Allotments 4 All

Just curious...who has had an allotment the longest on this site...how long and have things changed a lot since you started?

I'm new to allotments...only one year.

Not me. I can not believe that I have had mine for four years and at last have just about managed to have nearly cleared the lot. Never realised it would take me this long.

I started allotmenting as a young married, so have been allotmenting on and off in different parts of the country for 27 years. But like you kg, I have had this one just over a year, and the second one next to it since December, so in for the long haul of 'bringing it round'.

1986 making it twenty years this year!

Have things changed? In some ways Yes, in others No

I don't find the camaradery as good today as it once was.

In my early days you could approach the 'older' plot holders for advice and it would be freely given.

They always had time for a natter be it on gardening or putting the world to right, nowadays people don't seem to have the time (at least on our plots)

Another thing with the younger people is; and it is age thing,  once you are over fifty its a case of 'what do they know'? something I am led to understand happens at job interviews as well.

I have watched over the years of how new people come onto the plots and say they are going to do this and they are going to do that.

And Yes! they do a terrific job until the weeds come up again and their crops do not perform as they would have liked so they disappear.

This in itself I don't mind, each to their own, but what I find is because these plots have been cultivated and possibly fertilised the weeds come up with a vengeance, which is rough for neighbouring plot holders and off putting for new tenants.

Then their are those that ask for advice and don't follow it, then they wonder why things didn't work for them.

Personally I just take it in my stride and get on with it.

ps Hope I haven't offended anyone, the question was asked......I answered it!

I'd better stay out of this??

Yes agree no I don't........I am 51 don't know everything and the old boys near me on the whole are just a lot of darlings. So informative. There are one or two that are pains.
ie:
To my pal "Why aren't you growing beetroot?"
Pal " Because i don't like it"
Groaner " Oh no you will have to grow some so you can have some thing to swop"
Same groaner to pal " Can I have some of your manure to take home to put on my roses, only I have dug in all mine"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes we do have the yuppy gardeners too. that you know are not going to last but is that not all life and I feel all the richer for being part of it.
Tim I wish you were on my lottie nudge nudge!!

As a youngish family with 2 young children we have had mixed experience with the more mature allotment holder.As soon as we got the plot and started laying it out a fellow plot holder well over 50 took great delight in telling us the things we couldnt have despite everybody else having them (tyres pallets trees to name 3).And we did consider giving up.But on the other hand we find the other older plot holders to be more than happy to share their knowledge and we always look forward to our chats with them.And it was the older plot holders who informed us to ignore the miserable old bugger who was laying down the law and thanks to them we kept our plot and have enjoyed it ever since.

I'm claiming an almost unbeatable 36 years. During a walk with our youngest son in his pram in 1970 we came across a large field being converted (by new allotmenters) into parcels. I phoned and had one immediately. In many hours of voluntary work we laid water pipes, paths, built fences, toilets, storage facilities etc., and today everything is perfect. I'm one of the last of the first , so to speak, and still get very keen in early spring to get things going.

I have a cherry tree, an apple tree, a plum tree, all berries, 15 vegetable beds and a lawn, I love it.

Just in case you are wondering where it is, it's just outside Zurich in Switzerland .. and.. on a sunny day I can see the Alps from Austria, through Switzerland and almost down to France... lovely.

Busby you are very blessed.

Busby, I am VERY envious...   ;) I have a fantastic view of the dual carriageway...

mat

wow busby - sounds great! I can see a housing estate on two sides and a road to the other... at one point I am about 4 ft from some ones back door (big fence inbetween though)..... but then I did choose the plot for this as it makes me feel more secure when I am  there on my own.

I've only had these allotments 13 years, a mere beginner! We are a private site, and they back onto our houses and go three sides round a Cemetery, (nice neighbours very quiet!) what I really hate are people who get the allotment behind their house and then treat it as an extension of their Garden, or worse still don't do anything apart from strim it and/or have a bonfire in Nov.
(MY real pet hate is the chairman who lets allotments go to people who have to employ a gardener because they are too busy to even work their own Gardens, but that is another story!)

When I lived at home I had an allotment at Ridge Road in Sutton with mum and dad.  Had that for about 6 years, then I moved away.  We did try to keep it up, but when my dad died it was to painful to go.  Glad to say a local school took the plot on.  Now I am an Essex girl and I have had my 2 fabulous plots here for 4 years - wow does time fly!  I don't see many people as they tend to be weekenders where I am a weeker, but I do see Old Jack who has worked on our site for over 40 years.  He is a love, gives me veg when he has an abundance, and leaves me in soul charge of his vast rasberry bed in the summer when he goes on his 2 week holidays!  Delicious.  We have no water or security, but it is only a small site owned by a church charity.  Dad still helps...in his own way... ;)

I've had mine since just before Christmas 1998; I'd have had it earlier if it hadn't been for ME followed by a back injury.

i'm only a newbie with 18 months under my belt, but if i live to be 100, and i'm still able, i hope to be the longest plot holder! we've got quite a good community spirit in our allotments, and a mix of young and old. i get advice and new ideas from both, as i know not a lot, but a lot more than i used to.

OH and I are mad keen allotment gardeners, when we made a will and were asked by the solicitor what we wanted doing with the ashes we looked at each other and both said, Allotment! The solicitor wouldn't have it saying if we both died together someone else would have to do it! Both of us and our boys are d**n certain that the vine gets it... then we will become the longest allotment tenants in a way!
;D

I had  plot when I was much younger but the plot I m on now I have had fro 6 yrs

This is really interesting stuff, especially the comments about older / younger folk.  The people at my allotment always stop and have a chat.  I've had loads of advice from the 'oldies' and tend to follow when they plant etc.

I've had that many plants and veg ready for eating given to me and i've given as much as i could back.

It's a shame it doesn't happen on all the allotments, perhaps it is a sign of the times and todays younger people...but i'm only 39 so perhaps its down to individuals rather than age?

I've been helping on my famillies allotment, ever since I was a little girl and i'm now 47. But I took over the plot 10 years ago when my father died. He had takern over the plot when his father died to and it's been in my family for 90 years. Can I claim by default lol. ;D

Busby beats me by 6 yrs. My current one - 28yrs. Not many changes, biggest loss was a spring by the side of my pair. No water now.

I say Tee Gee, that looks like 'Adam the Gardener', I still have his gardening manual. Memories eh?