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  • Gilly's Allotment

    After six months' wait I've finally become the seriously proud tenant of my very first allotment! I first applied in July 2014 but heard nothing. Then read in our local paper, Northumberland Gazette, last week that the council had some vacant plots available at the site just five minutes from where I live! I was straight onto the phone to them but got the answering machine so left a message. No reply so the next day (shy bairns get nowt 'n' all that! ) I called again and this time got a Real Live Human!!! I had a lovely chat with her and emphasized how much I really really REALLY wanted an allotment etc and she said the guy in charge of the site was out that day, Tuesday, but would call me the next day and probably take me up to see the plots available. Well, Wednesday came and went and my phone didn't ring. Nor did it on Thursday so I called them and got that annoying answerphone again! Seriously annoyed at this point because I'm the sort of person who, once they make their mind up about something, want it, like, yesterday.....and it was a beautiful sunny day....just perfect for pottering on the allotment!
    So yesterday, Friday 20th February, I decided to give the council until 11.30am to ring me up otherwise I was gonna be back on the phone to them! They must have sensed this because at 11.10am the phone rang and it was Mr B. from the council. He arranged to meet me at the plot at 11.30 so I dragged Neil out of bed (he works night shift) and he came up with me. The plot I've been given used to belong to an older gentleman who has had to give it up as it was too much for him so it HAS been well cared for over the years. It's right next to the path alongside Hulne Park too so an absolute riot of birdsong will surround me as I work.

    I was absolutely twitching with excitement as Mr B had told me on the phone that it was one of the best allotments up for rent and had a polytunnel, a greenhouse AND a shed!!!!! I think he had me at polytunnel!!!!! I was just GOBSMACKED when I saw it.....it was immaculate!!! Huge polytunnel, small greenhouse, medium-sized shed, four water butts full to the top, a watering can, two composting areas and five beds of incredibly well dug soil that just crumbled in my hands!!! The only thing that needs any work is the paths which are a bit mossy and Neil says that won't take any work to strip off, put liner down and gravel on top to make a path that won't get muddy. I thought it was a full size plot but apparently it's not - it's a half size plot with water so an absolute steal at just £35 per year!!!!! It's certainly got more than enough land for me to grow more than I could ever eat and loads and loads of flowers.

    We were given the key there and then and I'll get the paper work to sign posted out to me next week and I'll pay the year's rent on Friday 27th when I get paid.

    We had a good look around after Mr B left and Neil took a video and I took the piccies below. We then headed home to get a new padlock for the gate and Neil's tools to break into the shed as we didn't have the key for that. I chucked a few pots, compost, seeds & bulbs into a bag and headed back up with Neil and whilst he broke into our shed I got on with planting my very first seeds - Nasturtiums 'giant climbing mix' Neil soon got the old rusty padlock off and when I had a look inside I thought I had won the lottery for the second time that day - it had a few different types of hoe and other small tools and DOZENS of seed trays and plant pots....more than enough to get me started! It also had five boxes with potatoes in, some of which I think I can salvage to possibly plant out. I've got no idea what variety they are though....does that matter? I noticed Wilkinsons (local shop) had a few on offer. I also had a look along the packs of seeds on Wilkinsons and I'm absolutely blown away by what's on offer...where do I start? It's certainly going to be a steep learning curve for me this coming spring & summer as I've just realised I know NOWT about growing vegetables because I've only ever grown flowers! I plan to get quite a few flowers going on site too though - especially in this first year. Really excited though about it all though!

    I still feel quite dazed at my good luck in getting a well cared for plot like this because I'd been fully prepared to take on just a bare patch full of couch grass and buttercups!!! It's a shame I'm at work this afternoon because it's a beautiful sunny day and I'd rather be mooching about in my polytunnel. Never mind...only at work until 8.30am tomorrow so I can go back along then.

    View from the gate looking up the plot


    Inside the polytunnel
    If I'm not on the Grapevine I can usually be found here!....https://www.thecomfreypatch.co.uk/

  • #2
    Final two pics....it will only let me post four at a time apparently.

    View from top corner


    Neil's Shed ~ girls not allowed!
    If I'm not on the Grapevine I can usually be found here!....https://www.thecomfreypatch.co.uk/

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    • #3
      Wow!..............You've fallen very lucky, looks fantastic, well done you for persevering. Oh,sorry, Welcome to the vine.
      sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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      • #4
        Unless my eyes deceive me, get Neil to re-brace those posts in the Polytunnel, they look like they are leaning. That would be my first job anyway.
        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
        --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
        -----------------------------------------------------------
        KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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        • #5
          Hi Gilly and Neil and welcome
          You must have been given one of the best plots ever. Lucky you I'm excited for you!
          Think about what you like to eat first, that will help you plan what to sow and where.
          Keep the photos coming - we're a nosey lot

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Gillykat View Post
            the paths which are a bit mossy
            That's shocking ...


            K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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            • #7
              Welcome and congratulations on getting such a plot. I cant help feeling very sorry for the previous owner he obviously took great pride in it. I am feeling very jealous, I applied for one years ago and never got one. You have made the right choice in joining this forum which is crammed with very knowlegable people all eager to help.
              photo album of my garden in my profile http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...my+garden.html

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              • #8
                Hi Gilly and welcome.

                Absolutely fantastic luck there. How much have you mentally planted out? The polytunnel is brilliant.

                New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                ― Thomas A. Edison

                �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                ― Thomas A. Edison

                - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

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                • #9
                  Hi and welcome to the vine - you lucky thing. One thing I will say is get some muck/ organic matter and fork it into the beds in the poly tunnel. I think your soil might be similar to mine and compacts easily hence the healthy moss. That isn't meant to panic you by the way the beds are fantastic I just spotted a bit of green on the beds in the poly thats all

                  edit: When I say green I don't mean the plants
                  Last edited by Norfolkgrey; 21-02-2015, 06:19 PM.

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                  • #10
                    Hello and welcome Arnt you lucky, I applied last year and not heard anything back But yours looks great
                    Carrie

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                    • #11
                      Great news for you both as that looks amazing - I have serious allotment envy!!

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                      • #12
                        Hello and welcome to the vine Gilly and Neil that's the best looking new plot I've seen you both must be really pleased
                        Location....East Midlands.

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                        • #13
                          One problem with inheriting such a nice plot - you've really got to pull out all the stops for the "Then and Now" photos


                          I noticed some bits of green and something growing up a frame, do you know what plants are already on the plot?

                          New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                          �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                          ― Thomas A. Edison

                          �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                          ― Thomas A. Edison

                          - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

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                          • #14
                            Welcome to the vine, you certainly landed on you feet there. Any chance you could pick my lottery numbers for me?

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                            • #15
                              Yes, I'll get Neil to sort out the leaning polytunnel when he's off Tuesday to Friday this coming week....I had a feeling it was leaning a touch and would need a wee push in the correct direction. It's only plastic on top - the bottom section seems to be a green mesh (wind breaker stuff?). There's some 'brassicas' inside but I haven't a clue what they are....I'll have to take some photos tomorrow when I pop up.

                              Next to the greenhouse there are some raspberry's (I think) and in the long strip next to Neil's shed are some leeks....I recognise those at least! They look in good health so I'll take some snaps to show you and then decide whether to let them grow on and get a bit 'fatter' or pull them up to make soup.

                              I've been at work this afternoon and tiding myself over a boring job sorting cards out (I work in a newsagents) by mentally planning what I want to grow....I don't think it's actually sank in yet that I have somewhere to have fun growing stuff!!!!! I've only ever had tiny gardens and grown flowers in them so vegetables are a whole new adventure for me.

                              Some of the photos I tried to post this morning aren't showing so I'll try and post them here instead...

                              Greenhouse...in need of a clean


                              If I'm not on the Grapevine I can usually be found here!....https://www.thecomfreypatch.co.uk/

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