Joe Swift and his allotment

[Two_Sheds]

And anyway, Joe's many years on a waiting list would make pretty dull telly wouldn't it

Hear hear. It took him 3 months to clear the plot - does anyone really want to watch that week-in week-out?

[HeyWayne]

How many "traditional veg growers" would enter a garden design project/competition? ie: do what Joe does for a living, and be successful at it straight away?

[Headfry]

Having had my rant, and thought about it.... afterwards...doh

maybe it is "each to his own" I like plots that are different.

I think its just his way of putting things that bugs me! lets wait and see what happens!
I will watch it again and again any gardening is good!

[smallblueplanet]

How many "traditional veg growers" would enter a garden design project/competition? ie: do what Joe does for a living, and be successful at it straight away?

What's a 'traditional veg grower'?

If I wanted to watch a programme on brain surgery I wouldn't watch one done by a garage mechanic.

[piskieinboots]

If I wanted to watch a programme on brain surgery I wouldn't watch one done by a garage mechanic.

But surely this (garden design) is just another leg/arm/brain of gardening no? Isn't it more like watching brain surgery performed by a GP rather than a garage mechanic?

[HeyWayne]

What's a 'traditional veg grower'?

If I wanted to watch a programme on brain surgery I wouldn't watch one done by a garage mechanic.

Oh, come on, you know - those folk that don't like change, them that bemoan about anything new, them's that like "traditional" methods. I've met a few in my time who question what I'm doing/have done on my plot. I know a number of what I call "traditional veg growers" who know almost nothing about flowers, about garden layouts or what they would consider the "namby pamby" side of gardening.

Sometimes, for us folk that are still learning, seeing other "professionals" also get it wrong, is perversley encouraging. Learning is about experience, rather than simply being told all the time surely?

So watching a programme on "gardening" you only expect to see a certain type of gardening, rather than, let's say - surgery in general?

[Winged one]

In fairness, while it may have its flaws in terms of realism and a bit of artiness to it, at least the Beeb are showing allotment gardening on primetime tellie. I know a lot of you here mention a programme (The Big Dig?) that's on one of the multitude of otehr channels, but this is primetime tv which everyone in the country gets. And even if it's not totally true to life, it is relatively so (it will be interesting to see the appearance of not of weeds in the summer, and also how many seedlings he grows himself or does he rely on plug plants for year 1 - as I did).

I missed bits of it on Friday (the toddler wanted me to do bedtime - grrrr) but I saw a reasonable amount and it was useful and seemed relatively (bearing in mind the difference cameras would amek anyway) true to life. He did point out all the couch grass (I noticed about "cooch" too!!), and seemed to acknowledge that he should have taken more out beforehand (or maybe I was a bit too distracted at that point).

His beds may be a bit arty for some, but at least he is making clearly defined spaces for growing and others for walking. And he did modify it to put a path through the middle.

I can't watch it again unless I do the middle of the night trick (but might have had enough coffee tomorrow that it's possible!) as iPlayer doesn't work over here. But I will be watching with interest over the coming months, and even if Joe doesn't follow all the advice himself, at least it is being given and viewers can take it on board for themselves.

(As it happens, I spent the previous Friday night knitting a scarf while watching GW, but was on to a baby blanket last week!! Might try a scarf for myself soon....)

[piskieinboots]

So I don't stand totally alone in my support for Joe then

[HeyWayne]

So I don't stand totally alone in my support for Joe then

Nope. *stands next to piskie* shoulder to, erm knee.

[piskieinboots]

Nope. *stands next to piskie* shoulder to, erm knee.

*gets box and waves JS banner with big lad

[TPeers]

I'm going to have to watch this now..... do you have any idea how much I dislike watching JS? Am I allowed to speed through Monty or do I have to spend the entire time getting wound up and swearing at the screen?

I'll swap computers and get BBCi on.....


Mutter..... mutter......

[SarzWix]

Triangular beds, I can cope with, just. But I'm sorry, this 'scrape' thing that's been done really P's me off. Yes, I WOULD like to have seen it take 3 months to clear. This is the reality for 90% of people getting a new allotment. Not showing how much hard work it is to clear is doing a dis-service to all the people who have worked their nads off getting their plots sorted AND gives completely the wrong impression to people who think they can get a plot & have it productive in about 2 weeks... And as for timber merchants GIVING away timber to somebody not part of BBC - PAH!

[Lady Jana Muck]

*gets box and waves JS banner with big lad

I'm with you both.
We could even start a JS Appreciation Society or is that going to far ?

[HeyWayne]

I'm with you both.
We could even start a JS Appreciation Society or is that going to far ?

That sounds like a job for Bookface! Another favourite on here.

[Winged one]

Tell you what, I'll support JS if he can come here and get me thesis finished in the same fashion. Tis due to the binders next tuesday and I can't concentrate!!!! (As in, I have enough material, I think, but I can't write it in any kind of coherent, making sense, kind of way).