Old allotment, New Start

[Davy]

Hello to all,

I acquired what I laughingly refer to as an allotment from my local council two months ago.  There are 22 allotments on the site 4 being worked, 15 being rented but not used (huh?).Leaving 3 unused.  I have strimmed down brambles, nettles, weeds, removed old fence posts, doors, glass and usual rubbish that accumulates after 8 years of wilderness, I have 80% of the ground covered with old carpets the other 20% to be covered this week.  It is my intention to put a fence around my plot over the winter as from conversing with other allotmenteers vandalism has been a problem but has declined over past two years.

In short I am left with following issues:-

I want to put up a polytunnel, (not keen on greenhouses as they are too easily smashed/targeted) don't want to pay top dollar and am happy to skip scavenge and make use of oddments left as waste at local industrial estate.  I have seen some plans,  How fiddly are they to put up?

It is a council run site, the council representative seems a decent chap, he's loaned me a strimmer over the weekend and can lend me a rotavator (is this a good idea?).  However he is very keen to form an association, the other chaps don't like the council and want nothing to do with an association.  What's the pros and cons of setting one up?  Bearing in mind the rent and water combined is £22 a year and 2 allotmenteers believe this to be excessive!

As a complete novice what kit do I need?

Am I going about things the right way?

What should I be building in the allotment eg sheds, ponds, raised beds?

I also have a three year old son who is the catalyst for the allotment as he's not keen on fruit and veg (I know! What three year old kid is?).  The thought being that if he has a hand in growing he might have a turn in eating.  What's good for kids to become involved in at the allotment?  Does anyone have experience of taking children, grandchildren to their allotment and what do you do to keep them entertained?

I know I've rambled a bit but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Davy

[Davy]

[EmmaLou]

Hi Davy!

I am also new to all this and only got my lottie a month ago. The help I have had from this forum has been fantastic!

I have got a 2 year old that I am going to have tagging along, so I have put up a swing for her. Hopefully this will distract her from pulling up my plants!  ;) Luckily I was donated the swing - it is quite rusty so will hopefully put people off from stealing it! I am also planning to grow climbers up it!

[terrace max]

Welcome Davy and congratulations on clearing your new plot.

I'd be inclined to get some outdoor crops in before contemplating a polytunnel. It'll get you familiar with easy veggies like spuds and onions, and your site and its possibilities in general. (It seems strange that so few plots are taken...perhaps vandalism is a real problem?)

Are you planning to garden organically? It will influence what kit you need...But everyone needs a good fork and a half decent barrow. The rest is useful but not essential. I've never had a shed on any of my plots.

Your new neighbours can be strange. There was nearly a riot hereabouts when our rent went up from £7 to £10 per annum!

I find a large ball and chain useful to keep my eldest child (4) under control down the allotment. Just kidding...but I find he can maintain his interest in horticultural matters for about ten minutes, so a diversion like a sandpit might buy you some digging time.

Good luck!

[daveandtara]

our baby (2yrs) comes with us most days. our plot was also very derelict when we got it at the end of june. we started building a pallet fence (mainly to keep sophie away from the other plots) but actually she's got used to staying on ours anyway!  ::)
she loves planting things, anything, stones, unsuspecting beetles etc. perhaps a small 2x2ft raised bed to plant cheap lettuces or radish seeds that grow quick?
the very best distraction that we've found is a jar with a lid with holes in it.
when she starts getting bored, daddy takes her 'hunting' for crickets, spiders and beetles to look at and then release.
not much work gets done but it really is lovely quality time, educational too and the perfect opportunity to point out beasties that might bite or sting and shouldn't be touched.
have fun, Tara and Dave

[Roy Bham UK]

Not wanting to put a damper on kids roaming on Lotties and would like to point out that there are many dangers all around, ponds included.

One incident that I witnessed was my neighbour Lottie friend had invited a friend or relative with her little daughter and on leaving the little girl asked her mum if she could pick the wild flowers off of another plot, she answered yes and whilst picking, another Lottie member shouted out No! No! don't touch those they have just been sprayed with weed killer :o

Good job he was there as I didn't know this and apparently the little girl often puts her fingers in her mouth according to her mum, there was no water on site then but fortunately I had wet wipes in the car. ::)

Rusty nails, broken glass, thorns, tools, machinery, chemicals, the list goes on, I'm not saying keep them away but be aware and watch their every move. :-\

[Robert_Brenchley]

I made a bloomer the first time I took Mina, who was 6 at the time, to my plot. I forgot to warn her about the stingers! So she suddenly came running down the path on tears, 'Dad, it bit me!' She'd only been on the country a few months, and of course she'd never seen them before.

[jennym]

My son was six when I started. Now he's twelve, the only thing that will tempt him is the thought of a bonfire.
Get cheap black buckets from Wickes for water (work & play).
Wigwam for child. Small watering can, plastic spade/fork. Containers for bugs. Magnifying glass for bugs. Small basket for produce. Short lengths of pipe and marbles, for water play too. Grow flowers to pick for Mum, Auntie etc.
For you: in my order of priority - hoe, good spade right height and with a ridge at top of blade to put your foot on, good fork, trowel, buckets, canes, woven weed control fabric (cheapest are mail order N.A.Kays horticultural) or of course, carpet. Weedkiller if you use it: Roundup Ultra 300 (glyphosate based). Coarse sprayer to apply it with.
I too wouldn't put up a polytunnel yet. Check it out - where does the wind blow, where does the sun shine, does it flood in winter. Don't have one myself (would love one but too windy and floods) but understand from colleagues at horticultural college thet it's a two man job to put up but fairly straightforward. Whatever you do, buy the proper plastic for it, normal plastic degrades too quickly and the light quality is poor. Sometimes you can get frames second hand and you just buy the sheeting. Link: http://www.adtrader.co.uk/classhome.php?trader_id=8899&class_id=36&prevpage=1&page_id=6&search_words=

[Ed^Chigliak]

A polytunnel is not difficult to put up. You get instructions which are easy enough to follow. The hoops slip together like tent poles but a self tapping screw is used to make the joint secure and therefore requires a drill. It is possible to do the self tappers with a hand drill although a power drill is much easier. There are two methods to attach the plastic at ground level. First method is to bury plastic sheet in a trench 18" deep 12" wide which is the cheapest method. Second method involves anchor plates to secure the poles into the gound and a timber base rail to which the plastic is fixed. Second is more expensive but less work also less work in the future when you replace the plastic. Get some extra hot spot tape and do a good job of taping the frame. I was a little short and where the plastic sheet contacts the steel the plastic suffers quite badly (holes  :o) in a relatively short period of time. Covering the frame and fixing the plastic steeting will require two people and a third person is handy to pass the hammer and nails you left lying on the ground.

[Davy]

I am hoping to garden organically.  Wife's vegetarian and concerned about recent media involving pesticides, gm crops, supermarket practise and Jamie Oliver's relationship with Jules.

[terrace max]

...concerned about recent media involving pesticides, gm crops, supermarket practise...

These things keep me awake at night...

...Jamie Oliver's relationship with Jules.

but this sends me to sleep...! ;)

[spacehopper]

Our son is 18 months and loves the allotment.  ;D
We took down toys for him to start with, but in actual fact the only thing he is interested in doing is whatever we are doing.

We have built a 12 foot square pen for him to stay safe in if there are dangerous jobs going on...for example on our derelict plot there were three (now two) decrepit sheds to demolish. Yes he would have loved to have helped but we didn't think it was a good idea! That day two of his friends played with him in the enclosure while the daddys demolished the shed and the mummys stayed safely in the pen!

I'm sure your son will lovethe allotment too.  ;D

Caz

[amphibian]

My daughter comes with me, she is three.

Fortunately she isn't a wanderer, and is happy to stay back when told, the only thing I've had trouble with is keeping her off my beautiful fresh dug beds.

She's been a great help pulling couch rhizomes from the soil, she uses a litte beach rake to go through the piles of soil and proclaims 'couch grass' every time she finds a rhizome.

[wardy]

Amphib  ;D

[spacehopper]

My daughter comes with me, she is three.

Fortunately she isn't a wanderer, and is happy to stay back when told, the only thing I've had trouble with is keeping her off my beautiful fresh dug beds.

She's been a great help pulling couch rhizomes from the soil, she uses a litte beach rake to go through the piles of soil and proclaims 'couch grass' every time she finds a rhizome.

Aaw, how cute is that!  ;D

[dirtyfingernails]

we take my 3 year old nephew with us sometimes - he has a designated job - weed collector - we give him a bucket and he goes round us (me, my sister and mum) and collects our weeds then puts them in the wheelbarrow - seems to keep him happy for ages but when he gets bored he makes mud pies or has "tea (i.e. biscuit)" breaks!