Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Orion TV on September 29, 2004, 10:40:13
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My company is looking to produce a gardening/lifestyle TV show based around allotments. The intention is to appeal to all, but particularly non-entry level gardeners. I am looking for a high quality, large group of allotments, which crucially needs to have "character" in addition to the allotment - the people, social activities etc.
Can anyone suggest a suitable location - drop me a mail? kelwyn.whittaker@oriontv.co.uk
Thanks
Kelwyn Whittaker
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Who would want a camera shoved in there face when you are at peace with the country..then again about time we had some Veggie progammes on T.V instead of all these Garden revamps with patios and decking.
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And id sooner not have a mad rush of telly watching 30 something urbanites rushing down to get a lottie and ruin the scene with all their pathetic one upmanships and "parrot fashion e-drivel"
I like the peace ands quiet away from these morons, dont want them down the lottie shouting "fantastic !!" down their little phones all day long.
I think you media types had better stick to "the good life" for idealistic urban/rural humour...and i dont want you all making us look like retards either
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Hello
Many thanks for your helpful comments. It's re-assuring to know that alongside the extremely helpful, polite and constructive allotment gardeners I have spoken to, there are some who wish to continue a tradition of isolation, exclusion, intolerance and stereotyping.
As it happens, the programme I am developing is by gardeners, for gardeners, and I, like "salad muncher" would welcome tv programming on veggies, as opposed to patios and decking. If you don't want to watch, well don't. If you don't want to take part, don't - but kindly do the courtesy of not publicly abusing me and my colleagues. Behind the "media types" you refer to are a whole range of people (like allotment gardeners) with varied motivation and attitudes.
As for making you look like a retard, I don't think you need a tv crew for this.
Any helpful suggestions - please keep them coming.
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Kelwyn,
Have you tried contacting the National Allotment Society www.nsalg.org.uk (http://www.nsalg.org.uk) ?
They might be able to help,
Ross
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Hi there just a note to Fingle went to say I am Thirty something (33) then thought hold on how old are you and you are thirty two I take it you are not wanting your mates to come and join you at the allotment ? ? thinking about it dont want mine around either may have to tell them I've given it up and then keep quiet so as not to give them any idea's on joining up ;)
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In that case ORION, why the need for a "group of allotments, which crucially needs to have "character"
Im guessing your more inclined to lean towards personalities there than the vegetables themselves.
Time and again you lot show your true colours and trample over peoples lives for the sake of a quick laugh and a buck.
If indeed I am wrong, I whole-heartedly apologize, and wish you every success, it would indeed be nice to watch something informative on the box for a change, especially if it helps people de-tangle from the consumer world
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Oh and cheers for the DIRECT insult !
Sensitive arent you
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Hi Fingle
Thanks for the message – at least we are proving how passionate people are about allotments!
I search for "character" because a programme needs to inform and entertain. The back of a packet of seeds provides vegetable information, but it alone would not make interesting television. I make no apologies for this - there is a whole community of knowledgeable, interesting and passionate allotment gardeners in the UK, and I know many of them would welcome an exchange of ideas, and you never know, maybe even a "laugh". Of course, as a business we make TV programmes to earn a living, but I have no intention of trampling over peoples' lives - it is also completely unnecessary. Only this morning I spoke to an allotment group, not too far from Surbiton actually - and they seemed very excited that TV is interested in allotments, and extended an offer for us to discuss our proposal further.
Since I appear to have exposed a raw nerve, I propose not to anger the allotment community any more by pursuing this line of research, so thanks to salad muncher and Ross for the positive feedback. You never know, if we develop an allotment road show, we might be in your area – if you feel you can run the risk of a camera and garden expert destroying your life!
By the way, my name is Kelwyn. I work for Orion TV.
Happy gardening!
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Kelwyn,
Couldn't agree more- how many people would watch a TV programme that is a very dry instruction manual on how to grow vegetables? That's what books are for.
Good luck with making an informative and entertaining programme!
Ross
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Kelwyn you are welcome anytime subject to terms & conditions ;)
Look forward to seeing programme but make sure this is shown in the Carlton region there is an allotment programme thats been shown on different regions but not here and on terestrial T.V
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Oh ignore me, im a grumpy sod sometimes.
there is a wealth of characters here, and im sure they will be a goldmine for your endeavour.
I think you know where i was coming from, but it appears I was barking up the wrong tree.
Theres a crazy brazillian woman opposite me who would be great on a telly program, and loves her little plot.
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Seem to remember a TV series about an allotment group somewhere in London it was years ago. I think it was around Leyton?
I understand that Nanna Moon from East Enders is a keen plot holder perhaps that would be a good starting place.
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Thanks Len - I'll check her out - I suspect her Eastenders contract might be a bit restrictive though!
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I must admit when I first read this I did laugh the thought of my lottie members they would make the good life look quiet. There are so many charaters down there on going feuds and these are mature gardeners. One is pinching the vedge just has to be caught I am one of four lady gardeners so we are quite a novelty down there. Last year I was treated as the little woman this year I am getting more respect so I am getting there.
But saying that have meet some great gardeners one in fact that gardens the old way my mum did so lots of time for him.
But I would not give it up defenly not dull and boring.
I do hope you find your lottie and I wish you luck and hopefull will be able to see it.
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Brill idea, Kelwyn. I for one would welcome a true-to-life, updated and even more amusing look at 'The Good-life' than the original which keeps popping onto our screens more often than 'The sound of Music' and that 'Chitty Bangy Thingy'.
To a non-gardener, 'Gardeners at Large' probably look like a bunch of bananas, all the same. But a closer look shows that in fact every single one is different, just peel away the outer layer and see the best bit.
I work and enjoy my plot among about 100 others characters from as many countries, all now resident here in Belgium. Pity they don't all speak English! One thing about gardeners the world over, the language they speak is understood by everyone....even if some of the methods are impossible to grasp!Good luck, get forrad.
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"Pity they don't all speak English"??
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Oh Ina,
Think the trouble with us British is that every nation speeks English as there second language.
When we lived in Germany my german was not very good so I would start off in german then english when I got stuck and back to german. Made some smile but always felt I made the effort and enjoyed it.
On a weekend to Holand with the family I spoke german oh ah bad move? speaking german with an english accent.
Was told if I could not speak Dutch to speak english.
Hubby still remembers my face the shock but we still laugh about it.
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To clarify the point....I studied Dutch in a class where 21 different languages were the 'moder taal' between the 29 students there. At break times we would congregate in the 'playground' where the universal language was English!
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Hahaha.
I know it's harder for native English speakers to practice another language when they are abroad, since most people there like to practice the English they learned at school, which doesn't give you much opportunity to practice their language.
Having said that Ken, I assume that many of those people from different countries at the allotments speak Flemish as their second language since they live in northern Belgium. So, maybe it's not a pity they don't speak English but your chance to learn or improve your Flemish and as a bonus you may end up with an interesting accent.
I know, this is way off the subject of this thread. Excuses.
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Ah Ken, just saw your posting above mine after I hit the send button. It proves my point doesn't it?
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Euro countrys teach the children at an earlier age to speak english.
in England the children are 12-13 and like my son expected to learn german and french in lessons weekly. They are at that funny age ( teanagers ) when the oppersite side attracts.
Me in Wales although english was the spoken langage we had to learn Welsh before we could learn german or french.
If you did not learn Welsh good enough you did not get the chance to learn the others.
Oh yes Ina in Germany in the local bakers I spoke german and the woman spoke english we had a great repor. Both learning.
Oh Ken I envy you gardening and learning another language at the same time.
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Hi to all of our international gardening colleagues.
I didn't know quite what I was getting into when I visited the allotment website, while researching for this proposed tv show - it's been an "emotional rollercoaster" so far. I thought (being inexperienced) that allotments were a peculiarly British institution - now I hear that our counterparts on the mainland are up to it also. Fantastic! I obviously appreciate that gardening is a worldwide passion, but I would be grateful if you guys could tell me how Allotments (or the equivalent) are geared up in your respective Countries.
The more I hear, the more I am convinced this is a great subject area for a TV show!
Kelwyn - Orion TV
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Sorry Kelwyn got off thread,
My dad use to see lotties in Germany while traveling by train.
He said they had summer houses with their national flags up flying families would BBQ and drink.
So half plot was for growing vedge and flowers etc and the other was for the summer houses where some would take the family for weekends hols etc.
Perhaps Ina and Ken have seen this?
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On our plots we have concrete 'sheds' which quite a lot of people, especially those who live in high-rise buildings with no gardens, use as a home-from-home place. Some are very well furnished and serve as a retreat from the towns. No over-night staying is allowed but we can stay until an hour after dark which in the summer months could be quite late. I use mine as a shed but when I get time I'll section off a bit to use as a mini kitchen and next year maybe BBQ on the bit I haven't dug over. Some couples almost live at the plot when the weather's OK.
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Sounds great - I would love such a retreat - although I suspect it would turn into a mini-bar.
Are allotments organised, owned and managed in a similar way to here?
Do any of you multi-linguists know of French/German speaking allotment swebsites? Fortunately one of my colleagues is fluent.
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Ken,
I know what you mean after living in a flat for 3 years with children we spent most of our time outside. Having a lottie is a good day out to eat drink and relax.
Kelwyn,
Our lottie has a plot with a large shed and its all lawn for them to use as a party ie bbq's drinks lots of beer drank pity they only do it a few times a year.
oh yes they even have a flag pole and the england flag was flying for the football.
Some lotties are council owned some are privite ones like the one I am on.
Ken/Ina who owns them where you are?
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Hi to all of our international gardening colleagues.
I didn't know quite what I was getting into when I visited the allotment website, while researching for this proposed tv show - it's been an "emotional rollercoaster" so far. I thought (being inexperienced) that allotments were a peculiarly British institution - now I hear that our counterparts on the mainland are up to it also. Fantastic! I obviously appreciate that gardening is a worldwide passion, but I would be grateful if you guys could tell me how Allotments (or the equivalent) are geared up in your respective Countries.
The more I hear, the more I am convinced this is a great subject area for a TV show!
Kelwyn - Orion TV
Did you really think allotments only existed in Great Britain? I would be amazed if there was a country in the world where they didn't exist. They may be called something else, the set-up and the sentiments behind it may differ but allotments nevertheless. In Holland they are called "(common) peoples gardens".
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"(common) peoples gardens" Let's hope that name does not catch over here In Britain ;D or is that a bit of snobbery coming out of me :-\
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Oh Ina would not think of calling you common hee hee.
Joking aside that was the idea here I think were working class had concrete yards and no where to grow vedge for the family they were allocated small pieces of ground to provide for the family vedge which they perhaps couldnot afford to by.
Hence even now people think all lottie holders are men in cloth caps.
We have ex company directors, firemen, police inspector,road workers young familys even someone who runs his own gardening bussiness his wife got the lottie and he has to help allsorts love to garden and most just like to talk about it what are you planting next year me I havent ended this year yet ha ha.
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Hi
I think the feeling that allotment holders are older men ,so far on the site , i seem to be the only young woman on the site .I am currently clearing my plot and I am constantly asked if i have had any help ( i have done most of it myself )
There are other women on the site but they are a bit older than me .
Mags
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Did you really think allotments only existed in Great Britain? I would be amazed if there was a country in the world where they didn't exist. They may be called something else, the set-up and the sentiments behind it may differ but allotments nevertheless. In Holland they are called "(common) peoples gardens".
I don't remember there being allotments in South Africa where I spent my childhood, but I could be wrong.
I remember seeing allotments from the train when I worked in London for a short while. I used to see them whizz by as the train charged on to the "big smoke" and wish I could be out there away from the rat race and in the fresh air and smell that earthy smell of freshly dug soil. Now that is a reality for me and it's great. I have to thank my children for that though, if I hadn't given up work to take care of them I don't think I'd have ever found the time to sign up for my allotment. We were there today again (they helped me to plant the strawberries) and I had a hard time draging the kids away, they wanted to stay and I've had to promise them that we will go back tomorrow come rain or shine (and usually my son doesn't like to be out in the rain!). It's a great educational tool, teaching my children how to take care of the land (using manure, no pesticides etc), knowing which insects are beneficial and what they look like (and I'm still learning too so we have had to come home and look on the internet to identify it), how and what plants need to grow, and how to use the produce at the end making jams, chutney, cooking etc. I think it's a hands on learning opportunity that many children miss out on today.
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Hahahaha, what I meant was "common" as in available to all people, not "common folks", that's why I put it in parenthesis. I first translated it to just peoples gardens and I figured it looked funny, of course it's for people, not for animals! Here again is the cultural aspect of a foreign language that gets in the way, no matter how good you know that language. My pc dictionary says: Common.....public, shared by several, widely known. So, there you go.
I bet a lot of chuckles went around hehehe. To take away all misunderstandings; in Holland allotments are called "volkstuinen".
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Plenty of lotties in sunny Calais. When you are next that way and travelling far to fast back to the port because you are late for your ferry, take a look out of the window and you will see hundreds of wonderfully organised allotments.
Hang on, don't look out of the window if you are the driver of course, well, only the windscreen, keep your mind on the driving, keep your hands on the wheel, and keep your snoopy eyes on the road ahead.... I meant passengers take a good look and then say.... ' Ooo look, allotments!' :D
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Oh Ina good job you have a great sence of humor as well as being a great gardener. ;)
"volkstuinen" where else but on AL4A can you learn another language. :D
I was brought up on a common or common land as its refered to. Mum and dad had small holding.
Where people from town would drive there animals either a cow goats or sheep and grase through the day and drive them back at night. When I say drive I mean walk. A couple of hundred years ago.
So a common has always been for the less well off.
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Right Teresa but now I'd like to hear you pronounce "volkstuinen". I guess it would sound something like "folkstooinin" when you say it.
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Most likely :-[ now tell me how to pronounce it?
North? of Amsterdam there is a place with a longggggg name Shaverlingshlises?
You must have heard of that one could never say that either haha but had a darn good go
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Hi folks - it's TV novice here again - with one more silly question: How long is the main vegetable growing season - and when does it start (I appreciate there are geographical and species variations) - oh, and what (if anything) can be grown throughout winter? Rough guidelines, for say, the South of Britain (I presume this area has the longest season) would be appreciated.
And while I'm in Q&A mode, is there much debate over organic/non-organic methods?
Kelwyn
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Hi Kelwyn, Simple answer to your question is growing is all year round but as you ask main veg growing season I would say March to the end of October but I am still putting in Onions, broad beans, Peas, Onions, Garlic.and so they grow over Winter.
As for Organic and Non Organic have alook at Bindweed in the basics section thats gone on about chemicals some how and weather or not to use them there is always a conflict of interest personally im 98% Organic.
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Kelwyn,
Try this site it is run by one of the gardeners here.
Lovely place to check through.
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/
hope link worked.
Organic?
Thats a good question I class my self as semi orgainc perfer to use manure to pellets but will spray cabbages against dreaded cabbage white.
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A research project on allotments in Oslo, Norway - this bit is in English: http://www.21firstst.com/parsell/sammendrag-en.asp
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Hi Merete
Interesting statistics on Olso allotments - quite a different picture the stereotypical British lottie holder - a large proportion of women! Perhaps it should form the basis of a new TV show - "Euro-allotment Blind date challenge" (that's a joke, by the way - before I recieve a torrent of anger)
Cheers
Kelwyn
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Well, there ARE a lot of divorced women between 40 and 60 at our allotment - I saw that at our last allotment party, where my husband was one of very few men...
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If anyone would like to find out about U.S. 'allotments' this contains some information:
http://www.communitygarden.org/
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Hi John
Thanks for the link - very interesting.
Kelwyn
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The start of this thread grabbed me as tensions rose!(http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/fighting/1/fighting30.gif)
I agree,it depends on how all this is portrayed with the current perception of the media and past experiences the world over. (By the way, I love the Good Life!)
I am 39 and had a plot for a year & 4 months. First full year surprised me by amount of produce! :D
Knew nothing about gardening apart from when we used to "nick" grandads peas in his garden when we were kids!
I think his garden was transformed by the Grow for Victory around the war times.
Recently drove from Calais to Belgium and when coming back to Surrey on a breakdown vehicle, we were higher up and could look around. We saw lovely allotments with nice matching sheds etc. Looked great but if we lock anything in a cupboard it gets broken into! :-\
A shame because it means putting rotivator on a trailer each time and keeping it at home.
I would be very interested in any program ORION TV makes,hopefully I will hear about it BEFORE it is shown and not AFTER which is the norm for me!
The variety of people at our plots near Gatwick is amazing. Many colours and ages and 98% friendly. The oldest being 93 and a regular on her hands and knees! Great to see :)
I admire them for it and asist by doing grass round their plot and getting them manure. Didn`t want anything for it but they insisted in thanking me with a bottle of scotch ;D ;D :P
If program is made then MAKE SURE you let us all know on here.....................
Andy & Becky
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Hi Andy & Becky
Where near Gatwick are your plots? I am trying to compile a list of good candidates for an expert road show element to the show.
Oh - this offer is open to all, by the way. If you and your fellow allotmenteers have any particular issues/problems that you feel would benefit from an expert's eye - drop me a mail - kelwyn.whittaker@oriontv.co.uk
I'm afraid I can't guarantee anything - as the show is not yet definite - but will add you to the list (the show's scope is UK only so far).
Apologies for the early tension - things have eased somewhat since then. As I said previously though - it just shows people are passionate.
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Hi Kelwyn
ROFL - it's amazing what changes three months off the board brings. I seem to remember (but I'm sure I'm wrong ;D) all the complaints about allotments NOT being on TV ---- ah well, I chucked out my TV 6-7 years ago! :) :)
For European allotments, there's also this website http://www.jardins-familiaux.org/ .
Good luck with with the project - all best, Gavin
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It all depends on who's posting Gavin, I doubt anyone changed their opinion in those three months.
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Hi kelwyn Hope you had a good New Year.
Just thinking about how never veg programs on telly to keep me out of the pub last night and remembered this debate so thought would be interesting to see how you were getting on, how about an update
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Hi Salad Muncher
Yep - a happy new year to you also.
I'm afraid there's been no movement on the allotment proposal. I was working up the idea for Channel 4, and they have decided to go with an alternative idea - I've no idea what it is yet - but I guess we'll see it sometime this summer. No matter though - my one man quest to get allotments continues......
Cheers
Kelwyn
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Good luck Kelwyn. I think it's a great idea! ;D