Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 20:24:53

Title: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 20:24:53

Hi everyone,
                     just wanted to say hello as i have just joined the community having previously found the site very enjoyable and informative when signed in as a guest. I have just started on my first allotment(jan2008) which my husband helped me dig and prepare and now he says the rest is up to me!
 Im sure he will apreciate the produce -all being well as i am on a steep learning curve!
                    I am finding having an allotment all very addictive and have taken to reading veg books and planning planting schemes into the wee small hours! Also i am finding my favourite kind of shopping is a trip to the garden centre! Any of this sound familiar to you all?! :)
                     I look forward to chatting to fellow members and will no doubt be needing lots of advice from all you experts.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: asbean on February 08, 2008, 20:29:30

Welcome - all the advice and support can be found here, as well as loads of (usually) funny chit-chat.  And we expect lots of news and pics in return ... ...

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: Emagggie on February 08, 2008, 20:30:57

Hello Alfie and welcome. I have to agree about the reading and planning etc. ;D ;D. It's even better when it comes to fruition. Enjoy  ;)

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: manicscousers on February 08, 2008, 20:32:30

hiya, alfie..nice to meet you..hope you have a very productive 2008  ;D

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: morton on February 08, 2008, 20:35:42

Welcome Alfie. You will certainly get the best advice available on not only gardening but many other non-gardening related matters as well.
You say that your husband has now left you to it , well there is still a lot of hard work to come so try to keep him involved. You may get into transporting and building sheds and greenhouses etc. or raised beds etc. etc. Plus there is the collecting of muck and digging it in etc. All of these are easier with two pairs of hands.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 20:42:32

Thanks guys!
                     dont worry i havent let my husband off the hook! I will have to get instruction from my teenage daughter on uploading photos-i should do some before and after pics!
                      I notice that Asbean is not to far from me in Winchester-we have had a fantastic day weather wise here and i have laid down some black polythene to warm  4 x 2 meteres of the plot, as i have sown some broad beans,spinach and leeks today in non heated propagators today as i have the use of a well lit potting shed.Hope i did the right thing!

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: elsie on February 08, 2008, 20:46:12

Hi Alfie. Bet your husband doesn't stay away from your allotment for long! My OH wanted nothing to do with it when I started last year, but the more I get done down there, the more often he pops down with me ;D
Hope you have a good season

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: Lauren S on February 08, 2008, 20:50:44

Hello Alfie and welcome to A4A from me too  ;D
Sounds like you are well organized already. I go to bed thinking of what to sow, what to plant where exactly. I wake up and the first thing I think about is gardening  ;D. I'm sure I'm dreaming of it too  ::).
When I go into a shop now I look at fruit and veg in a new light now. Thinking how long it took to grow etc etc. I'm probably just weird  8)
Good luck and congrats with your new lottie and the new way of life.  :)
Lauren

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: asbean on February 08, 2008, 20:52:48

Where are you in Winchester, Alfie ???

Has it been a lovely day?  I've got square eyes, been on the 'puter all day sorting out ISPs, website hosts and other such like on expensive help lines.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 20:55:04

Can totally relate to what you are saying about looking at shop bought veg in a new light - thought i was a bit weird too to be honest! ;D

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 20:56:24

I work in Winchester but live 20 miles away-must be mad! :P

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: asbean on February 08, 2008, 20:58:43

Yes, you are mad, can you afford the parking???

We have two and a half plots - between my two sons and me.  two plots are behind the prison (!) and the half plot is on the Park Road site.  If you approach Winchester on the train from London ours is at the top of the site - the new ploy tunnel next to the pink shed.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 21:02:02

Well well!  i grew up behind the prison-Westhill park.  :) Hilliers nurseries backed on to our close.I work oposite at the hospital so parking subsidised.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: asbean on February 08, 2008, 21:04:26

I live 10 mins walk from the hospital - through Westhill park and the alleyway next to Hilliers.

Did you know there were allotments behind Greenhill Road?  Loads of people don't know about them, they are hidden between the garages to Greenhill Avenue and Greenhill terrace.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 21:06:57

I know it well. Just trying to think where your allotment is in relation to there? ???

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: asbean on February 08, 2008, 21:09:44

If you look at the prison from the hospital you'll see some trees (or what's left of them) on the back perimeter of the prison that have been chopped to pieces by Serco.  They are at the back of the allotments.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 08, 2008, 21:14:00

Will look out for them. also the penny has just dropped that i have a garden centre oppposite  where i work- not good for the bank balance i think!

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: saddad on February 08, 2008, 21:25:04

Hope you really enjoy this site and your own Alfie!
 ;D

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: star on February 09, 2008, 00:05:52

Welcome Alfie........get that kettle on, looks like Asbeans coming over!! ;D ;D

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: caroline7758 on February 09, 2008, 10:04:53

Welcome, Alfie! Don't be afraid to ask anything at all - there's alwasy someone with an answer and someone who wanted to ask the same question!

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: posie on February 10, 2008, 15:38:35

Hello Alfie, hope you're enjoying your allotment.  It's very addictive and I seem to be spending an awful lot of money on very random things lol.  Just come back with a very sore back from digging but nice to get out into the fresh and dry air!  This site's fab, got loads of useful information and help from it since I joined and they're all a lovely bunch!   ;D

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: Thegoodlife on February 10, 2008, 18:11:37

welcome & happy weeding ;D

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: cornykev on February 11, 2008, 19:15:36

Hi Alfie and welcome to the madhouse.  :P :P :P    ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: Magnolia on February 11, 2008, 19:27:49

Hello Alfie,  I dream about my veg patch!  & I look at veg differently now - I was never that keen on Leeks but I've huge respect for them now that I know how long they take to grow.  Hope that doesn't sound too crazy.

Title: Re: Hello from a Newbie.
Post by: alfie on February 12, 2008, 18:10:09

Thanks for all your new messages and making me feel so welcome.I look forward to catching up with everyone as the year progresses. My husband calls me "Lottie"now instead of my proper name-cant think why.