allotments...will they sell on their veggies if they have too many..

Gebo26

Zazen has it right. The allotments acts allow plotholders to sell surplus but not grow for profit. But some councils do not permit any sales.

I sometimes hear of plotholders having two or three allotments and selling to shops, etc, but that would be unfair on legitimate producers and to taxpayers who are subsidising the rent.

Again I go along with Zazen in that allotments are hard work and need a lot of time spent on them regularly. If you haven't got that time then growing at home could be the answer.

Zazen999

And that's if you can get to the top of the waiting list!!!

RAS

There was a revision of the allotment rules on prescott's desk for ages. Not sure if it ever got signed. That permitted plot holders to sell upto 10% of their produce.

I give away surplus to neighbours or do free pick your own. Also the allotment society sell donated produce for funds at the allotment hut on Sunday morning, at the shows and at the local festival. Made £250 quid at the festival last year even after increasing the prices.

So three sticks of rhubarb that cost £1.99 in the local supermarket can be had for 30p at the shop. We also gift each other seeds, seedlings and plants or give our surplus to the shop.

takoo

Hi All

I recall seeing somewhere that it is against the allotment law to sell produce. The present government was looking in to allowing sales but I have not seen any new legislation.

Takoo

RCToasty

Hi
I have 3 allotments 2 private and one council owned. My advice would be to drive/walk round your neighbourhood and start chatting to the friendly alotment holders and they will be able to tell you how much and who to speak to. I was on our council waiting list for a year before I got the call! At the time I joined the waiting list I was 13 on the list so I figured I probably had a good few years before getting one.

As for selling veg and fruit from the allotment I am sure I saw an advert in last months Smallholding magazine for a website where you could sell I shall investigate this further when I get home and report bakc with news on this later. I know most alloments aren't allowed to.

sunset_gold

I've been on a waiting list for a pitch at our local allotment since Oct 07 and was 19th on the list, I called last week and now I am 20th on the waiting list? I expect it will be years before I get offered a site, so am setting up a small veg patch this year instead. As for selling, I came across a lady selling jams/preserves that she said she made herself and that she had grown all the fruit on her allotment? Does this mean she is not selling directly from the allotment therefore it is allowed? SG

RAS

SG

She may not know the rules, sh may have genuine surplus, she may be on a non-statuatory allotment site that has its own rules and it sounds like she is a little uncertain on some of the EU regulations on food preparation, unless she sells via the WI markets as they used to be called. Even she has to meet the regs but does not need registering or whatever it is.

ScratchandSniff-->[X]

Deals wrote: »

private option as i would be interested in keeping chickens. anyone have info what next step i should take? would the council know seeing as it is private?

Depends where it is (nuisance to neighbours from noise, smell etc), what resources you have (space for runs, something to keep them in etc) , and how many birds you have (50 needs registration). Also consider whether you have the time to clean them out, are able to feed them (inc if on holiday), and let them out/shut them up (if necessary).