Buying excess allotment veg

Chanpagne

Hi All

First of all I'm hoping this is in the right place.

I'm sure I read somewhere that allotment owners often sell their excess fruit & veg at a minimum amount just so it doesn't go bad, not for any real profit (which can apparently get you thrown out of your allotment) or trade it (not sure what I'd trade yet!).

I live in the London area & am hoping to find someone who doesn't want their homegrown going off. Preferably West as far as Chiswick & South as far as Camberwell. But happy to consider anything.

Thanks in advance.
Chan

warehouse

I have an allotment in North West London. I'm not allowed to sell any produce even if non profitable.

Chanpagne

Ok, would you be willing to trade? I think it's up to you to decide how you'd get rid of the excess. I.e they won't say anything if you give it away to family - I'm just not family!

trollopscarletwoman

Times change on the issue of selling excess produce.

For example the south walian allotment gardener Terry Walton (radio 4) in the 60's and 70's had at his peak 12 allotments which were purely producing for sale. He called this enterprise his 'empire'.

A blind eye was given because there was no demand for the plots so they would have gone into disuse.

Times have changed with allotments being in great demand so you're only likely to have 1-2 plots so there wouldn't be much excess.

Chanpagne

Well, I live alone & on the ground floor. I briefly tried window boxes on my mini veranda & everything was dug up by squirrels, so I have nowhere to grow my own.
If I were to consider my own allotment, it would be pointless because there is no one but me & I would generate too much food.
I'm trying to save & still eat healthily. Veg boxes are waaaay too expensive & I'm trying avoid the supermarket veg unless I have no real option & even that can be expensive when buying for 1 person.

So I thought this would be the way forward?
Is there something I haven't considered?

trollopscarletwoman

Chanpagne wrote: »

Well, I live alone & on the ground floor. I briefly tried window boxes on my mini veranda & everything was dug up by squirrels, so I have nowhere to grow my own.
If I were to consider my own allotment, it would be pointless because there is no one but me & I would generate too much food.
I'm trying to save & still eat healthily. Veg boxes are waaaay too expensive & I'm trying avoid the supermarket veg unless I have no real option & even that can be expensive when buying for 1 person.

So I thought this would be the way forward?
Is there something I haven't considered?

You might consider a half plot (they do come in different sizes) or a plot share.

arbroath_lass

What about garden sharing?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_sharing

rach_k

Get a half plot and if you grow too much, give it away to friends and family, or trade it with other allotment holders for things you haven't grown yourself.

kippers

I know someone at our site that sells every week at a car boot sale...he has 11 plots as there is no waiting list at our site and there are lots vacant.

From what I undersatnd, it is a very grey area as you can't 'grow to sell' produce if you have an allotment but you can 'sell your excess' produce if you have any spare.

I gave my excess to our local food bank last year, but since then I have read that some people have a problem donating homegrown veg as some food banks wont accept them due to health and safety...it's because they can't trace where the veg has come from (which I think is daft when people are in need of food and i'm sure homegrown organic veg is safer to eat than shop bought, chemcal ladened veg where they know where it comes from).

surrey_jim

kippers wrote: »

I gave my excess to our local food bank last year, but since then I have read that some people have a problem donating homegrown veg as some food banks wont accept them due to health and safety...it's because they can't trace where the veg has come from (which I think is daft when people are in need of food and i'm sure homegrown organic veg is safer to eat than shop bought, chemcal ladened veg where they know where it comes from).

I had the same issue. I grew excess of Courgetts and Marrow last year. After giving enough away to friends and family I approached the local food bank who refused to take any of it. A great pity as I am sure someone would have liked it.