Allotments 4 All

does anyone here read the guardian rambling on about their organic allotment? Perhaps it is just me being curmudgeonly but it truly seems that it is all about having the right kit - all style and no substance. Already, as far as I can gather, they have simply hired a man with a digger and imported 10 tons of topsoil. This week, they are busy buying 'biodynamic manure' and worms for their nice new (kit form) compost bin (having gone on a 250 mile round trip pumping carbons into the air to buy their special cow poo). Next, no doubt, they will be having little fashion shoots wearing all the 'right' organic clothes. Gah! What a bunch of sad fashionistas leaping on the next trendy bandwagon. Our allotment site is overun by such types and is, frankly, a bloody mess. Fair weather gardeners who are too idle to actually be out there doing anything but they do love to boast to their mates. And then, having got a plot, they hang onto them forever, doing sod all while there are scores of really keen people desperate to get out there and go for it. God, I hope this allotment trend wears off quick.

I know what you mean! I'm all for encouraging peole to get allotments but they need to know what it's really like!

:)

in the Daily Telegraph last year it said some folk are getting a lottie, and hiring a gardener to do the work ::) / shades x

Absolutely, generally a superior attitude too. I wish they'd have a program about how to garden really cheaply to encourage 'normal' folk.

Something I really dislike is 'no dig' gardening or 'lazy get' gardening as I prefer to call it. Who wants to see their veg growing out of plastic sheets, yeugh! Unless of course your physically unable to do it.

We have 1 lady who has paid a joiner to build her raised beds at a cost of hundreds of £££'s

never seen her yet and to be honest cannot see the point but it does take all sorts ???

Oh dear!! Fashion clothes!!!!!! you should see the state of me when I´m gardening!!!! I scare people  ;D

I actually think this is how our lottie neighbours see us, being newbies with virtually no gardening experience at all, and they've all been there since adam was a boy and know it all.   ::)

It doesn't help that we're trying to be as natural (or organic) as possible as well, also we're putting in four crop rotation beds & paths - they call us 'television gardeners'.

HOWEVER... we are prepared to put in all the hard work and effort that an allotment brings (even tho' we haven't been able to do much yet...), and i'm hoping that at some point in the future they may even end up having some respect for our methods!  :-X

Quote from: kitten on March 04, 2007, 17:17:10
I actually think this is how our lottie neighbours see us, being newbies with virtually no gardening experience at all, and they've all been there since adam was a boy and know it all.   ::)

It doesn't help that we're trying to be as natural (or organic) as possible as well, also we're putting in four crop rotation beds & paths - they call us 'television gardeners'.

HOWEVER... we are prepared to put in all the hard work and effort that an allotment brings (even tho' we haven't been able to do much yet...), and i'm hoping that at some point in the future they may even end up having some respect for our methods!  :-X

don't worry, kitten..it'll work out in the end, we still get laughed at, I bought a special hand held twirly weeder and was told  'oh, you do like your gadgets, don't you'  ..we've been on this site for 12 years now   ;D

There will always be folks who like to knock othere peoples methods and are so stuck in their ways that they continue to do things even when they don't work. I love to try new things. What I can't stand is people who take plots on and then don't bother to cultivate them specially when there are so many folks waiting for a plot. Theres nowt worse than being next to a plot full of weeds when the wind's blowing in your direction scattering all the b****y seeds over yours.

I have often wondered how some folks can afford £80 for a beautiful wrought iron and glass cloche to protect ..a cabbage....?

Not for me,I recycle and use whtever I can get.

Sawfish,I do use black plastic though,does that put me into the yuck group,it is only to warm the soil for some of my tender squash..

Just kidding.

To the newbies, I have had a lottie 5 years now and they still think I am nuts!!

God Bless Newbies and oldies alike.

XX Jeannine

Large garden,owner knows a bit but is open to being paid cash for help-filming possible ;D

Allotment fashion - old jeans, usually with holes in the knees, several layers of jumpers esp in this weather, with the oldest on the top, my husband's old Barber type jacket, the pockets full of seed packets, bits of sting etc  and of course the wellies, coloured if possible - at the moment they are dark blue with spots [from Matalan]
What do you think my chances are of making it to London Fashion Week?!

I couldn't get a plot on the allotment site nearest my house as all the plots had been taken, but only a couple were actually being used.
The rest of the site was covered in couch grass.
There's probably a huge waiting list too.

Quote from: sawfish on March 04, 2007, 16:48:25
Something I really dislike is 'no dig' gardening or 'lazy get' gardening as I prefer to call it. Who wants to see their veg growing out of plastic sheets, yeugh! Unless of course your physically unable to do it.

It doesn't have to be that bad; i follow a no-dig system as far as I can, but grow them through organic mulch which feeds the soil as well as keeping weeds down. Growing through plastic would be tolerable for the first year to kill the weeds, but I wouldn't do it after that. As it happens, I've never done it at all.

I'd agree with the comments on the Guardian effort; if it gets anyone interested, they're going to be coming with a completely false impression!

we have a certain ethos when it comes to our plot and life in general really - "cheap is good, free is better!" with my holey jeans and 3 jumpers with a bit of green string to keep my hair out my face i'm not sure i'm ready for the catwalk! but my wellies are beautiful town & country's that i got for my birthday and they are my pride and joy :)

I think that the proliferation of books and articles regarding allotments are really about buying a lifestyle - a lovely idea but little consideration of the reality. I get really wild when plots are being run down as I know there is a three year waiting list on my site but there is little impetus from our council to ensure that plots are actually used other than the annual dirty plot letters( pretty toothless really). On the other hand, I guess it is horses for courses - we all have different expectations and ways of doing things but I would prefer it if leasing an allotment wasn't seen as a kind of lifestyle accessory.