We're unpaid volunteers, not the flippin' Gestapo

[Squash64]

I had a word with a plot holder about the front of his (2) plots today.  He looked shocked when I told him they looked messy.  The plot on the left is used to dump stuff he brings on site "because they will be useful one day"  


and the front of the other plot is where he had his manure delivered...........at least three years ago.  He sprays Roundup and leaves dead weeds poking up everywhere.


I asked him to remove all the wood on the left-hand plot and to hoe the other one and get rid of the dead weeds, and to remove the metal barrel.  And try to get something planted!

He told me he was very busy with various things but when I suggested that maybe two plots were too many for him he changed his mind and said he would clean them up.

I managed to do this in a friendly way (I hope) because his plots are near mine and I don't want any trouble with him.
 
I wish people on the site could understand what it is really like being the secretary.  I wish the Council Allotments dept. could understand too.  I often get the feeling that they forget we are unpaid volunteers and apart from all the unseen work, we also have our plots to look after.

Sorry about the moan, it's been one of those mornings....

[grannyjanny]

I wish our site had people who could get things done. We had a change of manager last year who had promised us more ground as the plot next to us wasn't being used properly. It's used a dumping ground, 6 bags of rubbish, buckets, about 4 years worth of old raspberry canes. The front of the plot, about 6' worth, is full of grass thats gone to seed & the back of the plot, about 10' worth has weed suppressant on it. The plot is about 56' in total. The rubbish bags are on the path so OH can't cut the whole path. Keep up the good work Betty .

[1066]

I think it's a case of use it or lose it!

Keep up the good work Betty 

[Alex133]

I certainly appreciate the warden we have on our site and think we're lucky to have someone willing to take it on. There'll always be the odd pain in the neck around but sure most people are really grateful for what you do Squash64.

[BarriedaleNick]

I dint think you can win either way Betty.  If you ignore the unkempt plots then you'll get moaned at for not doing your "job" and of course people will always get irritated if you ask them to make improvements..
No one wants the job on our site - we find it hard to get any volunteers for our committee.

I am sure that you do a great job so keep up the good work!!!

[shirlton]

I appreciate you Betty.

[claybasket]

I think the sectary's that do these jobs need a medal,our committee men are lovely but firm with offenders ,we have a chap that wins the best allotment every year, his plots fab not a weed ,but hes a bit strange and grumpy ,anyway we get free manure from a kind stable that drops of a load every week or so ,now some Lotty holder are at work and by the time they get down there 's non left ,pepole began to complane to the committee that one man( that's there all day) grabs the lot ,guess who! our sectary was going to have a word,in the mean time the next load of nectar arrives and was gone in a flash ,our sectary happened to be on site so he asked this greedy man to stop grabbing every load, as their are 100 allotments and we have to leave some for others ,he was met with a load of abuse ,swearing ,shouting,then he said he was giving up the plot because everyone was so jealous of him ,then he begin to trash his lovely plot,and said he'd poison the lot ,so no one would be able to grow anything on it,the sectary made a quick retreat  from the nutter. i saw the mad man to-day ripping out the veg he's crazey.

[Alimo]

There's nowt so queer as folk.

Alison

[grannyjanny]

I think the mad man should be escorted from the plot to cool down & his keys taken from him. He could then come back to collect his belongings when more people are present. Let's hope he doesn't carry out his poisoning threat .

[1066]

Squash - could you copy and paste the contents of your letter of conern here, I'd be interested to see it, i.e. nick it for our site  


ooops wrong post!

[claybasket]

 today mad- man turned up smashed his fruit cage to bits, we heard the banging,he then took down the shed and loaded it on to a trailer,if he's going to poison the Lotty he'll do it when nobodys there unfortunately we have open plan Lotty's and we have a public right off way shame ,hope he won't be back after today.

[pumpkinlover]

Unbelievable! (I do not mean I do not believe you Claybasket) Just what is the matter with some people- mind you nothing surprises me at times

[Alex133]

Sounds as though this chap has massive problems in his head, response to request re manure totally disproportionate - you should be very wary of him.

[claybasket]

thanks for your concern Alex133 my husband goes with me, and Ive not to go on my own until madman has left (could be Sept) when his sprouts are near ready.

[cornykev]

Betty a quarter of our plot holders plots look like that.  

[Squash64]

Betty a quarter of our plot holders plots look like that.  

Seriously?  Is anything done about them?

[cornykev]

Not a lot, the site sec has a word, but some tidy up a bit then it's more of the same 3 months later.   

[vitruvius8]

I symphasize, never having been involved in something like this , it sounds absolute mahem !!! Why on earth do these people bother and deprive other (perhaps) more willing people of the enjoyment of growing their own veg? I must be so lucky having the only plot on the site!!! I'm sure all the officials do stirling work, albeit often unappreciated ! 

[Sparkly]

I am the sec of our site and it is a pain of a job, but someone has to do it! Most people don't take bad news well. Often they know their plot is a mess, but it is still an insult no matter how you put it.

[tony69]

To all you reasonable human beings that do the Secretarys job. It sounds to me like you are all lovely fair people who get more than their fair share of rubbish thrown at them, in more ways than one.

This makes me feel rotten because I have a thread complaining about our so called Secretary (written warning, please help thread) but I do sincerely believe he is not in the same caliber as you lot.

I just want to go to my allotment and spend time with my elderly Mum and enjoy the fruits of our labour, we love the lotty and just want peace and quiet and for our garden to look really nice, my wife has even planted some marigolds round the edges and poppys to bring in the bees so it really looks lovely.

Our Secretary is a disgrace to the word and the sooner he disappears the better, unless of course we end up dissappearing first.

Regards Tony & Karen