Bringing back memories....

**Rocketron** · 11-10-2008, 08:20 PM

Originally posted by mrsc2b View Post

Hello all,

Thought I would share what my Mum told me today.

I took my Mum to my newly acquired allotment (she is also a keen gardener) and began clearing. She stopped at one point and said, 'This really takes me back years to when I went to my Dad's allotment and my Uncles Ted's etc etc.' I knew my Grandad had an allotment but not the other members of his family (a huge family they were!) She said. 'I always knew it would come out again in the genes.' She's coming back tomorrow.

My Dad died quite a few years ago and he also enjoyed gardening. My Mum said if I wasn't here then I would only be at home cleaning something that didn't need cleaning! She loved it there! My Mum is in her early 70's now and I would challenge anyone to match her pace, so fit it's unreal!

Just thought I would share with you, it made me think!

I think we are finally catching on to the idea that our forefathers weren't as daft as we thought they were when we were young and the world was our lobster.

**rustylady** · 12-10-2008, 07:28 AM

I got the gardening bug at the age of three, when I used to follow my lovely Grandad around his garden and allotment. He taught me lots, and let me grow my own stuff on a good bit of the garden so I actually got results.

**Alison** · 12-10-2008, 09:19 PM

I used to go up the lottie with my grandad, didn't think I'd remembered that much but seem to know some stuff so must have paid some attention. Think that he still shared his plot well into his 70s with his mate but unfortunatly there's nobody left in the family who can remember. Was only thinking yesterday that he'd be dead proud of me getting my own plot just hope that I can grow as much stuff as he used to manage (although am guessing I'll grow a wider range, my nan liked what she knew and knew what she liked!) and then he'd be proper proud!

**Comfreyfan** · 13-10-2008, 06:31 AM

When I was growing up it was completely normal for everyone to have a large vegetable garden, in fact it was usually the whole of the back garden. I loved the way my grandparents and other relatives grew veg - it was very understated and low key. I spend hours researching, looking for new varieties, planning and plotting what I'm going to grow and I love doing that and get really excited waiting for seedling to appear! But it seemed my relatives did it all much more intuitively and I suppose they didn't have the ranges/varieties available to them.

I'm just watching a local news programme which is talking about the 'credit crunch' and how it means more people are using allotments and gardens to grow their own. Every cloud...........etc!!!

**roadkill** · 13-10-2008, 07:06 AM

yep same here mine is down to both my grandads and the smell of boiling beetroot still takes me back to when i was about 5

**jackie j** · 13-10-2008, 07:40 AM

My dad was a keen gardener we had a large garden so didnt need an allotment but I would be out there with him taking my top off as he did sitting down when he did and getting in his way. I was only 6 years old when he died and the other day my sister asked me how do you know what to plant when to plant etc, I just do but I also read books and mags and of course ask my good friends on here.

**bluemoon** · 13-10-2008, 02:23 PM

I daren't mention the allotment to my mum as it always sets her off down Memory Lane. She remembers lotties from her childhood during the war years when you were allowed to keep pigs on them, as well as the chickens and then she starts on about rationing, and then about her grandmother, and then the old photos come out and she starts on about how she hasn't a clue about her grandad's origins prior to him eloping with her gran. Unfortunately I do have a clue about that as I used the net to look at old census returns and it turns out that not only did her rather well-to-do gran elope with a man who was two steps away from being a pauper, but he was illegitimate too. No wonder they kept it quiet, no wonder she had to elope. So now it's just; 'Here are some runner beans, Mum' and no mention of the beans' origins either.

**bobleponge** · 13-10-2008, 05:19 PM

I wasnt fortunate enough to know either of my sets of grandparents, and neither of my parents were gardeners in any way shape or form.
I didnt get the bug till I moved to France, 3 years ago, but am now thoroughly hooked. My 2 darling granddaughters though, both come into the garden with me, asking questions, pinching whatever I turn my back on and generally having a great time.
On their last trip over, the three of us planted some sunflower seeds one morning, and by the end of that first day, due to grandads magic powers (and the fact I had some hidden away of course) they had all sprouted to about 4 feet tall.
I just hope they have good memories of being in grandads garden when they are my age with their kids/grandkids and that the freedom and choices that I have now are still available to them. (that made me sound quite old and dark but I'm only 44)

**lainey lou** · 13-10-2008, 06:57 PM

My Dad and Grandad are both keen veg growers, Grandad loves nothing better than to tell me what I'm doing wrong but I can tell he's really quite chuffed that I'm following in the family tradition!

**kevnsue** · 13-10-2008, 08:38 PM

My allotment was my grandads back in the 60's,it's now mine and in the past 6 years we have used it for a quad bike track,then in april this year we decided to grow our own.
How times change and needs must.

**Comfreyfan** · 13-10-2008, 08:52 PM

I'm chuffed to bits that my grandson shows a wonderful interest in growing veg. He was checking out my veggies in the summer and thought my squash plants were courgettes like his dad's at home! I was very proud, he recognised the leaves and flowers, bless him he's only 5!

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Bringing back memories....

Bringing back memories....

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