Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Buster54 on April 04, 2008, 11:52:47

Title: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 04, 2008, 11:52:47
Just got my Allotment today took a few pick to share with you all


(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/7.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/6.jpg)
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(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/1.jpg)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: manicscousers on April 04, 2008, 11:57:39
my god, buster, that's some job to take on..looking forward to seeing what you do with it, little at a time with a cuppa tea between  ;D
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 04, 2008, 12:00:10
No time for tea I'll be on Gardeners world in a fortnight  ;D
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: betula on April 04, 2008, 12:06:33
It is a good size Buster.You should be able to do a lot with that.

Is the shed yours.?

Why oh Why do committees allow plots to be allocated with rubbish strewn on them and so weed ridden.I am sure if plots were in reasonable state when allocated there would not be such a big problem with people giving up plots.If you are on your own with little help it can be a major problem.

Hope you get lots of help and then you can start growing. :)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: twinkletoes on April 04, 2008, 12:10:20
Crickey Buster!!!   :o :o :o   Are you sure the Council haven't given you some landfill site?  They obviously don't provide the "cleared" service before handing out the plots.  Still just think you'll be soooooooooo pleased with yourself when you post the "progress" pictures.  Manics is right - plenty of tea breaks will help.  Good luck
twinkletoes
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: RosieMcPosie on April 04, 2008, 12:11:33
congrats buster- how exciting!!
can't wait to see more pics.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Cuke on April 04, 2008, 12:20:45
Woo Hooooo!

congrats, thats quite a job tho, hope you've got some willing helpers and at least you can cancel that gym membership... ;)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Lindsay on April 04, 2008, 12:40:44
The question is, where to start?!  Enjoy it though - having seen the "before", we are all looking forward to seeing the "after"!  :)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 04, 2008, 12:57:19
No I am all on my tod my wife suffers from Fibromyalgia so she cant do much other than make tea,did ask my brothers last year if they wanted to share one but one only wants somewhere to do his experiments and the other thought it was to much like hard work so I didn't apply for one,but decided to go it alone this year.
Yes betula its a make shift greenhouse built out of whatever the shed is behind it the prev occupier had chickens in it and rabbits and from the mess never cleaned them out,spent yesterday moving the pile of hedge cuttings into the gaps of the bushes on the right and found another large piece of meshed framing that I have utalised to cover the largest gap and raked all the dry grass and dead nettle stalks cleaned the shed and potting shed out,going down later to to collect all the rotten wood together and have a big bonfire,rumor has it(and this is gonna spoil your fun)the local farmer comes down every year and ploughs whoever wants it doing for a tenner(think I might give it a miss and get stuck in with the spade)Ha will be taking me wallet every day from now
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 04, 2008, 13:25:31
It's messy, but I can see bare soil, a lot of the weeds which come from seed, and not too much grass. Once you get rid of the rubbish, and get it dug, you won't recognise it. It'll take a lot of work this year, but I can see a nice plot on the way with persistence.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: cornykev on April 06, 2008, 11:57:35
Hi Buster I thought you had posted the wrong pictures as Twinkle said it resembles a landfill site  :o  and as Betula said they shouldn't be allowed to rent sites in that state  >:(. On a good note all the chicken and rabbit mess will make good compost  :D , best of luck and happy digging.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: foresterone on April 06, 2008, 16:08:11
If I lived nearer  I`d give you a hand!
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: glosterwomble on April 06, 2008, 16:25:01
I think it's really exciting buster. Are you an experienced gardener? My plot was similar and after a couple of days it nearly killed me and I thought I'd never clear it but I have (with help!) Little and often is the way. Good luck and do post progress pics.  ;)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Patrick King on April 06, 2008, 16:50:28
wow that's going to be a great site once you are finished.

i think if a committee see the site over growing they should act then not leave it for a person who is renting to clear it. even if they just cut it down to a lawn, it would be better for the new plot holder.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 06, 2008, 20:12:18
It's better than mine was when I took it on. I had bonfires daily for three months, plus a heap of rubbish twenty feet across and six feet high. The Council eventually brought a little lorry that could fit in the lane, and took nine loads to the skip.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: posie on April 06, 2008, 20:19:13
Go for it Buster, it might look like a landfill now, but I spy plenty of bits n pieces that you could probably use for coldframes/fruit cages etc.  Look forward to seeing a few more pics as you make progress.  Large thermos flask required me thinks!
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: jo9919 on April 06, 2008, 21:42:12
Congratulations.

It is obviously going to be hard work, but it will be worth it in the end, and when you have managed to tame it, the satisfaction will feel fantastic.

Good luck,
Jo.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: sheddie on April 06, 2008, 22:26:07
Congratulations Buster - yes, its hard work but its worth it. As others have said, I can just echo the sentiment of little and often. Mine was a 6 foot jungle back in January (have a look at the photos on my profile) but its starting to take shape now and have finally got some stuff planted!

Soon, you won't recognise it.

p.s. - remember to take lots of photos as you go, I find it really helps to keep you motivated when you see what progress you have made

;D
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Lacelotte on April 07, 2008, 13:34:51
Hi buster, thats a lot like my old allotment was when I took it on. I spent a good month clearing all of the rubbish that was thrown all over the place. once it was all cleared I covered three quarters of it in old carpet to kill everything underneath off while I work the rest.

Just remember, slowly slowly, catchy monkey.

p.s.  keep an eye out for fly tippers. I had a nightmare getting people to realise the plot was no longer empty and to stop them throwing rubbish over the fence. annoying thing was it was fellow allotmenteers  on thier way out!!
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 07, 2008, 18:02:22
See the trouble is in South Yorks the Councils don't want to know  I dare not show you a pick of the rubbish ok then I will when I go back down,finally got the council to agree to move the last tenants rubbish but I don't know when that will be,as you can see its a little tidier and I used up some of the timber by putting up a little fence just to separate the garden from the hedges then all my hedge cuttings and grass sods-nettles and other dead plants can be dumped behind it to form a natural barrier,gonna be moving the shed(and hopefully get a better greenhouse and  shed) to the bottom end.As you look down from the top where the greenhouse is the land slopes downhill to the left so gonna level that off so the fence won't look as it does now then plan me plots out and make some paths then by Thursday I should be ready to plant  :-X.No I am not a professional gardener so looking for ideas and tips from any and everyone,I only work 3 days a week so its 3 at work and 4 on the allot once I get out of traction
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/8-1.jpg)
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Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: saddad on April 07, 2008, 19:02:18
Great job so far... how is the back? Don't seem to be in traction just yet!
;D
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: gwynleg on April 07, 2008, 20:57:41
Well done - really making your mark already. Hope it feels like real progress because it certainly looks like it!
Gwynleg
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 08, 2008, 08:28:48
I never discouraged fly tipping on my plot when I was clearing it, as long as it was plotholders, and they put their rubbish on the pile. I knew I'd get the Council out to clear it eventually, and meanwhile there were people stuck with all sorts of rubbish. Not much got dumped, it infuriated certain committee members, but it did the people involved a favour.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: cornykev on April 08, 2008, 20:31:55
Your getting there mate  :o onwards and upwards.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: steveuk on April 08, 2008, 20:37:04
Wel i never, did you find those shovels lol when you cleared some stuff.

just do bit at time busta, or you will bust something.

keep photos coming m8

gl with it cheers
steve
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 08, 2008, 23:15:44
Yes I will be there Thursday mornin 9am till dark  :'(
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: kt. on April 08, 2008, 23:23:29
Aahhh yes.  Those were the days.  Long hard slog.   But it was all worth it and it will all be worth it. You'll see ;)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: aromatic on April 08, 2008, 23:44:01
 ;) Doing a great job there and certainly a marked improvement... you should be proud of yourself!! Best make sure you get some long soaks in the bath....ease that bad back of yours!!!!


                   (http://www.animated-gifs.eu/body-bath/0011.gif)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: ruffmeister on April 10, 2008, 17:13:03
great job so far, what a difference a council makes.

cant wait to see mid summer on your plot.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 11, 2008, 18:36:20
Oh my aching back  :'(here's an update got my little fence finished and started digging and as promised my rubbish heap awaiting collection by the council
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/20.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/21.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/22.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/23.jpg)

I can't believe it I missed the farmer,he comes down every year and ploughs the allotments for whoever wants it doing for a TENNER and I missed him :'( :'(
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Uncle Joshua on April 11, 2008, 19:23:23
Looking good.

I bet that farmer ploughs all the weeds back in.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Thegoodlife on April 13, 2008, 08:20:57
where in s/yorks are you?? im at highfields plots
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 13, 2008, 12:34:53
Bolton on Dearne Spring Gardens been taking to one of my allotment neighbors he is looking to share his if anyone is interested
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Buster54 on April 26, 2008, 20:25:48
Just an update skimmed the top of and now digging and and removing the couche  grass and nettle roots very slow job but its gonna be worth it
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/26.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/27.jpg)
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 26, 2008, 22:24:06
If it's all couch, black plastic what you're not digging. It'll grow back in no time if you don't.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: sheddie on April 26, 2008, 23:00:41
Hello matey - looking good there - what an improvement!

Well done!
;D
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: Patrick King on April 26, 2008, 23:08:54
wow thats some work you have done there.

keep up the good work.
Title: Re: Got my Allotment
Post by: aromatic on April 26, 2008, 23:51:49
 :D Great job!!! Such an improvement!! Very impressed.... you deserve a medal for the achievements you have made in such a short space of time!!!  ;D ;D