Allotment before, during and now.

[glosterwomble]

A few pictures of my allotment from when we took it over up to now.

BEFORE (November '06)


Strimmed down and plastic sheets to define new beds.


Panoramic view taken about 2 weeks ago, getting there gradually!


It's been VERY hard work but also VERY enjoyable. Lots and lots still to do, sometimes progress seems very slow!

Two thing that I find help me to feel boosted are to keep an online blog ... http://fork-in-hell.blogspot.com/ ... and to take loads and loads of photographs to be able to look back at how much progress has been made.

[glosterwomble]

[asbean]

That must have been hard work.  It's looking great now.  :D :D

[glosterwomble]

... it certainly has asbean but worth it, there have been some lows when it was too wet to dig earlier in the year  >:( but I feel like I'm getting somewhere now.  ;D

[kt.]

Its much easier to keep on top of it now it is sorted. Looking good.

[lorna]

What a difference in a few short months. You must be very pleased even if every muscle is aching.

[glosterwomble]

Thanks Kt, it is getting easier to look after, just trying to keep on top of by regular hoeing etc. little and often is the way I'm tackling it.

And yes Lorna my muscles are aching but it feels great to be tired from physical excercise, nothing beats that feeling of satisfaction.

[tim]

How come plots are always in such a grotty state when aquired? I thought that everyone was queuing for the previous person to be 'carried off' so that they could get their plot??

[MrsKP]

And yes Lorna my muscles are aching but it feels great to be tired from physical excercise, nothing beats that feeling of satisfaction.

I make you right there glosterwomble.  I don't think my back is talking to me.

and tim you've voiced exactly what I was thinking when I went to visit my 3 options for a plot.  The two I turned down were in fact worse than gloster's and only the most dedicated potential lottee will have the courage to take them on.  Despite the threats of "written warnings followed by eviction" the two plots will take many years to sort out.

It's our AGM on Sunday, I might say something.

I don't see why an association can't insist on some action being taken (possibly by themselves - covering with carpet perhaps) before it gets to the beyond help state ! 

[Trevor_D]

Tim & Mrs KP: this is something that's been bothering me for some time, too.

I've just taken over as Plot Secretary and we have 5 or 6 plots where there has been no attempt at cultivation for several years. But the tenants have paid the rental! Until now, we haven't had a waiting list, so the committee has found it easier to just cash the cheques and sit tight. Now, I'm in the position of having to write letters or make phone calls to these folk to get them either to do something or give up their plot and let someone else have a go. But - as Mrs KP says - only the most dedicated will take them on. So, if they can't cope and give it up, we're back where we started in terms of land being cultivated, but minus the rental money!

[MrsKP]

There's 40 people on our waiting list now (only 21 when I joined it last year), so there's plenty of interested people.  One is like a derelict builders yard, and the other a 3ft high weeds/grass football field.

Perhaps you could get it written in the constitution - "Thou shalt keep the plot in a tidy state or thou shalt have two weeks notice with no refund given".

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and take a chance that the plots will be re let quickly ! And have a supply of carpets handy !

My site isn't the best run by the looks of things, although the communual areas are always well maintained (by John with the strimmer), but with a waiting list like ours these plots should never have been allowed to get in the state they're in.

Put on your fiercest face and good luck !

;D

[glosterwomble]

I agree, 9 months or so ago when I started looking for a plot I was told that the site that I wanted to be on, with several obviously long overgrown plots on it, had spaces but then suddenly I was told it was full. >:( Yesterday I went up to that site to have a look and the situation still stands ... several overgrown even though apparently full, it doesn't make sense.  ???

However, when I signed my plot lease, for the site I am now on, you agreed to cultivate it and keep it weed free, so if someone doesn't cultivate their plot and there is a waiting list they CAN be turfed off! And rightly so in my opinion.

Doesn't everyones lease say it must be kept weed free?

[Sajaself]

It does all seem very strange. When I first made enquiries re our allotment I was told sorry we are full. My allotment partner and I thought YAY an allotment all ready to go as the rules state they must be looked after! it will be worth waiting.

When we got the call we were so excited and totally dismayed at the 6foot brambles and weeds all over it. So if they were full and the rules state it must be kept weed free how did it get in this state!!!

Oh well roll on next weekend and we can start strimming and covering.

[Eristic]

How come plots are always in such a grotty state when aquired? I thought that everyone was queuing for the previous person to be 'carried off' so that they could get their plot??

There are a number of reasons for this the main one being the time lag between an old gardener throwing in the trowel and the plot actually becoming free. Most rents are typically due early April with inspections between April - June so even a sudden departure during summer or autumn will leave a very weedy patch, but most occupants tend to decline in their ability to cope and often are very reluctant to give up.

Another reason for many of these wild plots coming back is the growing demand for the plots forcing councils to re-let land on sites that were slowly being run down with the idea of development.

[manicscousers]

well, we've got a spare plot, 2 people have 'decided ' they want it, the first had problems with health, the second, 5 weeks ago, paid 60.00, never seen since..we've dragged every piece of carpet, black plastic and everything we can cover the land with over..trouble is, we've only got 10 plots so it's not as difficult to keep them covered   :)

[glosterwomble]

Another reason for many of these wild plots coming back is the growing demand for the plots forcing councils to re-let land on sites that were slowly being run down with the idea of development.

Yes, part of the site I am on was/is earmarked for development and it had been allowed to become a very overgrown field! Now there are lots of people trying to save it  so digging has resumed as the council have to rent the land to gardeners if the need is there.