Is it feasible to have an allotment plot a long way from your home?

[Bill Door]

Well we are moving soon. I have decided to give up my allotment at the end of the season (September). I have planted loads of shallots and garlic. I expect to make three trips back but the 200 mile round trip will be a bit prohibitive.

In your shoes Snadger I would hold on to the plot, that is provided you still comply with the allotments rules. As others have suggested change the things you grow and adapt your methods to suit. Perhaps you could think of setting up a barbi and getting a gas burner to do a brew. I have a theory that most allotmenteers go for the solitude and relaxation or the social interaction rather than just the veges. So before you give up the plot see how much you miss it when you first move. Having a garden is ok but somehow I don't get the same "buzz" as going to the allotment. It seems more mine. I go there and it is my decision as to when I go home. I can either sit and watch the wild life or dig or weed or just contemplate what is around me. I hope I can get another allotment after we move but I know it will not be quick.

So my view would be don't be too quick to drop the allotment and enjoy it whilst you can.

Best wishes

Bill

[alldigging]

The weather may be completely different when you get there as to when you set off.

I think it'd be too far.

[Bacchus]

I don't think I could cope with having my "plot" anywhere else but right beside my house. It's so handy for just nipping out to - and even for taking peelings and the like out to the composter.

It's litterally 20 steps from the kitchen door.

The downside is that I don't have any immediate face to face community except my MP3 player which is usually glued to my ears much to my wifes displeasure and my relief

[veggiechicken]

You've had your "retirement home" for a while and been working on it. You also have your current house and several allotments - and work Haven't heard you saying you can't cope
Retirement will give you so much more time ti fill. Without a plot I think you'll be twiddling your thumbs. The 25 mile journey is the same as you do now, but in reverse.
Go for it Snadger, you know you want to

[skeggijon]

My plot is 25 miles away and I've been making the journey for over two years now.
Most of the time it hasn't been an issue for me, but over the last few months, since my shoulder injury, I have struggled at times - most notably when I wasn't able to drive for three weeks.
I love my plot though and have no intention of giving it up, although I've put a lot more thought into the kinds of things I will be growing this year - much more low maintenance veggies I think.

[bearded bloke]

It wouldn't suit me Snadge, but I think your commitment should be applauded for even considering it I'm guessing that you will give it a go 'just to see' & then stick with it, it is after all things considered your hobby & from personal experiance hobbies are very hard to break company with, what on earth possesed me to drive upto 120 miles each way to stand on a beach all night, in all weathers & never taking home enough fish to cover the fuel costs, was a question I got asked quite often, but where's the fun in just going to the shops was my reply.

[Snadger]

It wouldn't suit me Snadge, but I think your commitment should be applauded for even considering it I'm guessing that you will give it a go 'just to see' & then stick with it, it is after all things considered your hobby & from personal experiance hobbies are very hard to break company with, what on earth possesed me to drive upto 120 miles each way to stand on a beach all night, in all weathers & never taking home enough fish to cover the fuel costs, was a question I got asked quite often, but where's the fun in just going to the shops was my reply.

My fishing sites are close to my retirement home so at least I got that right! Itrtavel that far to fish now, so maybe as VC says, it shouldn't be that bad travelling in reverse to my allotment!

[veggiechicken]

it shouldn't be that bad travelling in reverse to my allotment!

.........and it'll be even easier in a forward gear

[Snadger]

I am really grateful for all the replies putting differing angles to the predicament. As someone mentioned I won't know until I try it. I need to do the work now though to make the plot manageable in the future!

[Snadger]

I luuurve projects, me!

[Grumpy Gardener]

I bought a very very cheap summerhouse from a well known auction site, put a 2 burner gas hob in and a cupped of chairs and spend hours there in all weathers.
If it gets wet I just pop in and have a cup a ( or 2) and then back out again.
Go for it snadger, it won't be a problem for you I'm sure

[Elfeda]

I feel very hard to leave my plots just incase we move back to london i.e 50 miles, so thinking of making them more of less maintained by planting onions,garlic, dry beans and winter squash etc.

[vixylix]

For me personally I couldn't do it - I like being in my back garden though

It depends how much at that time you want / need to keep the plot - you could always give it a go for a little while and retire to your kitchen garden if the travel gets too inconvenient?

[Snadger]

Just got in from the allotment. Doing my pyromaniac stuff again. Had to wait until the fire died down. Those allotments are pretty creepy at night!

After work I managed to demolish the remains of a huge wooden framed greenhouse (about 16 foot X 12 foot and ten foot high including breeze block base) without breaking any of the humungus panes of glass.
I now have eleven panes of glass 3 foot wide and 7 foot long. They are 10mm thick. I can just a say lift them and it was a bit precarious trying o get them out. All out now though and the majority of the woodwork burned apart from pieces I feel may be reusable.
Once more my clothes are stinking of smoke and OH must be getting a bit sick of washing everything I am wearing, every day!

I'll try and get some more piccies to show progress.

As this area is concreted and has a breeze block surround, I may use this area for my shed/summerhouse. Haven't fully made my mind up yet. Have no idea how best to use the humungus panes of glass?
All my new radiators have arrived today for my retirement home so I will be tied up fitting those for a while.
One idea i had was to use some of the old redundant radiators from my house and connect them to the parkray fire on the allotment, giving me a centrally heatted hut!

[Tripmeup]

Hand on heart though...once you start growing in your new, large back garden, I think you'll prefer to be growing just in your back garden

What she said