allotments and babies/toddlers?

mummy_dumpling

Just wondering if anyone with a baby and toddler has taken on an allotment - or would I be mad for trying?

I have 6 kids - 4 are at school but the youngest are 2.5yrs and 6m. My DH works shifts so we might be able to get the gardening done while he's at home to help out with the kids.

We don't have a garden here, just a concrete yard (south facing with big snail problem! as my flower tubs will testify LOL). My brother has some land about 1.5miles away which I might be able to use (as the waiting lists for allotments is huge) but I don't want to set myself up for failure if its going to be too much to take on with little ones to look after too.

I've never done any gardening before (unless you count planting a few flower plants in my tubs for the summer) as I was always waiting for a proper garden - but it looks like we're going to have to stop here long term

So what do you think? Should I give it a go or would I be mad to try?

thanks

hanyh

Hi,

We have just taken on an allotment, so I have been working down there with a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old, they are loving it. TBH, I would be able to get more done without them but I want them to be as involved as I am and as long as they are happy. I have been, dressing them in waterproof all in ones and boots, so they can get as muddy as they like, play in as many puddles and play with the worms, Im happy, and more importantly they are too, so I say go for it,
H

SuzieMum

It is such a great learning experience, great exercise, fun and healthy so if you have the option then I say go for it! Even if you don't get tons done (which you will I bet!) everyone is gaining something in some way.

Jack's_mummy

I'd go for it. Give the 2.5 yr old his own little patch of mud and they'll be happy for hours

Lotus-eater

Six kids! Are you sure you have the energy?

Start small and keep the area you are cultivating manageable until you are sure you are on top of it.
If you take on too much, the weeds will just take over and you will be dispirited.
It will be alot easier if two of you go to the allotment, until the kids get used to the idea and you have told them what not to eat etc (nothing )
I would in the first year go for things that are easy for the return. Beans, courgettes, squashes, pumpkins, onion sets. Whatever you really like to eat.
It could be good having it on your brothers land as if it does get a bit untidy he won't be talking about taking it away like some allotment committees.

If you are serious about it, now is a great time to get started, think about putting some soft fruit in now, raspberries, or any type of hybrid fruit etc.

lindseykim13

Yes sure i've got 2 boys when we took on the lotty they were 5 and 3 youngest still get filthy so always take old clothes. I sometimes go down on my own to get more done but take some old toy cars so they can be burried etc and they'll be fine.
I'm actually going to take an old rug down to store in the shed so they can play in there too.
They also occasionally help lol

They do get to do the best bits though, watering and harvesting, go for easy things like beetroot and potatos, tomatos and you wont get disapointed. I'm avoiding cabbage. brocoli etc as they are just too much hard work.

HTH

Lotus-eater

When were tomatoes ever classed as easy?

mum_of_4

I've always taken my children, sometimes they get bored.
I purchased some chidrens sized forks and spades, not plastic ones but proper ones with long wooden handles. Since doing that they have helped much more.

Sometimes you just have to be prepared to leaving without doing as much as you had intended. I @ve let mine more or less take over the shed as a play house.

My youngest is two and so she still comes with me.

mummy_dumpling

aww thanks everyone

its nice to have some support on here cos everyone I mention to in real life about growing veggies thinks I've lost the plot LOL

I'm going to speak to my brother either tonight or tomorrow - its not like he's got anything to lose cos he has loads of land thats not being used and if my veggie patch doesn't work out its just my time and money down the drain and not his

I'm hoping to get to the bigger town later this week and see if wilkos and B&Q have any cheap fruit bushes left. Where is the best place to get some garden tools? We don't have anything as we've never had a garden before.

The land I'm hoping to use is just grass/weeds so whats the best way of making a start on it? My other brother is a joiner so am hoping he'll help us make some raised beds - would that work? Also my brother has a few free range hens and ducks so will I need to put a fence up or something to stop them eating my plants?

Am all excited now :j

thank you

Lotus-eater

Freecycle for tools, or ask your brother if you could either, use some of his older tools, or borrow his till you get an idea of what you need,
Or Wilcos for some basic ones.

Other brother, raised beds, perfect.

Ask your brother with the land if he has any compost manure etc, you could have. Or does anyone else round there have any manure you could have? Really important for starting off.

Better to have the area for growing well away from the free range poultry.

You either dig over the area you want to use, remove all the stones, weeds, rubbish etc, stick your raised bed over it, add whatever manure etc you have got hold of.
Or you can lay your raised bed directly on the grass, lay lots of paper or cardboard over the grass, on top put loads of compost, manure, or anything organic you can get hold of, when you give it a dig in two or three months, the annual weeds/grass should have gone.

mummy_dumpling

my brother doesn't really do any gardening either so not sure he'd have any tools - but I'll put a request on freecycle before I head off to the shops

there is a stable nearby that bags up their manure and has it free at the gates (just return the bags) - my brother has a trailer so could go and pick some up for me. How much do I need? Will it need to rot down first? How long does that take?

What about compost? Do I need that as well? Where's the cheapest place to get some from until we can get a composter going ourselves? My brother doesn't have a compost heap

my brothers birds go all over his land and the veggie patch is probably going to have to go at the end nearest the hen house (he has a big field) - whats the best way of protecting it?

thanks for all the advice