Allotments 4 All

Been AWOL for a bit but am trying to keep involved! Be warned: there are an awful lot of “I” statements below ( a terrible state of egomania… sigh)

I need to air this amongst people who understand gardening AND allotments; my family is somewhat lacking in that department and everyone here so inspires me when it comes to the lottie.

Bit of background 1st:  I love gardening. Every time I  leave the plot there’s this air of self satisfaction â€" not in a nasty way, just… at peace and happy.  I have a full time job and am out of the house between 7am and 6.30pm daily.  My OH & I also have a 7 month old business (deli) which has mountain of paperwork, new developments, marketing etc and it’s just the two of us to do it. 

I have choices on the weekends:
1. Go down the allotment
2. Do paperwork â€" boring but vital
3. Do the mountain of housework and attack the laundry volcano.
4. Be on hand if the shop needs me
5. Do the shopping/have a social life/spend time relaxing (this normally has to be booked in)
6. Receive guests â€" which puts 1 to 4 on hold.

I can’t do it all at once, particularly as there’s so much work to do down the allotment this time of year and I’m knackered at the end of it. The time I spend down the plot is fire-fighting weeds. Dig them out: not enough time.  Poison them: the b*st*rds laugh in my face and say “thanks for the drink, laydee”.

What is particularly unhelpful is the site manager coming round (he who so helpfully rotorvated the full-of-weeds plot before I took it on so it looked nice and inviting) and making comments along the line of: “looks like you took on more than you can handle ” (I KNOW â€" at least I’m trying!) “just off to photograph the best kept plot ” (Yes, I am a slovenly allotment keeper, thank you for reminding me).

My plants are mostly small: no greenhouse, no windowsills, so there’s no opportunity to getting a jump on the season. And I’m not retired  :D (that’s a gentle tease, forum members! I wish I WAS retired!)  ;D ;D ;D ;D so can’t spend a big amount of my time bringing things on/weeding the little *insert very rude word here* out of the ground.

So what to do? I’m giving serious consideration to spending the year harvesting what is planted and just keeping the rest strimmed before giving up the plot due to lack of time. But then I think of all the enjoyment I get out of the (comparatively little) time I spend down there and I'll miss it so terribly.

Currently, arrival at the plot makes my heart plummet as I see what has to be done. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but once again I’ve overestimated my time/energy and what is capable within it.

Any advice?

EDIT: Sorry admin - I appreciate the change of wording & appologise for the necessity.  I have altered your change to something I felt conveyed my frame of mind more effectively without using word that could cause offence.  I hope this is ok? :)

Keep going at it. It does get discouraging sometimes, but you get there in the end. Are the weeds annual or perennial?

 :-\

Right. Rolls up sleeves to type...

I understand completely the problem you have outlined Bennett. At the moment my Mum is in hospital, I am an only child so have to do the visiting thing twice a day, no one else to help. I work full time, shifts make that a bit easier cos I often have time in the day to go and do battle with the weeds.

My plot has a couple of grassed areas created by previous plottie for his kids. This need strimming regularly cos it's mostly couch. Weeds creep up all over, it is NOT rows of carefully tended veg and looks messy and unkempt at the moment.

Other plotties keep looking and I am waiting for the moment when someone suggests that I cannot cope. Let them DARE!

I love my plot, it's a haven when things get a bit tough, I am managing to grow stuff, i'ts fresh air and exercise and I would really miss it if I had to give up.

Allotmenteering is a marathon, not a sprint. I will get it in shape one day, and meantime I dig, weed, do what I can and dream of how it will be in the future.

Could you arrange some of your social life around the plot? Take up a disposable barbie and get friends to dig a bit, weed etc while you all chat and get some of the work done into the bargain?

Housework will always be there, winter seems to me the best time to do it!

Cover/strim what you cannot use right now and concentrate on a small amount this year and extend that next year.

Worst case scenario...can you swap for a smaller plot?

Sorry if i have gone on, but your comments so rang bells with me! Best of luck whatever you decide, keep us updated and feel free to PM anytime if you want to exchange woes!!

K  ;)

1. What a great summary! Can't select.
2. You're very brave - MUCH support.
3. If it's in your blood, you'll do it somehow.
4. You're nearly a decade younger than we were when we started. On full pay. Plus point.
5. We did hire a big rotovator to break the back of it.  And I did have a half-day-a-week helper. But I had only 1 1/2 days a week at home for the first 14 years.
6. Then I became self-employed at home for the next 30 years.
7. But I was then pensioned - you're fighting for your future.
8. Which makes the choice HUGELY difficult.
9. Because red tape is so debilitating - & marketing is so totally demanding.
10. If you can stick it out, you will be well rewarded. Sounds like you deserve it!!
11. May we hear more about the deli elsewhere??

Hi, I so understand where you are coming from.  I felt really overwhelmed about a month ago.  One thing that has really helped is covering the parts I'm not using (about 1/2) with carpet and black plastic, and on the beds I'm working I break it into 5 minute jobs, so 5 mins weeding, 5 mins sowing, 5 mins digging, 5 mins harvesting and 5 mins tying things/pruning etc

sometimes I can do each 5 min job 2 or 3 times, but even if I only have 1/2 an hour I feel I have acheived something, and with 5 mins digging, even if I only do 3 forkfuls I feel I have made a bit of a dent and progress.  I'm also sowing a lot at home in modules so I feel I'm making a fair bit of progress.

The key is to enjoy it though and not to feel guilty. If you've had a relaxing 1/ 2 hr at the allotment you will be in a much better frame of mind to do your paperwork

Emma

I think you have some good answers here and can't really add anything.  The most important thing is that you are happy with your life, so if it is the plot that brings you so much pleasure then keep it and look at how to make it better for you. 

Is there anyone who you could share with so you only had half a plot?  Or as Katy says, make some of it into a grass area for now that just needs cutting to keep the weeds in order.  Or put down black plastic etc to at least stop it getting any worse until you have more time.

If you are constantly striving and not getting any 'chores' finished they will always be on your mind.  Can you afford to get your ironing done say, so that you have one 'chore' less - can you balance out what you save on buying shop bought veg with what you can grow to pay for the ironing to be done?

I think sitting down and typing it all up on here will have been the start of evaluating what you want to do, and lots of people have good ideas that will help.  Life is too short and also what you make it, so go and do what YOU want to do...

Good luck.  Wish I could come and share your plot!

Hi Bennettsleg

Your dilemma rang bells with me too.  This is the first year I have had the plot and took it on when I thought I had a lottie partner, but her participation has been minimal - oh well, I thought, just get on with it.

Admittedly, my working hours are a bit more flexible as I am self employed but problems came for me when my OH took on some night work (cash flow probs)  With two children, who fight like cat and dog and are not that interested in the lottie - 30 mins is about their limit, this severely limited my ability to do anything at the plot and the Horsetail took full advantage.

Like you, I seriously considered giving it up - but the peas, broadies, early spuds, strawbs and carrots all tasted sooo good and I enjoy the simplicity of working at the lottie so much that I really didn't want to do that and OH understands how much it means to me.

So, what can you do to fit it all in?  Well, I suppose the first question to ask is - do you need to fit it all in?  When I worked f/t I tended to do all the housework at the w/e but now I do the laundry throughout the week - well with my two I don't really have much choice...but that really does spread the chore.  How much ironing do you do?  I stopped ironing my boy's school shirts and guess what - the world didn't stop turning ;D

I suggest you negotiate some time with your partner - explain how you feel about it.  When it was really hot, I dashed over to do some watering before OH went off to work.

It may be that the whole plot is too much for you this year, that may not be the case every year.  So why not strim the bit that is uncultivated, cover it and leave it until you have time to deal with it.

As for the Site Manager, explain the issues to him.  Stress that you are still committed, that you are not a 2 w/e wonder.  Be realistic, whatever you, do with the amount of time you currently have available, is not going to result in the plot of the year.  Look at what you have achieved, rather than what is still left.

Hope that helps, we all know how tough it can be to fit it all in.

Best of luck

find someone like me that can come and help out that's gagging for a plot but is no-where near the top of the list.

the last thing you need is pressure from your site secretary so large sheets of black plastic leaving you with a managable piece of "escape" space could do the trick until things quieten down a bit.

if you give it up you'll regret it.

good luck and give up the ironing.  I NEVER iron.  it's against my religion and tbh i don't do much housework if the truth be known.

do things that are essential and important to you (in no particular order) and realise you can live no no sleep.

Good luck to you.

;D

It sounds like your time at the plottie is supportive - possibly essential? - to the other things in your life, but causing short term problems.

You've overestimated what you can get done on the plot? Join the club! I'm the idiot who didn't realise that growing toms in the greenhouse means a daily watering visit at 7am ??? Over the next fifty years you're supposed a better 'feel' for it ;)

Working as hard as you do, it will be tough making time. When I was fuddled with work/life priorites a few years ago, a friend and I discussed the 'free' time available outside work, and what proportion would be chores, social activity, fun etc., equated that back to hours per week. VERY instructive! You may find that your deli responsibilities take all the time you had for your plot. Is this acceptable? If the plottie helps keep you ticking over, it may be very well worthwhile keeping it open as an option for your 'free' time and as SMP says, this may be something to discuss with OH.

That could mean compromise: some favourite crops rather then complete self-sufficiency; spending cash, rather than time; little, but some, enjoyable work; and preparing to take the plottie at your own pace in due time? Like katy say, it's a marathon not a sprint ;)

It's your decision bennetsleg, but you did ask for advice :-[ ::). Well ...

1. I'm with kaypee and others; strim, buy rolls of good quality ground cover, cover the whole lot firmly and neatly, lawns and all. The longer you leave it, the better. If you grow through it, re-cover with a new layer each time when you lift the plants. Get your OH to help, and choose a windless day ::)
2. Pressure from site sec - gone. Look how neat the plot is :o!
3. Plant perennials you enjoy - fruit bushes, globe artichokes, rhubub - in impeccably neat rows. Most fruit bushes, trees etc. will go in in November - plenty of time to plan.
4. Grow brassica, spuds, and leeks through the plastic. Don't dig. Buy plug plants from www.organicplants.co.uk (they supply most seed companies who add their percentage) - they will arrive in the post at the right time to plant them!
5. Enjoy the compost heap, and mulch the perennials with it, over the plastic.
5. Only when you're ready - when the deli is established? - peel back and cultivate only as much as you're prepared to maintain - one square metre to start with? - before increasing the area of 'bare' ground.

In the meantime you'd become an expert on fruit/perennial veg growing, pruning, care, harvesting and the care of growing annual veg. Not bad!

Good luck bennetsleg, whatever you do decide in time :)

These answers seem sensible to me. Especially the covering of areas, and the planting of perennial types like fruit, etc.
Don't give it up.
Forget the ironing. Hang up the clothes creased and if anyone wants them ironed they'll soon learn.
Invest in 40 watt light bulbs, you can't see the dirt indoors so much then.
Lay down and publish exact times when you do this paperwork, when time is up, stop. It's not going anywhere. Also allocate set times for other grotty chores and stop when the time is up.
Get the shopping delivered if you can - most major supermarkets do an internet service, and you can have a list you just re-order for basic stuff like toilet rolls, etc.
Have an official day off each week. OFFICIAL. Write it on the calendar, and take it. I'd do a couple of hours on the allotment that day, as I find that to be relaxing, you might choose otherwise.
Have a good think about WHY you're doing these things in the first place, you got one life, live it.
No-one ever put "She was a ruddy good washer-upper" on a gravestone.

i have had my plot for 3 years now when i went to take the plot on the shed was full of other lottie people who took one look at me and said another person with a 5 mintue fad.

well am still there 3 years later and am going for best plot this year or at least in the top 50 best plots.

i also work full time but am lucky i get one full day at the plot on a sunday which is at least 7 hours, and i need it to de-stress and take time to slow my pace of life up.
it gives me time to think about the week and week ahead.

i have kept a corner of my plot by the green house as a little garden area with loads of flowers , it not only cheers me up but other people to who walk past my plot to get to theres.

the site manager has said that he is so suprised by what i get done and achive , i said its worth every bit of sweat and tears cause it gives me back so much more then just veg and fruit.

and weeds just keep on pulling them out they will soon find new homes else were , my weeds have gone down loads now after all this time , dont let them or the weeds win

you can do it..... ;)

I really sympathise and can only add my support like everyone else.  There have been some good suggestions here which I agree with.   Bear in mind that it is a leisure activity and not something that should be stressful for you.  Always inform those in charge of monitering the site, if you are temporarily having problems, so they can make allowances. This is the time of year when the majority of us just can't keep track of everythig.  It is the main growing season, and even the best allotment holder is struggling to keep up at the moment.  You have got a lot of responsibility in other parts of your life, so if you feel the plot is too much for you but you don't want to give up, could you not downsize to a half plot, and then it won't be such a worry?  Hope it works out for you as it would be a shame to give it up.  :)  busy_lizze

Remember the 'work life balance', you need the allotment ~ it will enable you to work better.......

I'm easing gradually into retirement, so can't talk, and in past years my plot has been absolutely dreadful, but I've always got it back under control every winter. Even now I have more time and started the year with it looking immaculate, it's getting away from me now.

However, I read an article (RHS journal?) about a man with a stressful job with long hours who stopped off at his allotment for exactly 30 minutes every morning on the way to work, with a very clear plan in his head about what he would do. It even included 10 minutes twice a week (or something like that) to trim the edges of the grass paths, meaning he got round the whole place once a fortnight.

He sounded immensely disciplined, and not very relaxed.... He knew he had no time to tend seedlings, so bought plug plants and had a time scheme for ordering them and planting them out. The photographs looked fantastic.

The suggestion of growing fruit and perennials sounds good.

July is a frantic month; I hope you can keep things ticking over until the growing season slows down, and then make a master plan for the following year.

I wish someone could define what it is that makes allotments more than just the delicious produce. A feeling of calm and delight comes over me as I open the gate, the activity keeps me fit, the fresh air is a joy - it's very strange. My husband can't understand it.

Yes, the allotment IS more than just a growing area, it is also a refuge, a relaxation area, plus many more things to different people. When the world feels like it is on my shoulders (which it does - often) I stand in the middle of my allotment and close my eyes. The sounds and smells remind me of what is important.

Weeds grow - thats just proof that nature is alive and kicking. See them as latent compost !

Quote from: artichoke on July 09, 2006, 08:43:04
I read an article (RHS journal?) about a man with a stressful job with long hours who stopped off at his allotment for exactly 30 minutes every morning

This resulted in an excellent book, really helped me take a fresh look at priorities
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0711226059/202-0411622-2192660?v=glance&n=266239

Quote from: plimsoll plot2 on July 08, 2006, 18:08:26
when i went to take the plot on the shed was full of other lottie people who took one look at me and said another person with a 5 mintue fad.

Why do they always do that ??? ::) ;D

4 hrs of housework yesterday = knackered & house guest then arrived so timing was kismet! The bedroom has been left alone as I decided that it's going to be joint thing with OH, so is a conversation about picking up after ourselves AND each other every day so I'm not faced with another weekend of 4hrs of cleaning a (big) 2 bed flat....  I’ve also put the deli link under my signature now, in case you’re interestedJ

Thanks for your support, everyone, it made me cry at first - didn't realise how low I'd got. With your help I've made a few decisions (properly this time! ;D).
1. Talk to OH as outlined above
2. Keeping the allotment (hurray!) and will get the strimmer back from b-in-law so I can tackle the jungle.
3. Stuff the site manager (not literally. Well only if he...)
4. Will re-organise the plots so half can be covered over - this will take time due to dormancy, harvest etc.
5. Ma is coming down in a few weekend's time with the express intention of working on the plot with me.

I don't do ironing, never have. OH does his own and offers to do mine too. IT's just the amount of tidying up (beer bottles & caps left on the side when the bin is directly below; the pathalogical need to keep opened envelopes etc.)

I shall poison more merrily at the plot. Wilfully and with malice aforethought. The little blighters can't last forever... Time has proven that organic is a no-go for me unless I want to eat weeds. I’ve got a few fabric covered beds already, but it equates to less than half the site. Are plot-holders allowed to have goats...? ;D

Sharing would be a next year issue due to the way I've laid everything out.  I'm loathe to share wholesale and find that half the onions I bought and planted are gone because the other person has done a bit of weeding.  Worse still would be to find my sharer was like SMP1704's with haphazard or missing input, but find they still enjoyed the fruits of my labours!  If anything, I would rather lose half my plot than share the whole.

Friends and family… Ma’s the only one interested (in both gardening and putting in a bit of effort!) and she’s 200 miles away. After the initial post I rang her and booked some time in her diary. 

Having had time to catch up with the boards I feel so much more positive about everything now and realise that no matter what, other people are in the same boat, have time/effort saving ideas, love every aspect of allotmenting etc. Just goes to show that regular dropping in to have a read/contribute keeps things in perspective and keeps you going.

Sunday? This is a rest day. No cleaning, no gardening, no work (Liar! One advertising piece completed already! :o) , no nothing but spending time with OH and enjoying life even more.

Thanks guys. Sincerely.

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Quote from: supersprout link=topic=22125.msg219998#msg219998 d
quote author=plimsoll plot2 link=topic=22125.msg219894#msg219894 date=1152378506]
when i went to take the plot on the shed was full of other lottie people who took one look at me and said another person with a 5 mintue fad.

Why do they always do that ??? ::) ;D

Hardly encourages a newby to stay, particularly if their gardening knowledge is just starting. Foolish Nay-Sayers: they are so irritating!  :)

Your deli looks so impressive bennetsleg! :o Edible spreadables and frozen spotted dick! ;D
Great to hear you sounding more upbeat, keep posting. This thread has been really inspiring  :) :-*

Marvelous Web Site and wonderful sounding Deli! Sounds as though you are getting back on track - good for you!  :D busy_lizzie