Allotments 4 All

Quote from: Heldi on September 27, 2005, 22:23:46
the blokes don't speak to me but they'll speak to OH.

Hi Heldi,

Had a funny (as in peculiar) experience of this myself. I went to visit the site where I'm hoping to get a plot with my wife and kids, and one of the 'old boys' there was chatting away to me about what I could do. Then he said "I don't know what your wife likes, but there's plenty of people here grow flowers." Sad thing is, my wife was standing next to me as he said it! :o Was quite astonished by the assumption that a) my OH wouldn't be interested in growing veg and b) she doesn't have her own voice! I nearly said "why don't you ask her, she's only a foot away" but thought better of it - don't want to start off by antagonising people - but it did surprise me a bit! Can't see my wife putting up with it if it continues though - she's not exactly the unemancipated type! Oh well, now't so queer as folk, eh?

Cheers,
Rob ;)

Not half!  My old man doesn't know a cabbage from a carrot but one of the lotty guys has him confused with someone else who is a really good gardener.  He goes on to us about what a good gardener my husband is and he's seen examples of his prize winning veg (don't know who he thinks he is)  My old man thinks it's hilarious and doesn't let on he's got the wrong bloke, and basks in the glory cos he knows it irritates me as I GROW THE STUFF, not him.  Try telling the lotty committee that.  I give up  ;D

I've had almost the reverse of this experience. It seems to be mostly old boys on my site, though many of the newer plotholders in the city are also younger women/families. The old boys have been fantastic; friendly, helpful, if clearly mildly amused at my current incompetence.

I imagine some of the old boys just assume that all women are like those of their own generation and would be more interested in flowers than veg. You see all sorts living here, though, and I don't suppose my old boys would turn a hair if I grazed llamas on the shed roof.

Heldi, definitely go in your shed. I don't know how big your site is but they can't all be miserable gits, and if you've got one person you get on with you've got a way in to the rest of them (if you can be arsed). If they tell you to weedkill smile sweetly and say you're going to try to do it the hard way first, better for wildlife, hedgehogs etc. Unless they're completely barking they'll respond to the hard work/wildlife bit - they might think you're mad but you'll get some grudging respect which is all you need to work with :)

That's good Bupster and refreshing to hear. 

Rob when we went to look around the allotments the bloke totally ignored me in favour of talking to my OH.  Dead annoying but what the heck...his loss. I got a big shock yesterday though,I was given a huge bunch of flowers off one of the lottie holders so they aint all the same...you just have to find them that's all!

I guess that proves what you were saying too Bupster...they can't all be old gits!

Well I think of myself as a crusty old fart, but it always makes me smile when one of the ladies on a plot at the end of my row, refers to me as 'that nice young gentleman'  ;D ;D ;D

Derekthefox :D

You been getting your top off at the lottie then Derek ?!  :o   :D

Oh I forgot to mention,today I have been wielding a sledgehammer knocking out the old greenhouse foundations. Before I started with that though I dug a channel out on each side of the bricks so I could get in a good low swing with the hammer. Four times as I was digging away I lifted out my spadefull of soil complete with a hen on top of it! I think they feel at home now.

Aaagh  :)   Sounds like they're feeling quite at home. Any eggs yet?

Not yet Wardy. They are only 3 months old so have got another 3 months possibly before they start laying. Hopefully they'll be very comfortable by then and will produce lots!

Just found the thread...........you keep at it girl your doin good....your chooks
  will lay from 14 weeks onwards.....you may just miss out on eggs though as
  the cooler weather comes in............but come the spring weeeeeh
  heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Heidi 

Do chickens fly away if you let them out to graze or do you have to keep them penned in and cover the top of the run as well?

Wow Heldi......what a saga!!!!! You have my admiratoin for what you have taken on...well done you!!
Wardy..re the chooks and keeping them in or out: I dont know much, but think that urban Mr Fox could be a problem so they need to be safe?????? Someone will know for sure!!

Wardy..........if you introduce them to living quarters for a day or 2 then let them
roam ...........they will always head home for bedtime....but as katy rightly said
Mr fox is always somewhere in the wings :'( 1 thing Heldi........when you made
the pen.........I am hoping you put wire underground by a foot because he can
go under as well as over..........nieghbour at the other end of the village lost
about 2 dozen hens to mr fox in 1 night.

Thanks :)

you can also clip the long feathers on one side (left or right wing) so they wont be able to take off. it's painless as it's akin to a hair cut :)

Planning my chook run in head at min, next big project!! I knew about trench cos they dig, but how high would a fence need to be to stop them jumping over? And Heidi, well done you! Nothing like using big hammers and demolishing stuff.....psst...have you tried an axe yet.........  ;D ;D ;D Lottie

Had my top off all summer Helly, but now the Autumn is creeping in ...

Yes it sounds like your hens are very happy with their new quarters. I hope it all goes well ...

Derekthefox :D

A place you will pick up a lot of info...... and find a lot of the answers to your
  questions Lottie is the Practical Poultry forum......... If I can stick my tuppence
  worth in.....the Kids will love Japanese Bantams....... you can never tell what
  colour of young your going to end up with........... but if its the eggs your after
  alone.............go for rhode island reds   I think the rhodies still hold the record
  fir egg laying (think it was something like 357 eggs over 365 days )

Thanks Jaggy, hope I don't get tarred and feathered ;) but for eggs, but if I have the bottle also for eating,she whispers......But I imagine I'll end up with 300 chooks cos don't have heart to do it..... ::) ::) ::) Will check that site out. Lottie  ;D