Hello all,
I joined up last week and have been sitting back and reading posts and taking advice, mostly regarding courgettes, whilst I plucked up to courage to introduce myself.
I am considering an allotment for next year after considerable success this year with my sunny balcony (approx 125 square feet) in the South East of London, although I'm the only gardener in my small family and I'm still deciding if I can manage both.
Anyway, look forward to getting to know you all better around the boards,
Maddy
Welcome Maddy, I started with growing on a balcony too last year :) This year I took the plunge and got myself an allotment.
It is hard work at times, but I love it and have grown so much more lovely veg this year. ;D
hello there Maddy! Definately get yourself an allotment, or at least on the waiting list! There are lots and lots of us that juggle allotments with kids, jobs, chores and so on, it is amazing how you dooooo find the time!
Hi Maddy and Welcome to the site  ;D ;D ;D  This is my first year with an allotment - got it end of May.  I'm the only gardener in the family but hubbie agreed to help out with digging etc (and so far, he seems to be enjoying it down there so we may make a gardener out of him yet  ;)).  It started off with a balcony (when I lived in London - Tooting, back in Yorkshire now), then progressed to a patio (which now looks after my toms and sunflowers) and now have an allotment (250m2).  It seemed daunting at first but we have just tackled it little by little and realised that we cant get it all done yesterday (new thought for me!).  Now thinking that one plot may not be enough and have my eyes on the nearly abandoned plot next door with greenhouse, shed and very large fig tree and apple tree!  ;)
Anyway, this is a great site and everyone's really friendly, and so helpful.  Like Moggle says, its hardwork at times (esp planting out brassicas in the pouring rain today  :() but is so worth it!  Just waiting for first harvest......
Hi Maddy, good to 'see' you. Don't worry about being shy for as I'm sure you know from reading its very friendly in here - if a little mad at times ;D
My first year with a lottie as well and thanks to the people here am doing really well. Well actually I think I'm doing really well but some nice disasters as well :-\ Still its all part of the fun......
Iain
hi maddy,
we're in south east london ( abbey wood). we just got our allotment last month close to where we live. (there are still a few available) ;D.
i would say get your plot now so that you can have it in tip top nick for the spring.
welcome to the site, even if you don't get a plot yet you'll learn so much here that will give you a headstart.
D&T XX
Hi Maddy, welcome aboard. :)
Why not put your name down for a half plot, and see how it goes? I know you won't regret it!
Thanks for the welcomes,
And for convincing me, I obviously didn't need much...I've just printed off a list of allotments from Bexley Council and I'm going to go and find a few tomorrow to see how close they are to my house before I move forwards.
A half plot seems like a good idea.
D&T I don't live too far away from you.
Half a plot is a great idea. Some plots are far too big and become too much of a burden so if you can start off with a half it's much less daunting. So many folks get over faced in the beginning that they get fed up and pack it in. half a plot is still big though and more than enough for many. My plot is massive and most of it is still covered in plastic nearly a year on :)
hey maddy!!! ;D
(and she likes Elvis too)
just round the corner ;D ;D
if we lived 200 yards to the left we'd be under bexley council too.
Tara & Dave XX
Maddy, it's amazing how a bit of small-scale veg success can be so inspirational.
I'm lucky enough to have a garden in which to grow my veg, so I feel it's a bit greedy of me to want an allotment too, possibly depriving someone else of the chance to grow their own stuff.
However, one of my neighbours - with no garden (and an ex-allotmenteer to boot!) seems keen to get back into it, so lately we've been looking into the possibility of getting maybe just a half plot somewhere nearby. We're in Camden so I went onto the council's website and...
"There are 186 allotment plots in Camden. Currently there are over 400 people on the waiting list and the waiting time is over ten years."
Blimey!
Next nearest location is Barnet (Cricklewood), where I've found a place with vacancies (and half plots!) so I might check that site out over the weekend.
Good luck in your search for a plot, and congratulations on your current success!
whoa amazin :o
welcome maddy from a walworth allotmenteer :)
Hello Maddy & welcome.
Pull up a chair and have a smoke with us. I've got 26 varieties of chicory y'know...
Only 26 TM? ;D
Hi Maddy, welcome aboard your an Elvis fan thats good enough for me ;D ;D ;D ;D.
Hiya Maddy, do you read the daily mail? Are you one of these young gorgeous career girls? After meeting Deeds and Granny Smith at garden shows I think the daily mail is right. Welcome to the site, they are all mad on here you know except for me.
Quote from: wardy on July 30, 2005, 10:37:24
Only 26 TM? ;D
Yes, sadly. There are many more. It's probably due to the historical fragmentation of Italian society that there are so many and...
Ok, I'll get my coat...
TM If this is to be a serious discussion what exactly do you do with all those 26 varieties of chicory? ;D Also what do you feel contributed to the fragmentation of Italian society and the subsequent loss of chicory varieties? ;D
I blame Guiseppe Mazzini and Guiseppe Garibaldi myself. They have a lot for answer to those two. ;D
Sorry - heroes of mine - history bore - unifiers of Italy - used to be seperate states.
Sat here, Saturday night with just a bottle of beer and A4A for company. :(
I thought Garibaldi invented squashed fly biscuits.
Poor you Redclanger - just one bottle? :(
Quote from: wardy on August 01, 2005, 09:56:06
Poor you Redclanger - just one bottle? :(
..at a time Wardy ;D
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on July 31, 2005, 00:40:18
I thought Garibaldi invented squashed fly biscuits.
Of course, and also worms in tomato sauce (spaghetti) - Oh the joys of child-rearing. My delightful brother-in-law traumatised one of my sons for years with his sleight of hand, tinned peaches and the goldfish bowl. happy days.