I was looking at a few solutions to composting and protecting the plants which would be economic and green. I've just copied and pasted bits from a website.  The link to it is www.gardenaction.co.uk/beginner/start_vegetable_patch_2.asp

So what's the solution if you have no compost? Adding bonemeal or blood, fish and bone (available at almost all garden centres) at the rate on the packet will give the soil a feed which will last for much longer than any chemical feed. Digging will improve the structure and condition of the soil.

Thought this was quite interesting....

Clearing The Site

Before planting vegetables you may well need to clear the site. Existing weeds can be a big problem and there are several ways to clear them. Chemicals such as glyphosphate will kill most weeds dead within three or four weeks but the effect on the soil is not fully understood. The best method is digging the soil well and pulling out all the weeds as you go. Destroy the weeds, do not put them on the compost heap

Another "green" method of clearing weeds is to cover the ground with old carpets for a couple of months. This will kill most weeds but not all. Click herefor another GardenAction page on how to clear strong weeds such as couch grass.

Pest control

We need to budget for fencing canes and string aswell, noticed it wasn't on the price list.

Support netting (4m by 2m) £2.44  (6m by 2m) £3.42

Potting shed twine £4.95

Bamboo canes £2.44

sourced from Plant supports & twine - mydeco

I found a website that suggested growing a hedge round the plot.  This may be a problem should we wish to expand but just thought I would put it out there.

Some green methods for keeping out slugs was the beer can method - the slugs are attracted to the yeast in the beer fall into the can and can't get out.  Also broken egg shells around the base of the plants.  Another one is copper plate round the plant bases.  I'm sure there are other methods but don't think we have to say anything other than we have thought about it and considered some solutions which are both economic and green.

posted by Alison