New allotments Autumn 2010 Chat

loucroft

I'm in Kent and a few people are starting to rent out portions of their garden here, could that be something to look into?

savemoney

Yes I looked into a site called landshare

loucroft

A great idea, you could wait a while for the council. My dad got a plot by visiting the allotment and expressing interest, but it depends who you're in touch with when you get there!

This property share type seems like a good thing, so long as there are boundaries between the land owner and the land worker, so to speak

janibrown

Was watching TV last night and it said that if 6 people go and apply to the council directly they have to find you an allotment but not in London or ireland for some reason ! Maybe worth trying if some of you want one I am going to have a chat with some people I know and see if they will go with me for 1 and see what happens got nothing to loose by trying I suppose

scotsaver

gingernutbizkit wrote: »

Hi all

A few years ago I had a half plot for a year and was just getting started really when I had to give it up due to a house move. The the recession hit us badly and we ended up not moving. Tried to get my plot back but ended up on the waiting list (no 46 ).

Anyway, got a leaflet through the door about a private allotment scheme opening up in solihull only a 15 min drive away . I went down today and have rented two plots next to one another. In total I have 200sqft of space. This is probably too much but how often do you have chance to rent an allotment? I figure that we'll give it a go this year and if necessary only rent one the following.

The land was previously agricultural. Sweetcorn was grown last year and prior to that it was used to keep a herd of cows so the soil is in excellent condition. The whole lot has been rotivated and is ready to get started on so I consider myself very lucky as our previous experience of allotmenteering was most spent getting rid of the weeds!

I have three boys who are very excited by our new project (9, 10 and 13) and we have been today to purchase a few cheap seeds and some raspberry canes.

I had thought to make raised beds but I'm thinking now that I will go without the first year as I'm bound to want to make some changes. I did get from B&Q some weed membrane to make the paths though. 5mx2m on a buy two for £12 offer so it seemed like a really good deal.

I'm really excited about this and can't wait to get started. I think it will be good for many reasons. It horrified my tonight that my kids couldn't name many of the veg we eat and had no idea how they grow. It'll be good exercise for all of us and for me quite therapeutic. i think i also need a project at the moment other than 'being mum' if you know what i mean!

Please too that as it's a new site everyone is starting together. Looking forward to the weekend already!

Ging

gingernutbizkit - congrats, you must be over the moon and good that your kids are excited too. I have 2 Daughters, one almost 15 and one almost 13 and neither of them are interested but I don't mind as I like to get up there and get away from it all - it's like my little Oasis.;)

savemoney wrote: »

Thanks loucroft I did try that a while back but might be worth a try again

I am getting rather fed up now of waiting, I did ask last Summer how long I was on list it was 97 and there are 40 plots, I would even share

savemoney - I agree with loucroft - it's worth chasing it up or even going to the Site and seeing who's there and what's going on - there may even be plots that are not being maintained that the Council aren't aware of - if you don't ask you don't get.:)

gingernutbizkit

Thanks ScotSaver.

When the boys get home tonight we are going to be planning the allotment out on a big sheet of paper. I'm actually tempted to ignore Mrs Ging and go up there tonight and get working. I want to level the ground off and get them clearing any stones or bits of weed that the rotivator has overturned. Just been told that they put a load of weedkiller down a couple of weeks ago which I'm not too happy with. I'm planning on teaching the kids the importance of organic gardening. Oh well.

I also want to get the ground levelish so I can put the paths down asap to stop the ground being walked all over. I was discussing with Mrs Ging about how we have 14 lots of those linkabord beds in the back garden which we have used to make 4 raised beds to garden in over the last couple of years. I'm now thinking that they could come out and be used up at lottie instead as we're unlikely to grow more than herbs and salad leaves at home now. Still have to convince the wife!

Ging x

scotsaver

gingernutbizkit wrote: »

Thanks ScotSaver.

When the boys get home tonight we are going to be planning the allotment out on a big sheet of paper. I'm actually tempted to ignore Mrs Ging and go up there tonight and get working. I want to level the ground off and get them clearing any stones or bits of weed that the rotivator has overturned. Just been told that they put a load of weedkiller down a couple of weeks ago which I'm not too happy with. I'm planning on teaching the kids the importance of organic gardening. Oh well.

I also want to get the ground levelish so I can put the paths down asap to stop the ground being walked all over. I was discussing with Mrs Ging about how we have 14 lots of those linkabord beds in the back garden which we have used to make 4 raised beds to garden in over the last couple of years. I'm now thinking that they could come out and be used up at lottie instead as we're unlikely to grow more than herbs and salad leaves at home now. Still have to convince the wife!

Ging x

Ging - I think a big sheet of paper is a great idea, I have plotted mine out onto paper and replicated the beds and marked on there what I intend to plant up this year. It was well worth doing as I realised I had more space available than I thought, when at home you try to visualise what you have but in reality it's a lot more. Think it's also a good idea to write it down for when you want to rotate crops next year - I'd never be able to remember what I had where, year on year.:o

radiohelen

I am a digging goddess! Three and a half hours of digging today and finally I have got two thirds of the !!!!!! nailed! I have pulled out bucket loads of twitch, dandelions, weird purple deep rooted things and more twitch. If I never dig again it will be a day too soon. I have also got a shiny new incinerator that I'm going to burn stuff in on Tuesday.
I have an enormous bag of jerusalem artichokes to deal with and a couple of leeks left over from last year.
I might be forced to leave off the digging for a week or so now. I want to have some fun and plant something!! My potato bed is awesome and I have loads of tatties chitting nicely. I have space for the broad beans now too, and the peas, and the mangetout.
Right - early bath....

savemoney

I just found an old email from September and I am actually 117 of the list, Christ I stand no chance given what is available, the allotments are 5 minutes walk away from me

nodwah

Prepared my asparagus bed today for my Tesco points "free" crowns which should arrive in the next couple of weeks:j

Legs are aching in fact everythings hurts - even typing :eek:

Have been making a start on attacking the massive compost heap we inherited - it's completely full of nettle and ground elder roots and had himalayan balsam growing out of it last year but the compost/soil is really lovely. So I've been digging it out and riddling it but now my riddle has fallen apart it was pretty rusty so I'm on the lookout for a plastic one - anybody seen one (cheapo)?