Ethical Problem...Should I Stay or Should I Go ?

[Stork]

Dear all,

I have an ethical dilemma - can you help me solve it?

I took on my plot last October when it was overgrown with huge brambles and lots of other weeds. So I toiled through the winter slashing and burning, digging and constructing raised beds. By the springtime my plot was in fine shape and I have a great harvest of all sort of lovely fruit and veg. I feel I am back in touch with the seasons and I have been eating fresh food that hasn't been bathed in a cocktail of nasty chemicals.

But now I have been offred a job I simply can't afford to refuse. The problem is it's in the Gulf state of Qatar. I will be away for at least two years - possibly four. So, do I hand back my plot or should I keep it on?

I have spent the last couple of weeks sheeting over the bare soil with weedproof membrane and covering all my raised beds in a similar fashion. All my paths have been sheeting and then covered with bark chippings. So the plot is pretty much weedproofed. I am also happy to pay a gardener to make quarterly visits whilst I am away to make sure all is well. So the plot itself will not be negelected. I am also planning to plant some dwarf fruit trees before I leave at the end of September, so the plot will still technically be in cultivation.

My plot neighbours have told me my patch wasn't used for about seven years before I took it on and they tell me all the people at the site think I have done an amazing job transforming it. I hear I have been nominated for the allotment of the year prize which is humbling for a newbie who managed to kill off most of his brassicas!

The site still has vacant plots which are in as sorry a state as mine was when I took it on, so by keeping mine I am not depriving anybody else a plot at the moment.

So, what should I do...stay or go?

Yours indecisively

Stork.

[Stork]

[Curryandchips]

If the committee is prepared for you to have the plot tended while you are away, then I can't see any obstacles. I hope it all goes well for you ...

[SMP1704]

I'm with Curry.

I would also suggest perhaps offering your plot on a sub-let basis - to someone who would love a plot but who finds the overgrown scenario just too scary.

Good luck with the new job.

[MrsKP]

If it were me, I'd try and hang onto it but I'd want to let someone else use it in between times.

Do you know someone who would love it and treat it well while you're away and USE it rather than just "garden" it (obviously not otherwise you wouldn't have this problem lol).   It does seem slightly unethical keeping it unused when there are so many people on waiting lists these days (i.e. me) ! :P

Have you spoken to your lottie association about your dilemma or would they have it back off you quicker than you could say early purple sprouting brocolli ?

It's a quandary but as there's no waiting list, I'd say keep it.

;D

[Emagggie]

Keep it ,keep it,keep it!! Have you got some pals who would enjoy the plot and it's fruits whilst you are away? And should you feel you don't  want to carry on you can always give notice by post.
Good luck in your new job Stork. You can still pop in here should you feel so inclined, can't you.

[Leonnie]

As your plot sounds as though it will be low maintenance because of all the weed proofing you've done, is there not a family member or friend (or a few) who would look after it for you in your absence? or perhaps a local school would be interested in getting children involved with it for a few years.

[Heldi]

Hmmmmmm. At first I thought keep it. KEEP IT !! But then I thought, what is the hardship to you in giving it up, and then coming back and starting over with a new,even if overgrown, plot and being nominated for allotment of the year again??! You obviously have great talent. You could possibly give someone with less ability and foresight a fantastic starting point. A new beginning for you in your new job and a new beginning for someone who inherits your old plot.  Blimey I think I'd have thought I'd died and gone to heaven if I had gained your plot. Is that not a nice thought?

[supersprout]

Oo a real tug of love.
There's no-one on the waiting list, so you can keep it with a clear conscience. Also if you keep it, you'll be helping the existing plotholders hang on to the land i.e. maintaining the occupancy rate.
If you keep it maintained, plotholders will continue to be inspired. If family/friends would enjoy maintaining it, ideal.
It's possible there are local charities and voluntary groups who would love to look after it for you - our local MIND runs gardening projects to assist people to improve mental health; local schools may be interested in space if it's close enought to walk; one local College's students with disabilities do gardening in the Minster Precincts here in Peterborough, and local agricultural College students might enjoy earning pin money and gaining experience by maintaining your plot. This may be a piece of research well worth doing?
With a new job, there'll be enough changes in your life without giving up the lottie now. Perhaps it's a useful and important foothold in the homeland right now? If you keep it, you can still give it away any time in the next four years, and your mindset and the tug of love may change and put a different perspective on the decision. If you give it away now, you cut off the option of keeping it ::)

Very good luck Stork, exciting times ahead! :o :)

[Stork]

Dear all,

Thanks for your thoughtful and considered replies.

I'm going to talk to the committee about letting a school or charity use my plot.

Stork.

[MrsKP]

now the serious side, consider what you do/don't want happening to your land whilst you're away.

DO you want it chemical for instance ?

You might think of a few "ground rules".

<<thecan'thelpitsensiblesideofmecomingoutsmilie>>

[supersprout]

*very impressed*
good idea kaypee

[djbrenton]

There is an important logistical problem that needs discussing with the Committee. If they are OK with you effectively sub-letting while you're away then who's going to sign the rental agreement next year? I ask because we had a situation last year over a tenant who'd gone to Australia for a few months but wasn't back for rent renewals ( in fact he never came back). As his son had no power of attorney he couldn't sign on his father's behalf and without his father there we couldn't transfer the tenancy to him. Our only recourse was to treat his son as a new tenant on his father's plot. Of course when it's kept in the family there shouldn't be a problem, but if you have to allow a school to sign the rental agreement next year you can't force them to give up the plot on your return. Whoever signs the tenancy agreement is the tenant of the plot. If the Committee agree to your subletting, you also need them to accept payment for the next two years and to give you tenancy agreements covering that period unless you can arrange a holiday back here at the right time of year.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Or alternatively get the documents sent over to you.

[Stork]

All my post is being redirected to Qatar so the council need never know.

I'll post the completed form to a mate back here then he can post it to them from inside the borough.

Stork

[MrsKP]

devious