Topic: Help Understanding Terminology Please

[banshee]

Please could someone be kind enough to explain to me what a 'rod' is. My understanding is that it is some sort of measurement regarding the size of the allotment is that right? If so how much does a 'rod' equate to feet & inches or metres wise?
Sorry for the silly question but I am new to all this (and as yet don't have a lottie of my own) and I'm trying to learn and understand as much as possible.

Thank you in advance.

[PAULW]

BANSHEE
A rod,pole or perch in a measurement of five and a half yards
four rods makes a chain the length of a cricket pitch

[banshee]

Thank you PaulW for taking the time to explain that to me, I'm a little less confused and a little more knowledgeable now  ;D  Is there a standard or average size for an allotment?

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

the standard full allotment size is 10 (square) rods, about 10 x 30 yards, although some councils etc now divide them up much smaller because of the demand (I think)

don't anyone ask what a yard is or i'll just feel old

[banshee]

 ;D ;D Rubarb Thrasher I know how you feel with regards the age thing. I tend to work on 3ft to a yard/metre  but do get mixed up between them both as I'm sure there is about 3 inches difference.
Thanks for answering my question. (Its a pity our council wasn't a little quicker at splitting/re-letting plots instead of just letting them become overgrown wasteland. I have been told I stand a better chance at getting one quicker on private run ground but I dont know of any privately run ones in my area. Oh well, I'll just have to be patient like everyone else but it is just so frustrating! :(
Thank you once again for your help.

[mrf94]

If i remember rightly its the measurement from your nose down your outstretched arm to your finger tips


mrf94

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

maybe you can grow things in pots or troughs meantime banshee.

how long are your arms mrf94 ?  :o I thought it was the length of a pole for a ploughboy to whack an oxen's nose from behind the plough

[banshee]

Rubarb Thrasher - that's exactly what I am doing at the moment. Peas, Tomatoes and strawberries in hanging baskets, potatoes in large plastic dustbins and salad in pots and trays. So far this has been successful but you know what it's like, I seem to be hooked on wanting to get out there and grow more.  ;D

mrf94 - What happens if you only have short arms like me?  ;D

[keef]

As you should all know from school, a rod is the standard length of an Ox Goad (5.5 yards). The stick used by a ploughman to poke his ox's with to gee them up a bit, i.e. just the right length to reach from the rear of the plough to the ox's arse.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

whatever happened to the Ox Goad? I blame the EU

Nice thing about growing things at home is you can actually see what's eating all your veg, instead of having to guess

[mrf94]

don't anyone ask what a yard is or i'll just feel old,

mrf94

[djbrenton]

The 'yard' has now been replaced by the 'back garden'.