Dig This.

The weather has prevented much useful outdoor activity on the plot this week, but there are always a dozen little jobs to get on with in the shed and greenhouse.

I took the opportunity of the rain to give the tools a little TLC this past week. Wood, even when turned into handles, is still a living material, and as such will rot if not cared for.

The handles of all tools can be made to last longer and keep their resilience by the application of a couple of coats of linseed oil, lightly applied with a rag to dry tools, leave a week between each application.

Similarly, the edges of hoes and spades will benefit from being sharpened to a reasonably clean edge with a file or carborundum stone.

It also came to pass that I needed a couple of dozen plant pots to pot on a few leeks.

There are many piles of pots all over my sheds and greenhouses, all clean mind you, but very seldom more than about three together of the same size.

Many hours were spent in bringing them all together and sorting them into standard sizes and shapes.

I seem to accumulate pots from heaven knows where, and a realistic look at the stocks in hand has led to a pile being taken to the trading hut as freebies for those in need. The other result was a dramatic reduction in the amount of storage space caused by better stacking of like within like!

PETER HORROCKS