Allotment gardening IS ALLOWED!

[muckdiva]

Just realised, I have a cunning plan. There is a shop close to the allotment where I get my basic stuff like milk,eggs etc. I can combine my shopping with allotment shopping for veg.

Puts me in mind of the ‘shop your garden’ thread

[Gillykat]

That's one of the good things about this shutdown....no stupid boy racers whizzing around I popped out yesterday at 5pm to post a couple of letters (packs of tomato seeds I had loads of spares of for a couple of friends) and it was like 4am on a Sunday morning as it was ghostly still and silent...I took a few photos and stuck them on the blog

I'm like Penellype in that I can leave my front door, walk up a wide lane about 20+ feet wide and my allotment, which is barely 5 minutes walk away, is fully enclosed by a high hawthorn hedge and fencing so nobody can get anywhere near me....it's also the first gate you come to so I'm not passing any other allotments either I'm loving all this extra time I have and am getting stuck in to knocking the allotment back into shape. Today tho' I have to wait until later as got a skype meeting (all staff do at 2pm) with area manager guy to see what's going as regards work and being paid etc.

[Plot12c]

The issue with taking a car is that if you break down then you are potentially coming into contact with other persons. That is why the guidance is only if it is essential to take a car.

In the end they will shut Allotment’s because of social distancing, I turned up at my allotment yesterday and I saw people having cups of tea together and when i mentioned it to them, all I got was we will all get it anyway so we don’t care.

The ironic thing is they were all between 60-80 and some in the high risk category.

I live on the IOW and we have had our first 2 deaths I really don’t think people realise how serious this is going to get, yes most may have mild symptoms but it is who you pass it onto that we should stop and think about.

People around here think it’s holiday time, they see it as extra time off, I would actually like the government to take more stringent measures - a bit like what Ireland have just introduced, better to do this than leave it to late imo.

I will not be visiting my allotment now until the lockdown is over.

[SarrissUK]

I will be going to the allotment tomorrow after finding all the seeds that can be sowed direct. I won't make contact with anyone, and I have disposable gloves to wear for when I open and close the gates, and I certainly won't be having any close-up conversations with anyone. It's usually quiet on a Sunday anyway

I WILL take my car, because I am more likely to have close encounters with people if I walk - it's a popular dog walking route up there. And I have two dogs and plenty of stuff that needs to be taken up there. After a few months of a LOT of hard work, long hours, lots of really difficult studies, I have two full days where I can do what I want. I cannot WAIT!!

[Plot12c]

I agree, I would welcome stricter measures or this half hearted approach may last much longer. I wanted my kids to come home from uni weeks ago and they kept saying they weren't allowed as Uni was still open.

Going to the allotment will be least of our worries in a few weeks IMO, there is now evidence to suggest that if you have had it the possibility you could keep on getting, a bit like getting a cold every year although obviously this is more serious.

[SarrissUK]

Going to the allotment will be least of our worries in a few weeks IMO, there is now evidence to suggest that if you have had it the possibility you could keep on getting, a bit like getting a cold every year although obviously this is more serious.

Interesting - I've not heard that, but I've had my head in the books for a couple of days. Would you have a source for that please? I work in the NHS, and although not clinical at all, that could be a game changer for how the staff feel about dealing with patients that are affected.
Thank you

[Plot12c]

Interesting - I've not heard that, but I've had my head in the books for a couple of days. Would you have a source for that please? I work in the NHS, and although not clinical at all, that could be a game changer for how the staff feel about dealing with patients that are affected.
Thank you

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsan...-then-positive

https://www.france24.com/en/20200328...-someone-twice

[Sweet savory]

I walked the 3/4 mile to my plot and did some work. Would use the car in normal times for bulky items as no sheds allowed on site.Saw the guidance posted on the gate. There were some people there, all well apart. People round here are generally being very sensible.
A bit concerned that the water supply wont be turned on due to risk of cross contamination which will prove difficult. Trying to plant more things that can be left to their own devices but no room for much more at home so will have to do what I can when I can

[Aberdeenplotter]

I'm 26 miles from my plot and although I may well be able to argue the toss with the police if I'm stopped, I don't need to be there for at least a couple of weeks so I'm staying home. Who knows, the police could possibly be infected anyway.

[SarrissUK]

Turns out it was freezing here today, with a proper chill in the wind so I didn't go up to the allotment in the end. Instead I sowed lots of aubergines, peppers, watermelon and a whole tray of sweetcorn. I've picked out the seeds I will sow direct once I can go to the allotment though. I might do it on the way home from work too - very peaceful up there at that time of night

[chillithyme]

I've decided to not go to my allotment at all. My friend is a doctor who has covid patients, I have taken the advice to stay indoors. There are a lot of cases here, and I don't fancy using the padlock, chain and gate, or the tap, if it gets turned on. The entry path is too narrow, and i'm bang in the middle so if any fellow plot holders were about I would be worried the whole time. However I am still seed sowing in the hope that things will get better

[Trouvere]

I've provided a few bottles of Virkon disinfectant solution for people to use on locks, bolts, taps or whatever common areas they think of. Of course, now everyone will be touching the Virkon bottles, so I hope they think to wipe those down when they're done....

[Greenleaves]

Our council is not turning the water back on and the toilets have been locked, i dont rely on the water troughs so no real impact for me.

[Voglen]

I've decided to not go to my allotment at all. My friend is a doctor who has covid patients, I have taken the advice to stay indoors. There are a lot of cases here, and I don't fancy using the padlock, chain and gate, or the tap, if it gets turned on. The entry path is too narrow, and i'm bang in the middle so if any fellow plot holders were about I would be worried the whole time. However I am still seed sowing in the hope that things will get better

Hopefully we will be allowed out in June, so there will be time to plant things out. For now with great sadness I'm letting my plot to go wild...

[ameno]

I just realised I don't actually know what's happening with the water on my site.
I assume they turned it off for the winter, so the pipes didn't freeze, but I don't know when it's usually turned back on, or whether the coronavirus business will make them decide to delay turning it on.
We each have out own water key, so in theory there isn't much risk of cross-contamination as we are not all touching one tap, but who knows that the council will decide... I shall have to check.