Allotments 4 All

So what is normal practice at the allotment for having a cuppa? I was thinking of taking my old camping stove down and storing it in the shed..is this usually OK?     I also having some camping chairs and thought a plastic table would suffice.

As far as tools go, I have a spade and fork and a set of children's tools (we are foster parents with 4-6 kids). I also have a scary thing that turns round with prickles on it (A christmas present).  I alos have some gloves, but that is pretty much it. What would be good to invest in now? Particulary I would like to know about cold frames and alternatives, and any other essentials (I am a real newbie to this, don't have much of a garden at home). I have 2 teenage boys who are easily bribed into manual labour ;D

Many thanks
Emma   (I am so excited about our first trip on Sunday ;D ;D)               

Yay Emma (such a good name Emma!  ;D)

I take a flask to the plot, but then it is only ever me so my big flask sees me through the day.  In summer, suplimented with cold bottles of drinks.  I drive there, so beer is a no no.  I know some peeps have gas stoves, or light a fire or barby - I think it depends what rules there are on your site.  Some may not like or allow stoves and such....but I can't imagine that....

I have loads of fold up chairs as they are easy to store, and as I don't sit for long as I just plonk my bum down, spot a weed or something and think, ooo, will just get that.....and of course, another hour passes........I don't really want or need comfy chairs!  I don't have a table, I use the tops of my various waterbutts,and I have a couple of large pallets which I plonk on top of my compost heap if I do need a firm surface.

Tools, I have loads, but all I really use is a border fork and spade which are over 50 years old and FAB, perfect size for me, plus a big spade and fork, a hand trowel which I am forever loosing (Note to self Emma, paint the handle bright yellow to help!!), watering can, selections of buckets and trugs for lugging things about, weeding, carrying crops, peeing in!!! and my wheelbarrow.  I do have occasional tools like shears and secaters and what not, but I use them more at home!

Congrats on the new plot.  And just in time for the start of a wonderful growing year!!  Pictures please.  ;D ;D ;D

One of our past secretaries has it sorted. Not only does he have an aga, dining table with chairs and comfy chairs but he rigged the water supply up to a kitchen sink too!

lol - My OH likes to take the camping stove to make tea, I find it's so much faff and cufuffle that I don't get anything done apart from making tea! For me a large flask (bottled water in summer) and a healthy snack is all I need, I've got a wooden bench seat that I can sit on or I sit in my car or shed if it's cold and windy, you don't want to get too comfortable otherwise you won't get back to working again.

The only tools I use is a spade (large one and a small hand one), fork, gloves, hoe (not used as much as it should be! :-[) and a wheelbarrow. We now have a petrol strimmer for trimming the grass which my OH uses. And I always have a small first aid kit in the shed....and a basin which we call the "potty" for when you just have to go (no toilet on site and I live an inconvenient distance away from the plot).  :)

Jesse we have a wee wee bucket too plus bog roll, but the girls won't use it!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got a gas stove tis all rigged up in shed with its own gas bottle so its really convenient, fork, rake and a dibber (crow bar), tissues essential coz nose is always running this time of year, gloves, pencil and notepad, tea, coffee, and tin of celebration (chrissy pressy), only two fold up chair at moment but working on that one, and musn't forget my little toaster thingy that you put over the gas ring.

My neighbour is 83 years and he trundles down to plot on his bike every day, sits in his shed drinking tea while all his neighbours, dig and tidy his plot for him, they then sit for much longer than they've worked in his shed (which I swear is a tardis) drinking tea.............................................thats the life eh!!!

I always take a flask of coffee, and have a wood burning barbeque if I need to hot anything up. I have a couple of tins of lager in the shed for those hot summer evenings ... I prefer to sit outsite on my bench, I only sit in the shed if it is raining ...

Quote from: Delilah on January 04, 2006, 14:54:07
Jesse we have a wee wee bucket too plus bog roll, but the girls won't use it!!!!!!!!!!!

lol ...my two love using the potty, sometimes I think they hold onto it when they know we're going to the plot as within minutes of arriving they both need a wee!

I've also got one of those toaster thingy's, I bought it off ebay recently...didn't think of using it at the plot, now that's an idea! :)

I've got a gas stove as well, but prefer to use a Kelly Kettle on the allotment.  Reckon it's more eco friendly as I just use small pieces of broken up pallets to fuel it.  Mind you I just like burning things... ;D

On the Po' front, I'm lucky as we've got toilets on site.  :)

Dave

Just realised some people may not know what a Kelly Kettle is, so have found a link.

http://www.kellykettle.com/

There you go.  What a nice chap I am! ;)

I take my tea down in a flask in winter, in summer I have a charcoal fire burning in a pot bellied stove, I cook and brew on this.

I've only got a log to sit on -and my daughter pushes me off that  :'(

Same tools as everyone else -spade, hoe, fork, hand fork and trowel. Also edging shears for the beds -so I can see where I should be digging  ::) a wheel barrow and a scythe to keep the grass down in the 'orchard' -has been used for beating back the brambles too.

Tea in flask -pee in bushes (compost heap if no-one's looking) :)

Oh dear Derbex, grinning embarassedly now....  I used to be able to pop down to my allotment at odd times during the day but it was too far away from home to pop back for a wee, so I used to nip behind the big compost heap next to the hedge and enjoy being alone with nature.

Until I realised that the railway yard the Lotties backed onto had IR security cameras. As it dawned on me (whilst in situ) there was nothing for it but to smile broadly and make like I didn't give a d**n.   

Had to plan a bit more ahead after that.

For some reason I have never got it together to take a chair up to the shed, I use an old railway sleeper as a perch. If its wet or cold I have one of those bits of foam coated in silver film which are normally used to keep car windscreens cool in hot weather (they come in handy for all sorts of things and are available at all good pound shops) I put this between me and the sleeper as waterproof insulation.

I normally take a flask but if I’m feeling gastronomic and want to play with my rambling toys I take a gas Trangia with me to cook things on.

EJ said about tools with yellow handles I thing thats something which is a real time saver, I wound yellow masking tape around mine for the same reason. I always keep a small pair of kitchen scissors with me when working (just to kill slugs with) and one of those L shaped weeding tools, three or four buckets and lots of old 2 ltr plastic bottles.

I inheirited lots of stuff from previous owner, so between my stuff and his have a nice collection of tools, but all I use at the moment are my wheelbarrow (essential for carting weeds to the bonfire) and spade.  Also have a rather lovely old chair with arms and a handy wooden stool (can sit and weed at same time).

Have discovered recently that other essential items are a marker pen and plastic seed labels .... suspect string and wooden stakes are going to become pretty important soon too.

Have my own wc, brick built with wooden door ... too frightened to use it though (think the rats live in there !)

I use a Kelly kettle as well, it's a fabulous device. Nothing like an excuse to sit down and light a fire!

Still use a thermos for tea, but hope to join adventurous brigade with kettle once the NEW SHED arrives. It will be nice to use a bucket in privacy of shed instead of diving between the cabbages. Essential tools (in order) have turned out to be - a pirn of bale binding string, sharp knife, Dutch hoe, sticks and bendy pipes, three prong cultivator, fork, wheelbarrow and tubtrugs.
This was a great thread to set off, I've learned a lot from the replies! Thanks for the plant label idea wardy, will save £££s. ;D

don't worry Wards wee wee always goes on the compost heap :D

Dave, I like that Kelly Kettle,  must try to get one..

I used to use a Primus, but the Kelly is more fun. I don't like camping stoves; having to sleep with one when winter camping to ensure that the gas would evaporate next morning cured me of them forever.

Cutting Slugs in HALF!!!  :o :o  :-\

Essentials are Rake, Spade, Fork, Somewhee to sit and somewhere to keep a few beers cold. Also a small portable camping stove for a cuppa.

The_Snail

Hoe yes I forgot a hoe.

Quote from: the_snail on January 06, 2006, 14:58:24
Cutting Slugs in HALF!!! :o :o :-\

Umm, I hate killing anything (yes, really, I am squeamish if I even have to swat a fly) so the thought of physically killing slugs fills me with dread.  Years back, it took me ages to be able to remove dead mice frm the wooden spring type of traps... perhaps by next year I can cut a slug in half...   :-\  I am aiming to use slug pellets in traps (so as to avoid birds eating the slugs) plus nemaslug

What the best way of cutting a slug in half?  Lengthways or straight across?  ;) ;D

I'll get me coat...

To keep this post on topic, if you keep an eye on Lidls, they'll be selling fork + spades with T handles for about £7.99 and rakes + hos for £3.99 each in the next couple of month.  Well, that's what a spotty faced,  12 year old twerp told me when I enquired.:-\

You will definitely need a rake ...Jim

I think Wilko's offer similar prices Mutant ... I know they are extremely competitive ...

Dave, I've bookmarked that Kelly Kettle site - been looking for one in the hope that Santa will pay a return visit before Spring

In addition to all of the above we also keep gardener's soap (rough bits in it - pressie from d-in-law), swarfega type stuff, nailbrush, towel and rolls of paper towels. brush and comb, change of trousers (because of mud not "accidents"!} now that we don't have a car I think I should look presentable on the bus or walking :D

Quotehos for £3.99 each

http://ho.urbanup.com/1239509

I knew Lidl were cheap -but that's ridiculous. Presumeably that coat is a flasher's mac Mutant :)

I'll get my tin hat.

LOL  ;D  Oops, that should have read "HOES" not "HOs"!!! :-[ 

Now where did I put that dirty mac... ;D

Dave

Kelly kettles seemed a bit expensive so I got one of these:http://www.surplusandadventure.com/ishop/800/shopscr3079.html This place is stupid cheap. Got a Swedish army jacket for twenty quid that's like wearing a bear.  ;D

Welcome back Bupster, you've been missed! ;D 

Last time I looked at the volcano stoves, about a year ago, they were £20!  You're right, they are stupid cheap!  I'll PM a couple of people to let them know about this.  Cheers Bup! ;)

Dave

When we do a proper session, we take tea or coffee in a flask, plus biccies or cake to eat.  Bottled water in hot weather.  Folding camp chairs to sit on if we're feeling luxurious, otherwise a railway sleeper makes a convenient bench.  I wouldn't dare extend to a stove - I'd spend all my time cooking rather than digging.

I'm a bit of a toolaholic, so I always take far too many bits of kit (we've got an ancient LandRover, so carrying things down to the lottie isn't a problem).  But in all honesty, the basic tools are what one uses 95% of the time - spade, fork, hoe, rake, trowel.  A dibber is pretty well essential at planting time.  I always carry cheap scissors, a sharp knife, and twine.  Secateurs for pruning at the appropriate time.  A wheelbarrow is exceedingly useful, as are those giant trug thingies.  Oh, and a hosepipe (if that counts as a tool).

If you need to make or maintain raised beds, then you need a hammer and saw, too, and maybe a saw-horse of some sort.


Edit:  You also asked about cold frames.  Professionally made ones are wonderful, but very expensive IMO.  I'd suggest home made polytunnel-type cloches, or cold frames made of surplus window frames are very popular (not done this myself, though).

Spade, fork, hoe, trowel, dibber. String and stakes/ canes. Labels and pencil/indelible pen. Wheelbarrow and hose. Compost bin(S). Occasional pickaxe, sledgehammer, hammer and nails/ screws. Strimmer or scythe and /or lawnmower.

I never bother with tea or coffee, just take bottled water. Buy beer on the way home.