Allotments 4 All

I bought a book that was reviewed in this month's edition of The Ecologist magazine, called "Allotted Time: Twelve Months, Two Blokes, One Shed, No Idea" by Robin Shelton. It sounds like quite a fun book to read. Here's the review from the magazine: "In the summer of 2004, art teacher Robin Shelton was a semi-recluse - off work with depression after an acrimonious marriage split. On the brink of a nervous breakdown, Shelton decided - over a few largers - to tame an overgrown allotment for therapy. With the help of a biker friend Steve, the gardening virgin spent a year transforming a 50 feet by 30 feet weedbed into a super productive food plot. Shelton's account of the process is gripping - perfectly paced, frank and funny. He is a charismatic narrator and it's a pleasure to follow his potato-patch exploits as he finds a new stability and the black times lift...Reviewed by Mark Bridge." The book has arrived today so if anyone is interested I'll let you know what it's like, might be a nice book to read on those lazy summer days between doing the weeding :D

Many of us have been there ... the 'black dog' I mean, so the tale will have some relevance. My allotment certainly feeds my spirits !

Sounds really interesting Jesse, do report back on how you found it :)

sounds like a really good read - maybe I'll make it my choice for my book group to read in a couple of months - my New Zealand friend's making me read a biography of Captain Cook, so I might as well get my revenge!  ;D(none of them are gardeners).

The whole reason that i got into this allotment thing was because I read "The Urban Gardener" by Elspeth Thompson, I used to dream about having my own plot, but never thought it would come true.

tabbycat

Look forward to reading your review, Jesse.....I'm looking for a good read for a plane trip later in the year. Cheers!

Sounds like an interesting book Jesse.  Looking forward to hearing what you thought of it.  :) busy_lizzie

I did ponder buying that book for Mr beejay's birthday recently but decided not to in the end. A couple of years ago bought him Diggers Diary, Tales From the Allotment by Victor Osborne who writes/wrote for the Daily Telegraph. It is about a year on his allotment & was a very enjoyable read. Look forward to hearing your views on your book.

Sounds like it will be a good read Jesse - let us know what you think.

Tabbycat - good idea to make it a read for the book group - especially if none are gardeners, you never know the book may encourage one of them.

Alison

There are some good reviews on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0283070323/qid=1147959986/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-3321975-0579069

"Robin Shelton writes also of the tantrums involved in digging, digging and more digging, the fury in battle against bindweed - the most evil of all things that grow - "

I can relate to that...

Yes, I too wondered whether to get this book, but as I have literally hundreds of books ??? in my "to be read" pile, I have held off... so far  :-[

I am almost at the point of having a tantrum over digging... just glad after 7 months I have nearly finished...

mat

Well so far I've found it quite funny and I enjoy his style of writing and humour, very laid back and no-nonsense. There is a bit of swearing in parts so if you're offended by that then perhaps not your type of book. I'm enjoying it so far and it's making good reading :)

It must be a good read, I have been put on the waiting list for it at our library, I am 12th on the list. Might get it just in time for a good read on holiday :) :)

Sounds like a good read to me! And also sounds suspiciously like the book I'M SUPPOSED to be writing when I ever get round to it   ::)

Just finished Monty Don's 'The Jewel Garden' and whilst most of it went over my head (I know little or nothing about flowers and he didn't mention vegetables ONCE!) the bits about him overcoming depression through gardening were very interesting and something I could relate to.

Finished the book, it went quickly as the text is quite large. Very enjoyeable read, perhaps a little rushed towards the end but still enjoyable. It was one of those books that was a shame to get to the end, I could have easily read more. :)

thanks jesse, have added to my holiday reading list (have just won a Caribbean cruise ... sometime in the next 18 months :o) ;D

wow, that's lucky :o :D :D

Quote from: supersprout on May 21, 2006, 15:14:11
thanks jesse, have added to my holiday reading list (have just won a Caribbean cruise ... sometime in the next 18 months :o) ;D

From Reader's Digest? ::) ;D

Thanks Jesse.....pleased abt the typeface, too...last book I took on long-haul was a mistake...print too small for comfortable 'read a bit, doze a bit' type reading....this sounds Just Right :D

no, I think it was an insert in Good Housekeeping - cost me £1.50 in text and £0.60 in stamps ;D
ain't never won anything from Readers Digest grrr

ok, so in spite of saying tha I might try and get my book group to read this, I cracked under the pressure of a child free 40 minutes in Books etc and bought it!

And now because it's been raining almost solidly since Sunday, I have finished it as well.

Finished the book, it went quickly as the text is quite large. Very enjoyeable read, perhaps a little rushed towards the end but still enjoyable. It was one of those books that was a shame to get to the end, I could have easily read more.

Couldn't agree with you more, Jesse. I was really sad to finish it.  I felt real empathy for him when he was describing his espisodes of depression & how gardening helped them. It's worked for me.

Am going to read Monty's Book now, Trixibelle and see how it helped him.

Just finished Monty Don's 'The Jewel Garden' and whilst most of it went over my head (I know little or nothing about flowers and he didn't mention vegetables ONCE!) the bits about him overcoming depression through gardening were very interesting and something I could relate to

Tabbycat

Thanks everyone - really enjoyed your suggestions for suumer reading.

I have enjoyed " The enchanted April" - Elizabeth von Arnim - set in an Italian castle paradise garden, filled with wisteria.