Allotments 4 All
General => News => Topic started by: posie on May 18, 2009, 11:39:11
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I had a letter today from my local council, offering me an 8 perch allotment. I've been on the list for 2 years now and up until a month or so ago had been managing my friends lottie while she recovered from a very serious illness. But as most of you know, I have a fractured spine from a car accident.
On the one hand I want to bite their hand off because the plots come up so infrequently, I could be waiting another 2 years if not more but on the other hand, things are still in limbo until my mri scan and I know I'm not physically capable of digging at the moment.
Any advice welcomed as I'm in a right quandary now!
Ps how many square metres is a perch? I don't really want one as large as the one I was managing but I know our council doesn't do half plots. The one I was looking after was roughly about 20ft across by 60ft
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What a nuisance!!
I still would grab it - if it is what you want - sizewise - I have not an iota of a clue how big ann 8 perch allotment is!!
If it is too large - what about looking amongst your friends who may like to share it or perhaps put chickens on a patch - if they are allowed.
I would state when you get the plot that you are - due to your accident - unable to tackle it immediately! Then they won't expect it to be perfect - immediately anyway!
Hope your back gets better and the friend that you helped - if she is better - could she help you now - just a bit?
Good luck with it anyway!
Old Bird ;D
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How many feet in 1 perch? The answer is 16.5.
8 perch plot would be something like ...erm 272 square feet?
(Need my calculator...that doesn't seem big enough)
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A perch is the same as a rod, historically the distance between an Oxen's back and the plough, it is 5.5 yards.
8 Perch is 8 square's of 5.5 yards so around 20 feet by 120 feet, so I suspect that your friends is already a half plot.
As long as you can keep the weeds down by strimming / mowing then I would take it, the council should be happy to split it particularly if there is a waiting list.
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I would take it, you can always black platic it until you are ready.
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oh bother this is lousy timing but i have to agree with the others i would take it but letting them know the situation you are in at the moment then strim and cover till you could get at it.
you could throw together a dig party where you provide the food and drinks and a party of friend and relatives could come and dig over the plot over a weekend.
then you can still manure and cover it and leave it till next season.
also it might be an idea to look into some of the no dig gardening options out there; such as raised beds, lasagna gardening, etc.
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Thanks for all the comments. I think what I'm going to do is go and have a look at it so I've some idea of the work that's needed on it. If it's like a jungle it'll probably be a no as unfortunately friends and relatives of mine are not forthcoming when it comes to gardening! I may be able to persuade the council to go over it first then I can cover it and just do little bits as and when I can. And as most of you have said if I let them know about my injury that should give me a little leeway. I know a few people up at the site as well who are aware of the injury so may get some help from them. I'll keep you all posted.
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I think a lot depends on how long it's likely to take you to recover from the accident. If it's a matter of weeks or months rather than anything long-term, go for it!
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I think a lot depends on how long it's likely to take you to recover from the accident. If it's a matter of weeks or months rather than anything long-term, go for it!
This is the problem at the moment, I'm waiting for an mri scan on 27th of this month so I'm hoping that will shed some light on things. I do have a month to respond to the council, so I've got a little time to play with.
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8 Rods is 80% of a normal full plot... @220sq yards... slightly less in metric. Go and have a look at it... ask if they strim it down if it is overgrown... :)
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Well I've just found out from someone I know up the lottie that the plot they've offered me is the one opposite the one I've been helping with and it is absolutely horrendous, head height with every weed and bramble you can imagine, even with the kids helping, I just don't feel up to that. She has said however that there are two other plots going, one of which is in reasonable condition and has been worked reasonably recently, so I may try and talk them into giving me one of those instead.
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With a waiting list of 2 years, how come you have plots in such neglected condition?
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'Cos councils aren't quick to evict people for non-cultivation... ???
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So if Posie takes it on, she'll have time on her side?... ;)
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Most folks won't give the plot up until the end of the rent year cos they think that if they have paid for it then why should someone else have it. This often happens on our site even if they have no intention of keeping it. Like Sadad said the council should turf people off if they have no reasonable excuse as to why their plot isn't cultivated.Ther is no excuse for letting the weeds grow sky high when you can spray it or cover it.
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Maybe I am going to seem really harsh here, but unless this is likely to be very short term (say less than a month) then I think it is pretty unfair to take on a plot. Especially if there is a big waiting list. Perhaps you could negociate staying at the on the list until you are better. I.e you are offered the next plot when it comes up and, if you are better you can take it. If not, it is offered to the person below but you stay on the top of the list.
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I'm with Sparkly but!!
I'm afraid most councils don't think that way!
Why? .....its too much like common sense!! although I guess it is worth a word with them to raise the idea.
Best of luck!
By the way; sorry to here of your accident,I hope all goes well in the future both with your health and obtaining a plot!...TG
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Hope you can sort something out Posie.
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Maybe I am going to seem really harsh here, but unless this is likely to be very short term (say less than a month) then I think it is pretty unfair to take on a plot. Especially if there is a big waiting list. Perhaps you could negociate staying at the on the list until you are better. I.e you are offered the next plot when it comes up and, if you are better you can take it. If not, it is offered to the person below but you stay on the top of the list.
Well the plan would be for my kids to help out with the heavy stuff (they're 14 and a half) and I'll do the lighter stuff, which will help to keep me mobile and give me something to look forward to and to aim for, I don't intend to just let it grow until my back has healed as that would be irresponsible. I haven't made a final decision on it because quite honestly I don't know what the prognosis is until I have my mri scan. I have that in 10 days and I have to notify the council within one calendar month of the date of the letter. Believe me it is not something I would enter into lightly.
Modified to add: there may well be the option to stay on the list, it's something that I need to consult the council about and will do so when I finally get hold of them. All I'm doing here is bouncing off ideas, I'm not saying I will take it or will even be well enough to take it. If I don't have enough support then I won't because it wouldn't be practical.
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With a waiting list of 2 years, how come you have plots in such neglected condition?
I have no idea, it certainly hasn't been worked for at least a year. Someone said something on site about the council preferring them to return to their natural state - but I can't say if that's right or wrong to be honest.
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I'd also see if the plot they are offering is too overgrown/hardwork right now and if you could go to the top of the list again. if not I'd be tempted to take it and then cover it / create planting holes for the 1st year, that way the initial work would be reduced, it shows progress, it starts to kill of the weeds and you get some produce at the end of it
Good luck
1066
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Once you have some idea about how long it's going to take, take the plot on and do what you can as it heals. I found that my backache cleared up thanks to the extercise when I got mine. I do have to be a bit careful though; too much shovelling soon brings it back, but digging's OK.
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I know the one they've initially offered me is head height in brambles and all sorts of nasties, the other two apparently aren't in bad condition at all, one of the girls up there said the kids could manage it easily enough. I'm still in two minds about it, it very much depends on how long it's going to take for this d**n fracture to heal, but hopefully should have some idea over the next few weeks. If they decide to operate then I more than likely will just ask to go back on the list, if it's just waiting til it heals then maybe I have a chance. All a waiting game I suppose.
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Well I spoke to the Council today and explained the situation. I've turned down their initial offer for now as he said it's an horrendous plot. They've agreed to put me back on the top of the list due to my circumstances and hopefully the other two plots are coming up in the middle of June when I should have a fair idea of what I can and can't do. So fingers crossed I can get better and start digging sometime soon! :)
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at least thats sortd, hope it all goes well for you posie, you certainly deserve a good turn after all that you've been through.
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Good idea Posie
Hopefully you will have a good result with the MRI scan and be able to get a super duper site that may already have some plants in it for you!
Well you can hope for the best!
Good luck with it all - and let us know how it goes!
Old Bird
;D
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well done you and good on the council for listening to what you had to say
1066
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Great news Posie and good luck with the scan. ;D ;D ;D
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Alls well that ends well Posie
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Thanks guys, I'll keep you updated. I should write a book, the trials and tribulations of posie...I still insist that my mother refusing to buy lucky heather has some hand in my run of bad luck!!! ;D
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nice work posie.glad you can concentrate on getting well without having to worry wether you did the right thing.hope your scan goes well,and yes please do let us know
rach
x
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Posie are you going to call the book, McDonalds can seriously damage your health. :-X ;D ;D ;D
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Posie are you going to call the book, McDonalds can seriously damage your health. :-X ;D ;D ;D
Nah, I thought "Junk food - the not so silent killer!"
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Well folks, the latest update in the ongoing saga...I went to the independent medical today, there's a lot I want to say but won't, apart from this just to give you a flavour...only someone who has or earns a lot of money would feel the need to ask why I needed to find work urgently after finishing my degree. That just about set the tone for the rest of it, along with telling me the fracture must have healed by now (magic he was, he hadn't even seen the xrays or my notes!), oh and poked me in the fracture, leaving me in bed for 2 hours this afternoon.
I also went for my mri scan today....and discovered that I have claustrophobia. They got me in up to my chin, I promptly had a panic attack. They put an eye mask on me got me in up to my nose and it happened again, at which point I decided enough was enough, particularly as they wanted me in the d**n tube for an hour. So I'm going back to the consultant to find out if there is an alternative to the mri and if not, then the only way they are getting me in there is if I am stone cold knocked out, never mind sedatives, just make me unconscious!
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i'm sorry the mri scan was so traumatic posie :-*. hope you are feeling a little calmer now.
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Unconscious is good, in some circumstances.. :-X
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It's the only way they will get me back in there that's for sure!
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I also went for my mri scan today....and discovered that I have claustrophobia. They got me in up to my chin, I promptly had a panic attack. They put an eye mask on me got me in up to my nose and it happened again, at which point I decided enough was enough, particularly as they wanted me in the d**n tube for an hour. So I'm going back to the consultant to find out if there is an alternative to the mri and if not, then the only way they are getting me in there is if I am stone cold knocked out, never mind sedatives, just make me unconscious!
Not just me then, I had one last year and it ended with the guy snarling at me! I only had 20 mins and was OK for the first 2 scans then i panicked but managed to control it kept the panci in my head and then my leg developed an involuntary twitch so he got really cross at me. I knew before I went I was slightly claustrophobic but it was the noise that upset me the most. I would have to be sedated next time, also I was trying to lie still on the object of my pain i.e. my back which I couldn't lie on at the time because it was too painful!
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Take the plot
Make a start and get some produce in
Let all your friends and family know that you need help!
Cover what you cant plant now with black plastic
get every visitor on the plot to dig just a couple of square yards every visit
Its amazing how quickly you get through it"!
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Well done for lasting that long Kea, fair play the nurses were lovely (although didn't help much when they told me that they had to squash larger people in!), they did suggest taking diazepam beforehand, but I really don't feel it would help to be honest. I had the same problem, lying on a hard surface on top of the fracture was very painful. Apparently there is an open mri scanner which doesn't give as clear a picture, but if they desperately want me to have one then it's the open one or nothing!
daxzen - I decided against the plot they offered me as it truly was a horrendous nightmare and prone to flooding in the winter, would have just been too much at this point. hopefully in a months time I'll be in a better place and something else will come up, family will help to a point but they can be difficult to rely on as they're all pretty busy with their own lives. We shall just have to wait and see.
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Regular flooding is a nightmare; hold out for one above flood level if you can.
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Posie if you need to chat about MRI scanners and how you can cope then please pm me - I work with them! Our radiographers are experts at helping claustro patients feel relaxed enough to go in, and there are ways and means of padding you so it doesn't hurt. Did you get offered music?
My other comment is if they want you in for an hour, what the heck are they doing? Our spines take 15 mins! even whole spines aren't that long... pity you're not near London.
moonbells
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Thanks Moonbells, have pm'd you. :)