Grow Your Own Magazine

Hiya
It's been ages since I posted a message, and I still haven't got a plot so have resorted to grow in pots on my patio again, which isn't mega stimuting and leaves little room for my kids to play out!!
I recently met with one of Joint Chairs of my local allotment society who kindly showed me around the plots. She explained there was one particular renter who had had about 4 of the plots for years and refuses to give them up. One looks like a builders yard, the other an over grown orchard and the others have busted up sheds/ garages or greenhouses which are a danger to everyone. Has anyone ever had to boot any long stayers off. It's a real shame. I'm dying to get started, and the society are sick of the eyesores, especially to the visitors of the community garden. Do you have any advice?
Cheers
Ali

what happens on our site the man from council comes on a site inspection and any plots that are not up to scratch gets a clean up or leave letter from the council but if your not on a council site you will have to study the rules
best of luck jacob

I'm a site agent and got fed up with having a waiting list and one tenant with one and a half plots, of which, since I took a plot at the site, had only ever cultivated about a quarter plot, that is over seven years.

So the council was asked to write asking him if he still wanted the plots, he said yes, so we let alone for a few months.

No change in cultivation, so got them to write again, pointing out that he wanted the plots but was doing nothing with them, no response, so he was given notice, to which he did not respond and by the notice date he was gone.

Now have five tenanted plots, four being actively worked.

Sadly the main problem I see is failure to adjust to the reality of age-related reduction of abilities. There are exceptions and one is genuinely sad to see them go, but they leave well thought of. The hang-on-in-there but not-cultivating types have had quite a few mentions in this forum.

All it needs is the appropriate rules and people to stick by them. But it can be upsetting and unpleasant to evict someone so people try and ignore it.

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Years ago there was a similar problem on the site my father worked. The committee decided that rather than just give notice to the elderly hangers on they would offer those who were not keeping the plot up to scratch the chance to have volunteers to help them work their plot (or be given notice to quit). It worked well with I think about 5 plots being kept on by the old boys but "helped" by the rest of us. After a couple of months it was decided to see if anyone on the waiting list was prepared to help with this voluntary work on someone elses plot. By the end of the year all the plots were being assisted by newbies.

One old timer gave up when his rent was due, another paid the rent for another year and asked his new friend if he could help out rather than do the running himself. By the end of the next year all plots were in the hands of the newbies and only one or two plots ever needed "assistance" again.

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Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

The man on the plot next to me was thrown off a couple of weeks ago he had a couple of warnings and then a letter giving him a month to clear the plot or he would lose it. I celebrated on the 8th of may, just hope I get someone who clears the plot soon.

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Belgrave-allotments.co.uk

Thanks to everyone who replied. Yes they are council owned plots and thankfully we've got quite a pro-active committee now who generally want to improve the look of the plots etc.. The plots are inspected quarterly from what I can gather from my Mum (who's lucky enough to have one).
This guy and his wife are not an elderly couple, but are from what I've been informed general hangers-on, but refuse to do anything about their plots let alone get involved in any site issues like the community garden, I like the idea of voluntary work for those genuinely in need or for those who have temporary health issues preventing them from doing anything too physical. I'm 21 weeks preggers at the moment and not exactly up for heavy duty work but have plenty of helpers including my other kids who are more than up for it! So I reckon by the time he gets kicked off it'll be winter time and I'll be in a fit state to get stuck in. I don't want to get my hopes up. The plot I've been offered if they are successful in kicking him off is massive, good soil, a water supply at my gate and a sunny aspect. Who could ask for more! Cheers. Ali

Congrats on the baby W! Like you say, keep showing that you are interested and by the time baby comes along (well, a bit later) you should have your own lottie! Do keep everyone up to date with your news = baby and lottie! Bernie

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