Grow Your Own Magazine

yorkshire sam · #36 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 09:53 AM

I have followed this thread with intrest as I am on the committee at our association and understand a lot of the problems of waiting lists and people wanting allotments. We have around 100 plots on our site with a waiting list of around 20. We do have a turn over of people who come and go quickly because of losing intrest or not understanding the work involved. We do 3 site inspections through the year and if a plot is not being cultivated we give the owner a warning notice to quit if it shows no improvement - two consequetive warnings is a notice to quit. The problems we find with a lot of newbys is that some just want to be able to say 'I have an allotment' and dont really have any notion to cultivate it, or take on a patch then quickly become disenchanted and are seldom seen again. We do get a lot of genuine people who take on plots and do a lot of hard work and tame the plots so that the number of plots falling vacant each year gets lower year on year. We do get some odd characters - for example one guy was a builder who was really looking for a cheap place to store his building materials - at £30 per year much cheaper than a lock up. Fortunately he is no longer with us. Or one of our long term waiters(?) who is only interested in a weed free plot which has a shed and poly tunnel on. needless to say he is still on the waiting list!

Stacey Steve · #37 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 10:40 AM

Is that all he wants? Couldn't you run to supplying this on a plot for him? And maybe a decent BBQ, set of tools, seeds etc.

pigletwillie · #38 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 11:30 AM

We have the same issues as Yorkshire Sam and thus are very inclined to give existing proven plotholders a second plot but only when there is no waiting list.

We have a average 30-40% turnover of newbies each year who think they can plant seeds in May and return in September to harvest. This gives us the headache of having to clear plots each year to re-let as they have been "let go" so to speak.

As for raised beds being arty farty. Well I challenge anybody who "strip" cultivates to produce the amount of produce, of a similar quality and over as long a period as we do on our first plot which has 23 raised beds on 2/3rds of it.

Kayt · #39 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andi&di

There's actually still several vacant plots on our site(despite only being a couple of miles from a far trendier one that has a waiting list

What makes a trendy site? I'm quite new to the allotment culture and although our site is quite friendly you do have to wait to 'fit in' with some of the older tenants; I think I'm getting there

Our site has a few vacant plots and no waiting list but the council seems to want to only offer half plots all the time which is not suitable for everyone.

andi&di · #40 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayt

What makes a trendy site? I'm quite new to the allotment culture and although our site is quite friendly you do have to wait to 'fit in' with some of the older tenants; I think I'm getting there

Our site has a few vacant plots and no waiting list but the council seems to want to only offer half plots all the time which is not suitable for everyone.

I have no idea!!!!We have soil~they have soil!!

Kayt · #41 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 01:05 PM

I wonder if we will become a trendy site with our new security fencing and the promise of a mains toilet? Most of the other sites in our area have compost loos!

lynda66 · #42 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 01:31 PM

i'm still waiting for one of 100 new plots ..... it isn't council land, the land was basically marshland, bought to build an industrial estate on, and the owners are giving the council the land back to use as allotments ...... we just have to wait till they decide exactly where and when it's going to be. There were loads of plots in nearby towns, i was offered one of these, but too far to travel without a car,(bus fares don't make for cheap veg) but over the last few months all these plots have gone and all the sites are back up to a waiting list.

was thinking about the six person rule, if there are 20 people on a list, then surely that's more than 6 people who want one, so new allotments should be provided, maybe that's the way to approach the councils, get everyone together (advert in local papers if you can't get their contact details) and quote their own regulations at them?? at the end of the day, if that is the council law, then they should have to abide by it.

Shortie · #43 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigletwillie

This gives us the headache of having to clear plots each year to re-let as they have been "let go" so to speak.

Blimey PW...... we don't get ours touched at all before we take them on... it took me two years and a good dose of my Dad's help to get plot one (now shared with said Dad) in good shape and I'm single handedly trugging through my second one... we dont' get ours cleared

Can I come and join you guys?

zazen999 · #44 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 03:34 PM

We got ours cleared, but we don't have any access to clean water. Trendy it is not!!!

hawthorns · #45 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 06:57 PM

today ive been told im 50th on the waiting list. people ahead of me went on the list in late 2005/early 2006 looks like im in for a long wait.

Alison · #46 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 10:42 PM

Don't get ours cleared or quite frankly any help what so ever - not sure why I should do either, you're not going to get the not-very-committeds bothering to clear the site and therefore they'd probably not take it on, leaving it available for somebody more interested. Mind you, wehave loo on each plot, other people may call them buckets but....... Been gradually clearing ours for a bit now and have just found a load of old raised beds under a load of bramble so are rethinking the plans to make use of what's already there. Found half a bike too - no idea where the other half is but may find that in the bit we've not cleared yet!

bluemoon · #47 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 08:34 PM

Alison, our council doesn't clear plots for precisely this reason. Our allotment committee did consider clearing the difficult to let plots, but the chap from the council said it would be a waste of time, it's almost as if people value a well cleared plot less than one they've had to work hard at. We've now decided to compromise and clear one third, so that the new plot-holder has something to plant in whilst he's clearing the rest himself.

snakeshack · #48 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 12:22 AM

harrow council currenly has over 300 unusrd plots from a total of nearly 1400 and are offering discounted rental (£10) to fill them,got mine in one week,obviously the gyo message has fallen on deaf ears round here!
of the 26 plots on my site only 8-9 are growing veg,a further 7 are kept mowed,4 more are covered in couch grass & the rest look like virgin rainforest but only 2 are "vacant".
conting the rings on the blackthorn mine has been uncultivated for at least 15 years,possibly as much as 20

pigletwillie · #49 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alison

Don't get ours cleared or quite frankly any help what so ever - not sure why I should do either, you're not going to get the not-very-committeds bothering to clear the site and therefore they'd probably not take it on, leaving it available for somebody more interested.

We find that people who come onto a cleared, ploughed and rotovated plot tend to hang around longer as they are producing edibles rather than fighting losing battles against weeds. We have work parties in the winter to clear brambles and clear rubbish from derelict plots which means we now have 100% occupancy and no unlettable plots that are 10' high in brambles and crap.

After the first month we now can tell if a plotholder will renew in September by how much commitment they have made and progress made. Some newbies turn up after 4 months and wonder why there are weeds growing on a plot that was newly cleared, invariably they jack rather quickly. Another reason to let to proven plotholders.

Alison · #50 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 10:00 PM

I quite like the half way house option mentioned by Bluemoon above, expect the plot holder to show committment but help them out too. I got mine at the end of August and haven't hardly been able to get up there until quite recently but now have it all cut back and the shed will be going up by the en of the week as well as the first beds being prepared and covered for spring. I must be a bit strange as I've found it very satisfying doing it myself and love that smug "all my own work" feeling but suppose the comaradarie of the working groups would be good in a different way too.

mrsc2b · #51 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 07:21 PM

The plot I have just taken is on a site with around 20 plots on it, only 1 is being used in a serious way to grow anything, with another on its way to being cleared and some rather expensive raised beds being put in. I have spoken to the Council prior to taking my plot and they would really like to have a committee on site (therefore, we could apply for funding etc). They said it only takes 1 person to come onto the site and start working properly to kickstart the whole thing. I think it could be a lovely site and I'm determined to do my bit. It struck me today that people must come onto the site and think well, they've grown 1 bed of veg (4' x 6') so that's what I'm going to do when looking at other people's plots. I am determined (as always) to transform my plot, I'm very stubborn in that way lol Got to agree with Alison, I also like to say 'all my own work too!' Don't think you can get a greater sense of achievement than that. Sorry, probably gone totally off original thread!

matthew2riches · #52 (**permalink**) 19-10-2008, 10:02 AM

OK, just don't even get me going on unfair systems!

rainbowminx · #53 (**permalink**) 19-10-2008, 12:55 PM

I must say I was quite alarmed to read here that I am 'arty farty' on account of my neat, well weeded, well tended, and very productive raised beds! At the end of several hours' work on my lovely lottie, aching and covered in mud from head to toe, I certainly don't feel 'Arty' or 'Farty'! I am new to this whole allotment lark, as is my neighbouring plot holder. He has large square 'traditional' beds with gaps between rows, and I have lots of long narrow raised beds with paths between. We are both happy allotmenteers and have similar levels of success with our beds, and love to compare notes and swap things learned.

Basically, as long as you are enjoying your plot, are growing the right amount of stuff that YOU want to grow, and are doing it YOUR way, does it really matter if some people label you as arty farty, or any other word? No, it doesn't!

Kris, a happy lottie keeper x

pigletwillie · #54 (**permalink**) 19-10-2008, 04:50 PM

There are those of us who utilise raised beds, and then there are luddites!

bluemoon · #55 (**permalink**) 20-10-2008, 02:37 PM

I'm a luddite then! For no rational reason it just makes me feel more in touch with the Earth!!!!!?????? I do have some small raised beds in areas where traditional beds wouldn't work, such as next to the privet, and use them for growing salad crops and the more delicate stuff. In the end it's all down to personal preference and if you're happy with your system then that's all that matters.

pigletwillie · #56 (**permalink**) 20-10-2008, 03:13 PM

Your so right bluemoon, as you have found by utilising raised beds by your privet. I am one of the "unfair" people with multiple plots and have an eclectic mixture of luddite and arty farty beds.

Both have pros and cons but used together, give tremendous potential.

duggie · #57 (**permalink**) 21-10-2008, 09:49 AM

I understand the frustration of waiting for a plot and being positively green with envy at those who had more than one plot. I was on the waiting list for 9 months before being offered the most horrendously overgrown plot I have ever seen!

Whilst on the waiting list I regularly took a walk around the site, as it is a large site and very beautiful. What I could not understand was that there appeared to be lots of plots that were overgrown and neglected. Why, I wondered, were these plots not offered to those on the waiting list? After much badgering of the allotment secretary, I was offered my plot last August - and boy! did it need some work!

Ha