How much is it all costing....?

[Robert_Brenchley]

In the 18th Century a plot like mine, outside Birmingham, would have cost a guinea a year. That would have kept three labourers and their families, so obviously they were let to the non-poor. What's the history behind your plots in Denmark?

[mormor]

Actually very interesting!

In 1928 the town council (Copenhagen) started a scheme to train unemployed young people to be garden assistants - market gardens, parks, etc. I suppose.  There were large wooden pavilions for classrooms surrounded by plots. In the winter was theory, then the practical work. On a 60 sq.metre plot.
I am not sure how long this continued. There were these large ”school” sites on the outskirts of the city.  In time (don’t know when) the council changed them to an evening school project - and when I started - about twelve years ago on a different site - we had a teacher, and met once a week, as well as usual more allotment type gardening.  Finally they were all turned into allotment sites. Where I am now changed eleven years ago.
In our school house, now a general meeting room, there are some plans and drawings from maybe 60 years ago of how the plots and small houses should be kept. Really charming - drawn and water coloured.

What’s your story?

[goodlife]

Code:

If I had a packet of early peas and sowed some of them as soon as was practical, would there be enough time to crop them and plant the peas they produced, in time for another crop? . Stupid question? . It's ok, you can tell me.

Not a stupid question at all and in theory you can. I put that theory in test last year. I sowed some peas in buckets in GH in February...sowed some peas from those in end of June..begining of July (memory is so short  ). Peas did germinate well....but...we had such a dry year here..so the second crop didn't work out. The plants did grow but once the pods were forming they got hit with powdery mildew. Otherwise there would have been plenty of 'summer' left for another crop. It could be well be, that particular variety wasn't suitable for summer cropping and was happier with early sowing.
So if you are going to try..pick your variety carefully.

[manicscousers]

Next thursday in aldi, 19th, seeds for 39p 

[Hi_Hoe]

So guys, this year im going to account for every penny spent on my allotment. That will be seeds, tools, netting, rent, materials etc. EVERTYHING!

Im wondering if anyone else will be doing so - maybe a little competition?

Who can spend the least on their plot this year?!! (animal keeping aside- it wouldn't be fair to include those related costs as not everyone keeps animals on their plot)

Whos up for it? No prize involved - just the knowledge that you've spent the least out of everyone?!

[Nigel B]

Code:

If I had a packet of early peas and sowed some of them as soon as was practical, would there be enough time to crop them and plant the peas they produced, in time for another crop? . Stupid question? . It's ok, you can tell me.

Not a stupid question at all and in theory you can. I put that theory in test last year. I sowed some peas in buckets in GH in February...sowed some peas from those in end of June..begining of July (memory is so short  ). Peas did germinate well....but...we had such a dry year here..so the second crop didn't work out. The plants did grow but once the pods were forming they got hit with powdery mildew. Otherwise there would have been plenty of 'summer' left for another crop. It could be well be, that particular variety wasn't suitable for summer cropping and was happier with early sowing.
So if you are going to try..pick your variety carefully.

Ah! Thanks for that. The possible unsuitability to summer temperatures thing is something I hadn't considered.
So it might be worth a bash after all then. It'll only need two or three seeds to find out, and if successful it could.........Let me see...... Four times eighty-two....... carry the nine........ Add... No, subtract the number you thought of first............. Blimey Goodlife! By this time next year we will be millionaires!.

[Digeroo]

Not is  my resident voles have anything to do with it.

[Robert_Brenchley]

What’s your story?

In the 18th and early 19th century, privatisation of land combined with urban growth left towanspeaople without access to land, and not many of them had gardens. So landownsers around towns let small plots - 600 square yards where I am - to those who could afford to pay, as it was a lot more profitable than farming. Mostly they went to skilled craftsmen and people with small businesses. A couple of centuries ago there were over 2000 of these gardens around Birmingham, and it was known for its gardens, not its industry. As the city grew, land gained in value, and they were all built over, leaving about eighty gardens on the one remaining site, which is almost unique in the country. There are a couple of other survivals, but we're the only one which has been continuously cultivated.

[lottie lou]

Squashes and pumpkins did really well. They were mostly planted as a weed-suppressor as we didn't have enough stuff to fill the entire plot with and they did their job well, but no-one in the house, except me, can stand the taste of them. I've even tried sneaking it into casseroles only to have them inspect every bite....

I loove growing squashes and pumpkins even though no one but me eats them.  I give mine away to my friends who do like to eat them.  The returns - not monetary but better than that - friendship is priceless.

[artichoke]

I have just come across a garden centre near Hastings advertising 90 square metre plots for £5 a week for an empty plot, or for £10 with a greenhouse, shed and water butt. They prepare the ground and there is water....but that is £260 or £520 per year! Before anything like seeds, plants, tools and fertilisers.....

[artichoke]

....and I have the same problem with squashes and pumpkins: I am the only willing consumer. They do get grated invisibly into things, including bread - but the classic caramelised roasted version with onions and perhaps peppers, SO delicious, is left untouched.

http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/popular-ingredients/butternut-squash

is giving me some ideas. I am munching my way through a lovely Marina di chioggia at the moment and am wondering how this light go down:

http://boldosthoughtsonfood.blogspot.com/2008/10/marina-di-chioggia.html

though it looks like a lot of messing about if no-one's going to eat it.....

[theothermarg]

So guys, this year im going to account for every penny spent on my allotment. That will be seeds, tools, netting, rent, materials etc. EVERTYHING!

Im wondering if anyone else will be doing so - maybe a little competition?

Who can spend the least on their plot this year?!! (animal keeping aside- it wouldn't be fair to include those related costs as not everyone keeps animals on their plot)

Whos up for it? No prize involved - just the knowledge that you've spent the least out of everyone?!

well I'm up for it  have already started as my year would start in oct when the rent is due and the seed order put in
although I must confess I am easily tempted by other seed throughout the year might put the brakes on a bit but I doubt it
marg

[Mr Smith]

My £17.00 went out the window, just been down to Wilkos and bought my Onions and Shallots, they have six differant varieties of Spuds, three varieties of Onions, two of Shallots and one lot of red onions,

[Nigel B]

Squashes and pumpkins did really well. They were mostly planted as a weed-suppressor as we didn't have enough stuff to fill the entire plot with and they did their job well, but no-one in the house, except me, can stand the taste of them. I've even tried sneaking it into casseroles only to have them inspect every bite....

I loove growing squashes and pumpkins even though no one but me eats them.  I give mine away to my friends who do like to eat them.  The returns - not monetary but better than that - friendship is priceless.

You are absolutely right Lou, and for that reason alone they are back on the list! 
Thanks for reminding me what it's about. 

Posted by artichoke:   

....and I have the same problem with squashes and pumpkins: I am the only willing consumer. They do get grated invisibly into things, including bread - but the classic caramelised roasted version with onions and perhaps peppers, SO delicious, is left untouched.

http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/popular-ingredients/butternut-squash

is giving me some ideas. I am munching my way through a lovely Marina di chioggia at the moment and am wondering how this light go down:

http://boldosthoughtsonfood.blogspot.com/2008/10/marina-di-chioggia.html

though it looks like a lot of messing about if no-one's going to eat it.....

That's beyond my capabilities I'm afraid , but you are so right about the classic way of cooking them.

I managed to grow a few of the Yu something Kuri ones last year. Really nice large-grapefruit sized squashes, perfect for scraping the seeds out, and filling with chunky soup, or even a Pot Noodle. 

[meter rat]

Our site costs £10 per month for 250 sq meters. No water, but free compost. This is Mrs meter rat and myself second year, so our costs will be lower (I hope) In our fist year our biggest expense was fencing around the plot, too keep out the rabbits (they do make good eating, internally marrinated by our own herbs) an apple tree and some wood for the shed roof.

Our site was a cow field, so we really were starting from nothing. We scrounged some water butts, a roofless shed, pallets to make compost bins, (all the green kitchen waste, grass clippings shavings from the pet rabbit, and cardboard goes in them, too the point where our main bin has one bag of waste a fortnight)and the wood to support the chicken wire fence we use old tyres to grow herbs in. I have a spade, fork, wheel barrow and secateurs given to us by farther, we brought a small fork and trowel. seats came from a car boot, and I found two outdoor recliners at the side of the road  .

With tools always buy the best you can afford, I pays in the long run, our spade and fork are both forty plus year old. We started with some potatoes, and onions, and a small selection of seeds peas, squash, kale,spinach, courgette, we were given some Hestia beans, strawberry and raspberry plants, these were given at the end of the season, so hopfully we will get fresh fruit in the summer..

We have grass paths so a mower was required, and we were very generously given a petrol mower, this required a service and some damage repairing. We were also given a none working petrol strimmer, a bit of fettleling and 10min latter it was working. Now we have all the tools required we will spend about about £70 (not including rent) this year, this will include seeds, fuel for the mower and strimmer, and some fruit bushes, rhubarb and asparagus as a long term strategy. If you keep your eyes open and collect usefull stuff as you see it, ask around , let people know if you require anything, people can be amazingly generous, try a wanted add in the local free paper and ask for none working stuff if you are mechanically minded. Buy stuff at the end of the season, we got a plastic walk in green house from Wilkos for £14, now £45. Don't try and do it all at once, Buy a little at a time,  like fruit bushes the second year.

We brought some sad looking herbs from the ready to die section of Tescoe's. This gave us about 100 parsley plants for the sake of a bit of love and care, the same for mint and coriander. We were able to give some away to others, we cut the grass for the others as a way of thanking them. Next year we hope to reduce the costs to about £40 , being a Scot a I hate parting with money Having lost my job two years ago I know how you feel with regards money, but being prepared to ask, scrouge, make do and mend, and help your self, alot of money can be saved.