Topic: Just received my new lottie rules for a Canadian plot...interesting

[Jeannine]

 Well we will ignore the size ..10'x25'  cough cough!!As it in a park we have to join the park association $11 a year, not much then the lottie is $15 for each one ( we are on the books for 2)  So the price is OK.

It is a 7 acre site with common areas, very pretty with a common orchard etc, we all have to do a little of the work to keep the areas clean.

Rules against things and the positives too are...

No fires.
No loose pets.
No composting on the lottie, there are large compost areas for everyone to use.
It is organic  so no pesticides etc, no chemical fertilisers
No sheds
Plots are renewed annually and you have to be at the Feb meeting to renew.

$50 fine if you don't muck in with a work party ,not often I might add.
Plots must be worked by May 1st , at the minimum weeds etc must be cut down.
If away you must nominate someone to keep things neat while you are away and inform the secretary who it is.
Manure is purchased in bulk and available at about $1 a wheelbarrow full
Toolsheds must be kept locked, and the community tools must be kept clean, you apparently don't need your own.There are rotavaters and all other tools for members to use
The pagoda can be booked for picnics..no charge.
No trees, or ivy.
Comfrey in small amounts, mint and hoseradish has to be planted in a tub
Blighted spud, tomato etc have to be taken off site
Any plastic rubbish has to be taken away.
If you are unable to harvest, inform the secretary and the food will be dontaed to the food bank
Weeds must not be allowed to go to seed
Plots have to be winter cleared by Nov 1st, exception is winter harvested foods
All plots have hoses, no automatic sprinklers

Acceptable mulches are grass clippings, straw,leaves,peat moss,manure and fresh sawdust,no black plastic, hay,gravel or bark mulch

For paths you can use covered landcape fabric or concrete movable blocks.
No structure that will shade a neighbour .
Nothing built from treated wood or glass.
No tarps, , no loose fitting net as  it is a bird sanctury too

No Livestock or bees

Chairs must be folding types and no picnic tables, you have to  use the community ones that  are all around
No tyres
Cold frames are to be maximum height 1 meter and maximum coverage for same must not exceed 5 square metres,no glass, no treated wood
Clear parts can be clear plastic and must be 5 ml so they don't tear in the wind

Row covers must be securely pinned down and replaced if they get damaged.

Bean fences must not exceed 7 feet and placed where they will not shade your neighbours

No glass greenhouse, you can make a wood framed on and cover it with plastic

Raspberries and grapes must be trimmed to stay no higher than 7 feet and have to be planted 20 inches from the fences. and must be trellised.
Small plastic compost boxes are allowed but not a pile, they must be anchored and have tight fitting lids maximum size is 1  cubic metre..no wood ones.
You may have 1 water barrel but it must have mesh to keep the birds safe and it must be covered in the mosquito season so thy can't use it.
You need t0 fence your plot, no higher than 42 inches
No personal benches or tool benches on you plot.
Using pesticide will result in immediate loss of your plot  Other rule breakers will get a letter which you have to anwser within a week. After three weeks your plot will be taken back if the problem is not completely solved

Situation for which your plot could be pulled are
Failure to have your plot done by May 1ST
Neglected plots which will have allowed weeds to cross to a neighbour
Use of treated lumber
Use of structures that don't meet the guidelines
Use of pesticides or herbicides or un acceptable fertilisers

 It is strict and they are sure on you fast if you break the important rules.

The place is  very beautiful though and a credit to the park

Thought you find this interesting

XX Jeannine

[caroline7758]

Never imagined the Canadians as so authoritarian, but if it's part ofa park most of it makes sense.

[pigeonseed]

I think it would put me off! But if you've put your name down for two, then it obviously doesn't worry you. So it will be a nice neat site, and lots of access to communal resources, which is nice.

I get bossed around and pressured a lot at work, so I like a lot of freedom on the allotment!

[betula]

Bit too many rules on there for me but good luck with it  :)

[FennelandFern]

Man alive...those are quite a lot of rules! But I like the one about removing blight-infected toms and pots...think most allotment-holders would be grateful for that as some of my friends with plots say they've just given up growing either as the site is so vulnerable...

Look forward to hearing about how it goes. Are the people friendly or scary?

[emmy1978]

bump...lots of rules Jeannine but it sounds beautiful. Pagoda? Park? See you soon.  8)

[Jeannine]

I don't know anyone yet. Every plot holder has to go to a meeting to renew in February, any plots not renewed are then doled out to the folks on the waiting list, so I will get confirmation first week in March. I am told,( and praying it is true), that my spot on the list  will be good enough to get me a plot, maybe 2 ,but until March I am trembling a bit.

A bit of a pain actually as I need to start things off and don't want to be stuck!!

XX Jeannine

[coznbob]

Hope things go ok for you come March.... you need lots of room for those squash and toms!

Whilst strict, the rules make sense.... 


Good luck and fingers crossed!



Corinne xxxx

[Hyacinth]

It seems a daunting read, first read-through - but - it all makes a lot of sense to me, and I particularly like the strictures re: seeding weeds + the removal to off-site for disposal of blighted potatoes and tomatoes.

What made me smile was the description of acceptable  covering for paths - covered landscape fabric -  astro-turf, I reckon :D

Hmmm...chairs must be folding types & no picnic tables...so you've gotta be looking for some folding chairs with dinky little clip-on tray attachments for your mid-dig cuppa + dunking biscuit, then? Bet Betterware sell 'em - you got Betterware in Canada, J?

Really the only minus I see is the size of the individual plots - 10' really isn't very wide - do many people have 2 adjacent plots?

It sounds an idyllic setting, and fingers tightly crossed that you get offered your first plot in March.

Love Lish XXX

[Digeroo]

I think the rules sound very sensible.  

I like the fine for non attendance on working parties.  The same people always seem to do the work in some organisations.  There is a bit of confusion between no composting and having a small plastic bin.

I have just got a new extra bit and it is 26 by 36, so the plot size is very small.

I think that a good set of rules up front is much easier than a set of unwritten rules which are inforced by sarcastic comments and snide remarks.

One of the great problems of getting people to part with their land for allotments is the untidy look of some sites.

[lottiedolly]

I know the rules seem strict, but the plots must look lovely and it is in a park, i like how they have community tools, as some people are not able to spend much on tools etc, it is a shame that they are so small but finger crossed for March Jeannine

Kx

[1066]

Interesting read, and would love to see some pics - do they have a website?

Fingers crossed you get a plot in March

1066

[Jeannine]

Yes there is some info on the net but I am told the actual website is down for some reason.. think they are short a volunteer.

 The place is called Colony Farm Community gardens.

Colony farm used to be just that a regular run farm that was attached to the mental hospital for long stay patients, the hospital closed down a few years ago and all the residents were somehow miraculously blended into the community.. long story.

 The whole area has been made into a huge park ..not roundabouts etc but with various things going on..eg a bird sanctuary. The community garden plots have only been on the go a few years. I will try to find a link but meantime if anyone wants to take look it will come up as Colony Farm BC Canada.

It is very pretty. I lived across the main road from it before I went to the UK, we used to watch the coyotes through a telescope, playing,then fat tummies then babies. This was before it was made into a park. The ground has been worked for years so I am hoping it proved good.

XX Jeannine

[Digeroo]

Is this the right one?  it looks gorgeous.

http://www.jiwiz.com/ColonyFarmRegionalPark.html

[1066]

it does look a wonderful setting to have an allotment (however small or large!), and what a good history / outcome for the area

Thanks for the info

[Hyacinth]

If that is it, it's gorgeous ! And in the Community Gardens I spied some Wilkinson's arches being put to good use ;D ;D ;D

[1066]

Hyacinth - do you recon Shirl has got a deal going on  ::)  ;)  :D

[Jeannine]

That is it well done!!. It isd a bit posh I must admit, I will have to wear my Lady Docker wellies when I go there!!

 The picture I have by my name is the sign at the entrance,


I have been around a few times and met some folks informally, all seem very nice but I don't know anyone.

Oh I do wish March woiuld come around and put me out of my misery

XX Jeannine

[Digeroo]

I am not surprised you are champing at the bit.  But February is disappearing fast. 

[Hyacinth]

Hyacinth - do you recon Shirl has got a deal going on  ::)  ;)  :D

Bloody certain of it since looking at those pics ;D