Picture posting is enabled for all :)
What is your primary motivating factor for having an allotment?To grow fruit, vegetables and flowers in the company of other gardeners.In which city/borough is your allotment?BirminghamHow big is your plot?My own plots are 25ft x 130ft (I have two) There are 114 plots of varying sizes on our site.How many plots (allotment sites) are there in your area?3How far is your plot from where you live?About 10 minutes walkDoes your home have any green space?A very small garden.In which seasons do you grow?All 4.What do you grow in your allotment? And how much?Runner beans, French beans, Broad beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, courgettes, artichokes, cardoons, sugar loaf chicory, collards, lettuce, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, flowers. I grow more than I need and give lots away.Does the food that you grow replace items you would otherwise purchase at a store or market?Yes.Does the amount of money you spend tending to your plot compensate for the money you save on groceries?I've never worked it out, but probably not.Are your meals healthier because of the food you grow in your allotment?Yes, I don't use pesticides and we eat what I grow most days.How much time do you spend tending to your allotment?I spend about 4 hours a day, 7 days a week but it isn't all work. I do quite a lot of talking!Did you have to wait on a waiting list for your plot? How long?8 years ago there wasn't a waiting list and I had the choice of about 9 plots.How long have you had your plot?8 years.Are you concerned with “sustainability” and the current “green movement”?Yes, but I don't lose any sleep over it.How has having an allotment changed your lifestyle?It has given me the opportunity to meet many different people and share my love of gardening with them. As I am the Secretary of the association I have a good excuse to go round the site and spend time talking to plotholders.Anything else you’d like to share?My garden at home is very small but even if I had a massive garden, I would still want an allotment because I think it is so much better gardening with a group of people. There is a very strong sense of community on our site and many newcomers tell me that although they had their names on waiting lists at other sites, it was ours that they really wanted to join. There are many different nationalities on our site, Italian, Chinese, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, Kenyan, Brazilian, West Indian, Irish and English and there is a lot we can learn from their methods.Actually, thinking about it, I think the social side of having an allotment is slightly outweighing the gardening!Good luck with your studies!
What is your primary motivating factor for having an allotment?My mental healthIn which city/borough is your allotment?GuildfordHow big is your plot?10 rodsHow many plots are there in your area?200-300 I guessHow far is your plot from where you live?1 minute walkDoes your home have any green space?NoIn which seasons do you grow?AllWhat do you grow in your allotment? And how much?Large variaty will change a bit very year. As much as I can.Does the food that you grow replace items you would otherwise purchase at a store or market?Some do, but I grow a lot that I would never have bought.Does the amount of money you spend tending to your plot compensate for the money you save on groceries?Probably, If I bought what I grew it would cost a lot more.Are your meals healthier because of the food you grow in your allotment?YesHow much time do you spend tending to your allotment?Probably about 5 hours a weekDid you have to wait on a waiting list for your plot? How long?a few yearsHow long have you had your plot?2 yearsAre you concerned with “sustainability” and the current “green movement”?sustainability yes, the current “green movement", less so.How has having an allotment changed your lifestyle?Hard to sayAnything else you’d like to share?
What is your primary motivating factor for having an allotment?How much space have you got? It's part of my life-style & philosophy. And I was brought up on one.In which city/borough is your allotment?London Borough of HillingdonHow big is your plot?10 poles & 15 polesHow many plots are there in your area?Probably a dozen sites within easy distance. (Or do you mean plots on the site? About 90.)How far is your plot from where you live?Quarter of a mile.Does your home have any green space?Yes, a long garden, but it's in shade for much of the year.In which seasons do you grow?All, but more in the warmer ones!What do you grow in your allotment? And how much?potatoes, sprouts, purple sprouting, leeks, onions, shallots, garlic, carrots, parsnips, turnips, chard, spinach, peas, climbing beans, sugar snaps, mangetout, sweetcorn, winter squash, courgettes, tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillies, flowers, lettuce, herbs, asparagus, grapes, loganberries, gooseberries, strawberries, rhubarb (and probably a few others I've forgotten)Basically, enough to live on and give plenty away to friends.Does the food that you grow replace items you would otherwise purchase at a store or market?Yes.Does the amount of money you spend tending to your plot compensate for the money you save on groceries?Probably not. That's not why I do it.Are your meals healthier because of the food you grow in your allotment?Yes!How much time do you spend tending to your allotment?How long is a piece of string? 4 or 5 sessions a week in the spring/summer; less in autumn; not much in winterDid you have to wait on a waiting list for your plot? How long?20 minutes (That was 10 years ago.)How long have you had your plot?See above.Are you concerned with “sustainability” and the current “green movement”?Of course.How has having an allotment changed your lifestyle?No. I've lived the "Good Life" since I gave up full-time work 20 years ago.Anything else you’d like to share?If you ask. And please share your results/feedback/conclusions with us!