a moment to cherish and fully appreciate such encounter and also for being grateful for the Fairview Allotment Association for giving me this special place my allotment.
Munda wangu muweddzi ya Kurume, Kubvumi, Chivabvu naChikumi 2025
Shona version
Apo ndakasvika pamunda wangu ndakakatyamara apo ndakaona beetroot yandakanzwara gore rakapera iripo pamunda wangu, saka zvinoreva kuti mbeu iyoyi ndichaikohwa ndigodya navanasikana vangu ne shamwari dzangu.
Nhasi mabasa ekuita pamunda wangu ndeapi?
Zvino nokuda kwekuti munda wangu hadina kuurima mumwedzi yechando parizvino ndiri kuona kuti paita bundo riri mumbeu yebeetroot yandakarima gore rapera, panzira dze makandiwa emunda, nemamwe makandiwa awo andakakohwa mbeu dzegore rapera. Zvino ndaona irori bundo ndakabva ndakurumidzira kurishakura.Kurishakura bundo irorori chinhu chakanaka chaizvo nokuti harizokunetsi apo wotanga kurima zvirima zvaunenge uchida kurima gore rino.
Apo ndapedza kushakura bundo nhasi pamunda wangu ndakafara chaizvo kuona irori basa randaita nhasi. Ndakanzvazve moyo wang uchiti shuwa chinhu chakanaka kuti nhasi ndawana nguva yekubva pamba pangu ndichiuya kuno kumunda wangu.Uyezve ndakambogara pasi ndichizorora kuitira kuti nditeerere shiri idzo dzinouya munzvimo iyoyi yeminda yevanhu.Idzodzi shiri dzionuya kunzwimbo iyoyi unodzihwa dziri mumiti dzichirira apo padzinenge dzichiimba nziyo dzadzo dzinonakidza.
Asivo kureva chokwadi ndinoti ini ndinofara kunzwa shiri idzodzi dzichirira mumumba iyoyi nokuti padzinorira dzinenge dzichndifungisa kumusha kwandakakurira KwaMazvihwa, Zimbabwe iko kwandinoenda kuhoridheyi nemwanasikana wangu muduku. Kana tiriko tinofarira kuona nekuteerera shiri dzichiimba nziyo dzadzo. Dzimwe dzacho shiri tinodzionera pamba pavabereki vangu ikoko kunzwimbo yekwaMzvihwa.
Pakupedzisira ndinoti munda wangu unouyisavo zipepenene zvakaita semashu, nyuchi, bhatafurayi (butterflies) nemabhitoru (beetles). Izvozvi nemusi wa 9 Chikumi 2025 ndakaona chipepenene chandaifunnga kuti ibhatafurayi(butterfly) ndikamsg mwanasikana wangu nefoto yacho pawhatsaap akati hayi imotsi (moth) zita racho rinonzi Cinnabar moth. Ini musi wandakasangana nemotsi (Cinnabar moth) iyoyo moyo wangu wakafara chaizvo kuti munda wangu urikundionesa zvinhu zvakasiyana-siyana iyo motsi (moth)yacho kara yacho yanga yakazonaka zvikuru iri orenji nenhema. Zuva irori randakaona motsi iyoyi richagara mumoyo wangu ndichitendazve chaizvo Fairviw Allotment Association kundipa munda wangu.
Author & photos
By Florence /Mai Thandiwe
Harvested Rhubarb and rhubarb growing on plot 15/16.6.25
Cinnabar moth & Beetle on Field Bindweed 9.6.25
Sage 16.6.25
Date
March, April, May & June 2025
Alt text
The first photo is of harvested rhubarb. The stalks are thick and pink and have large leaves. The second photo is of rhubarb growing in a plot, the leaves are large and bright green. The third image depicts a Cinnbar Moth resting on grass, the wings of the moth are red and black. The fourth image depicts four bindweed flowers, these are white flowers with a yellow middle , on one flower we can see a beetle resting on one of the petal. The fifth image is of sage growing on a plot. The leaves are thin, long and of a lighter shade of green.
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