Rundown plots

[Cadalot]

IMHO if the weeds are doing that well then the soil can't be that bad

[alldigging]

IMHO if the weeds are doing that well then the soil can't be that bad

That's what I always sell messy plots on!
Look how well the weeds grow, how lush they are!

[maverick451]

When I took over my plot the commitee had used a brush cutter and just leveled the site which might it a bit less daughting, would that be an option snadger?

[Bill Door]

I agree with you snadger. it is a bit like giving people a big gym and swimming pool and just to make sure they can use it give it a humongous car park so that people can drive there without wasting too much time traveling. Doh! they do that already don't they. I think some even have coffee shops with nice sticky buns so that people can have a lovely drink (milk and four sugars) and something to eat to compensate them for all the hard work done in the gym/pool.

So that is the way of the world. Next people will want an allotment around June with produce ready to pull/cut and a plan for the next 6 years and someone to do it. Maybe an idea for a computer program so that no one gets wet and cold in the winter or hot and sweaty in the summer.

Bill

[veggiechicken]

I saw a "company" on FB that offered to clear & dig over an allotment ready for you to do the planting/pretty stuff.

[KevinM67]

I saw a "company" on FB that offered to clear & dig over an allotment ready for you to do the planting/pretty stuff.

I'd love that job !!!!!

[veggiechicken]

Set yourself up offering the service, Kelvin

[KevinM67]

Set yourself up offering the service, Kelvin

I wish I had the time VC - too busy with the male-modelling work at the moment.

[veggiechicken]

Maybe you could combine the 2 jobs - perhaps model for a gardening calendar - some tasteful poses amongst the nettles?

[jackarmy]

Im on what is lovingly called a starter plot . on my site ( not a huge one ) there are ten "starter plots" which are roughly 30 feet long by 5 feet wide.
Ive had mine since may and only seen two other plots worked untill November when a few got moved on.
How many of those will still be there come spring i dont know , its not hard to just turn over a plot that size and yet people cant be bothered.

The idea of the "beginer" plots is you work yourself in and get promoted to a bigger plot when one becomes available.
Maybe people have the feeling that they will never progress to a bigger plot ( especially when some of the old folk work three plots for spuds lol ).
Still, a beginer plot gave me shedfulls of beans, courgettes and beetroot and a few other bits and bobs when i started halfway through the season, plenty to eat whilst learning. some just cant be bothered.

[Chestnut]

I'm really enjoying discovering our new plot, which was 6 foot high with weeds when we started.
We're now onto re-edging paths and digging over the soil ready for spring.

Our council offers some 1/4 or 1/8 'tester plots' so people can take on a small area for a year (for example if they're not sure whether or not they will enjoy or be able to spare the time for a larger plot), but that means they cannot keep the original smaller plot. However, there are also enough half/full plots that newcomers can choose to start with a larger plot if they prefer - most are overgrown, but offered in autumn with a few months rent free gives plot holders a sporting chance to get on top of things over the winter.

[Alison]

I'd have found it very difficult to motivate myself on a temporary starter plot as I'd have felt that I was borrowing it. Diving in and clearing my proper plot meant that I could start things that would take a while to come to fruitition as it's a long term thing. I'd have not felt so inclined to put that level of effort (or plant longer terms things) if I'd not be seeing the benefits.

[Snadger]

I saw a "company" on FB that offered to clear & dig over an allotment ready for you to do the planting/pretty stuff.

If they put the same ammount of hours in as I have, even on minimum rates, it would have cost me a flaming fortune!

[veggiechicken]

^^^ You didn't take on an "allotment" - but a Scrapheap!
Your new plot will be unique but, whoever takes it on next may want a blank canvas too!

[Snadger]

^^^ You didn't take on an "allotment" - but a Scrapheap!
Your new plot will be unique but, whoever takes it on next may want a blank canvas too!

Hopefully it will be a lot more lettable than when I took it on though! I'll probably have it until I snuff it (unless I get the urge for change again!) and if the next plotholder to take it on changes too much I'll come back and haunt them!