OK. Quite a few people now have lamented the fact that people aren't respecting their allotment rules and are being a nuissance to other gardeners, either by not cultivating the land, allowing livestock to run riot etc, so I thought we could have a wish list of lottie rules that we'd impliment if we were in charge!
(be warned - I might take many of these seriously and propose they are added to our site rules at the next AGM!)
My top one would be that dog owners wouldn't be allowed to walk their dogs on our site (spent ages cleaning it off my beige carpet last night after I ran in quickly to get something! >:( )
Now over to you...
We've got one like that: dogs must be either tethered or enclosed. (I'm not anti-dog; got 2 of my own!)
And plot-holders must keep adjacent paths mowed: most folk are very responsible.
As you'll see from a couple of other threads (including the one that inspired this one) I'm concerned about introducing rules to get rid of people who do little or no cultivation. Any suggestions?
And we've also just brought in one saying that members are expected to help out on the occasional communal task, like trimming the hedge on our boundary with the road. Too soon to say if this one is effective: we do get volunteers, but the usual ones each time.
Men only.
TAXI ;D
Hope you can run fast, Ace!!!!!!!
Extremely fast over the first 10 mertes meters yards that's as far as I get from mothers skirt.
Ace has nearly got it, men and women under 25ish. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Rule 1.
All plot holders will be duty bound to keep a loaded shot gun on their plots and use it to humanly* dispatch the chavs when they come over the fence.
Rule 2.
Chavs shall not be added to the compost heap, but dealt with properly at the council tip.
*after all, we have to respect their human rights.
On a more serious note. New lottie holders should be given a three month probation period. If in that time they have shown that they are not seriously committed, or words to that effect, they should be chucked off and the site given to the next person who has been on the waiting list for a very long time, so there. >:(
Quote from: cazy on August 24, 2007, 21:15:27
On a more serious note. New lottie holders should be given a three month probation period. If in that time they have shown that they are not seriously committed, or words to that effect, they should be chucked off and the site given to the next person who has been on the waiting list for a very long time, so there. >:(
1) And.... after the probationary period - If the plot becomes overgrown and neglected during the contract a written warning will be issued for it to be cleared within 28 days. Or a valid reason for its neglected state must be proved. The committee / council reserve the right to evict plot holders during the contract term who do not comply.
2) All rents are to be paid within 1 month of the due date.
Don't forget people get ill now and again, just a gentle first warning. It could panic a genuine plotter to get back too early.
Yep! .. and husbands drop dead out of the blue ... and it's awfully hard to find the commitment and then - even 4 whole months later- to find the commitment .... and even the time to do what you know needs to be done. Even though you know it needs to be done. And even though you love doing it .... normally.
And I almost forgot ... and all the time you aren't there you are feeling guilty as hell about all the weeds that are threatening other folks' plots.
Sorry. I didn't really need to say all that.
A genuine plotter is well known to his neighbours, and the committee. We all know we look after each other in bad times, we do on our site anyway. These are not the type of plot holders I was referring to.
We all know your situation Anne. I did not mean to offend.
I was not talking of dedicated plot holders like you and Peter. You said yourself that people on your site were helping and supportive. I am talking of the type of person who puts their name down and takes on a plot on a whim and fancy. They spend a couple of hours on site for weekend or two, do a bit of digging and then you never see them again.
For a whole year the plot is left until it is time to renew the lease. A whole year wasted when there are genuine people waiting to make good use of the land.
Sorry. I'm still so fragile. I was out of order.
Not at all. cyber hugs. xxx
I like the idea of a three month probation....Maybe a little longer if the plot is a true nightmare...Like mine is...I have paid my £10 and I get it FREE next season as it's so bad. \0/ Yippeeeee ;D
Lauren
Hoses should be allowed on payment of an extra charge to cover the water bill. On my site, they're only allowed, in theory, to fill containers, not to water the plots. The result is that the rule is generally ignored, and I believe the water bills are higher than the rental income. Similarly, bonfires should be allowed unless there's a temporary ban due to drought conditions. The current situation is that they're not allowed between March and October, which is ridiculous in a 'summer' like this one, and the rule, once again, is honoured in the breach. But we needed a ban last summer, and if they were only banned under specific circumstances, the rule would probably be followed.
Hoses are NOT allowed on our site at all, you can get a tap installed if you have a disability confirmed with a Drs letter but again it is only to fill water butts, all others cannot use that tap. The plumber checks regularly and removes all but official taps.I do have a tap,officially..but everybody uses it.
We are not allowed fires at any time other than bonfire night,because the wind blows the smoke into the local bakery.
I would have to go with the dog rule. If on a leash and ther owner picks up I don't mind, but I strongly object to the loose dogs who follow their owners about. I have one next to me and he comes off his plot on to mine to poop, he also is a ratter so digs in my raised beds.
Internal speed limits too, we have one fellow who races through the plot.
My other beef is folks parking on the road on the lottie, there is only room for one car so other folks drive over the front of lots to get past the vehicle.
Radios/CDs >:(. Ban the blummin things. And hang anyone who attempts to bring one onto the site :P I haven't had my lottie all that long, but there's a bloke about twenty plots down, and I can here his radio booming out "The Archers" during what should be a pleasant evening's weeding.
On the whole, I think we're quite lucky on our site.No dogs allowed (except one, and he's ancient) we have water in cystern type tanks every few plots, we can have bonfires if it's not windy, we can have sheds etc. The only silly rule that we all ignore is no children. Recently there was some money spare and we were asked what would we like it spent on, couldn't think of anything, so they put more water stations in where needed.
I do agree about the 3 month rule though, there have been quite a few 'flash-in-the pan' peple recently- resulting in huge weeds. ::)
i hate it when allotmenteers grow lovely crops then let it rot (more so when it,s something that has failed on my patch)
marg