How to get started?

[chloe55]

I fell onto this site whilst looking to get chickens for my converted shed in the back garden. I have since read through many of your threads and am becoming increasingly interested in starting my own allotment site. We are struggling financially and thought in the long run this might help us out. However, I wonder if someone could give me some sort of idea about outlay costs to initially start up and also how I would go about renting a space - would I need to go through the council?

[chloe55]

[manicscousers]

hiya, chloe..nice to meet you  :)
yep, the council may be able to help, or private sites..also, lots of people on here grow in their gardens or in containers.. :)
whereabouts are you ?

[chloe55]

Thanks for the welcome  ;) I live in Clayton West area of Huddersfield - I have been on the Kirklees council website and have found that there is one near me - in fact only up the road and I never even knew it was there!  :-[ I would love to set something up in the garden but unfortunately I have a yard style garden with just a couple of long borders around a flagged area so no substancial grassy area if you know what I mean.

[Lauren S]

Hello Chloe welcome to A4A.

You could google for your local council site and just search for *Allotments*.

Start up costs vary, as you probably guessed.
If you were to live within walking distance to a lottie site that would save travel costs. Plus if your plot didn't have a shed you could use a wheelbarrow to take your tools to and fro.

Freecycle is a great place to start for any tools you might need.
A postcard ad in your newsagents for any unused tools etc.
You could also ask your family/friends etc to give you seeds and garden sundries (string,plant labels, netting etc) as Christmas prezzies  :D

The more people you tell that you have an allotment the better.
Things can be saved for you. Loo roll tubes are very useful for starting off seeds. Plastic containers that fruit i.e grapes come in from supermarket make great propagators. Few holes in the base for drainage, add some seed compost, seeds of choice, water and lid down, place on warm window sill and wait for life to begin.

Good luck with getting a lottie.

Lauren  :)

[star]

Good luck from me as well Chloe ;)........and welcome to A4A ;D

[chloe55]

Thanks Lauren, some very useful tips there. Looking forward to becoming more self sufficient even if I just start off with the chickens at the moment. Will def look into a plot though - I'm a childminder  and mother too and think it would be great for the kids to learn about the truth of what we eat, where it comes from etc.

[lottie lou]

Good luck from me as well.  I started with just a fork and spade.  In fact the fork is the main tool of choice.  Try the A4A swap site for seeds we invariably have too many.

[caroline7758]

Hi Chloe. and welcome to A4A.
One of the most experienced and knowledgeable members on here, TeeGee, is in Huddersfield, so hopefully he may be able to give you some advice.

I'd go along with other people's suggestions, especially freecycle- i'm an addict!Cheap places for seed, if you can't get them free, are Woolworth's and Wilkinson's, or ebay.

[chloe55]

That's interesting Caroline - wonder if TeeGee is near this area and knows anything about the local allotments?

[Lauren S]

Autumn is a good time to get your name down as alot of people give up at this time of year.

Fingers crossed for you x

[chloe55]

Presumably this time of year is much more difficult for things to grow than the summer months but by how much? Would I be able to get things off the ground - I am a COMPLETE novice, know nothing much about growing any type of fruit ir veg, I really do struggle to keep house plants alive  :-[ - Once I set my mind to something though I give it a good shot. What type of stuff is the easiest to grow which will thrive this time of year?

[ceres]

Chloe, don't want to put you off in any way but just so you are prepared, there are very long waiting lists for allotments in many parts of the country.  It has suddenly become fashionable and the economic climate is making more people interested.  You might be lucky, but if not don't give up.  Join a waiting list and grow in containers in the meantime.

This time of year you might just get away with planting garlic, onions, shallots, broad beans, overwintering peas although it's getting late.  However, it's a good time to plant out fruit bushes and trees while they're dormant.

Good luck.

[kt.]

Welcome.  If you click on your council website and then do a search for 'allotments',  you will get their web page on allotments in your area.  My council website even advertises which plots are available and on what locations. 

For further information go to www.direct.gov.uk and type 'allotment' into the search facility then click on 'Guide to Renting an Allotment'. 

The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners can help too.  Email them on natsoc@nsalg.org or phone 01536 266576.