plot life

[hemajo]

I keep trying to retire , so that I can commune with nature more, but the hubby says we've got to pay off the mortgage first, and see the off-spring through uni  :)  

[hemajo]

[hemajo]

I wish I hadn't seen my offspring through uni.  What a complete waste of hard-earned dosh that was  ;D 

Hmm, I could well be saying that in ten years time too! 

[terrace max]

Did you need a degree to be a somethingorother?  ;D

Actually yes! That was another complete waste of time...

[flowerlady]

Sarah,

I have been quietly reading through all these amazing testimonials to the benefit of life with an allotment.

What we have all tried to tell you, each in our own way, is how much of a need there is for inner peace, tranquility, and an overwhelming desire to remove ourselves be it only temporarily, from the everyday pressure that 21st century life imposes.

Many on this site have young children, I have two in their early 20's.  What saddens me is they are growing up surrounded by the expectation of immediacy.  They are growing up in a society where everything in their lives is available 'at the touch of a button' 

All my life I have lived for the outdoors, be it fishing on a river in Devon, riding across Exmore, or in the wilds of Africa.  But the most pleasure that I have derived has been from my garden.

Having the time and patience to allow plants to grow, and to be able to watch them develop, and to be able to feel such pleasure from having been part of this process, is to me immeasurable.

I do hope you will consider taking on an allotment.  It will surprise you what you will feel, from every failure as well as pleasure.  The food that you grow will be like no other.  And so much healthier too!

And if you record it photographically for your degree, for which I wish you every success, you will have a document to be treasured.  Something that you will be able to share with your family as they grow up too.   

I wish you luck, peace, tranquility, and most of all joy.

[daveandtara]

we took on a plot this year for several reasons.
a) to improve our kids relationship with food, ie seasons, dirt and hardwork equal good food.
b) to improve our kids relationship with us! ie working together towards mutually beneficial goals.
C) because dave is out of work currently but needs to provide for his family in a tangible way.
d) because Tara is convinced that yob culture is a symptom of mass food intolerance (really!) and that adhd (which our kids may well have) can be reduced if not cured by a varied, seasonal and organic diet along with supplementary omega three oils.
e) because if we ever do inherit enough money to buy that smallholding in the country, we'll be on our way to self sufficiency that much quicker!

[daveandtara]

hi wardy,
used to have chooks in the garden but would you believe the neighbours complained to the council!!!!! we didn't have a cockeral only two bantam hens!
my eldest reacts badly to coke etc and of course, we don't buy the stuff so the youngest has never tasted it, but i think that the accumulative effect of seventeen years exposure to less obvious chemicals in food is even more sinister in terms of behaviour, allergies and cancers.
bit heavy for an allotment site?
i'm sorry folks, i'll stop
Tara xx

[Robert_Brenchley]

Kids' behavious in school is always worse after lunch; a lot of schools nowadays only have one lesson after lunch for precisely that reason. I'm convinced it's the additives in the stuff they eat and drink.