Allotments 4 All

I'm starting this thread on the condition that nobody turns it into another "let's knock Gardeners World" thread. ;)

For those who are still watching, what did you think of the builders' bag gardens? At first sight I thought they looked a bit naff, but then when they showed the people who were using them saying how much they enjoyed them, I changed my mind- what a simple, cheap, quick way of filling a derelict space with flowers and veg!

absolutely brilliant, manageable sized and the mix looked fantastic. a great community resource in a small space.

d**n, missed it, why not, if it lets people grow stuff they wouldn't normally, and makes use of empty space, good luck to them  ;D

You might be able to watch it on BBC iplayer, manics.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b00bclg2.shtml

It's about 5 minutes in.

been and looked at it, I think it's a really good idea, all the people were very happy and that's what counts   :)

We have had a wheelchair user recently take on a plot which has been strimmed down ready for her to do some work. However rather than build raised beds i am going to suggest that she goes down this route instead ;)

I thought it was a great idea for people starting out with no garden at all and then I realised just how lucky I am to have the space that I have and the ability to be able to look after it.

It seems like a good way for people to "dip their toes" into gardening and see whether they like it before takingon anything bigger.
It also made me think that builders' bags might be a good way to grow carrots as they must be at least 2' high to keep the carrot fly off.

Yes I thought it was a great Idea.There will probally be a waiting list for those soon,just like the lottie. ;D

I use four as leaf bins up the plot.  I have a spare one which I am considering filling with muck and growing squash in.

Good idea!

we got one for our plot, not based on the program, just that I wanted something big enough to chuck all the weeds and nasty bits in.

I will either empty it a bit at a time into bags to take away, or more likely leave it to rot down and see what happens.

we have carrots in one and compost in 2 more and manure rotting down in another 2 :)

We did this last year when the plot was new and covered in all sorts.  It started out as a way to contain the skip load of council compost while we clreared weeds, but they became beds in their own right for courgettes, squash and a few other bits & pieces.  I grew sunflowers round two sides to make them less visualy obvious. 

The ones on Gardeners World were less high & I think that's the key.  As ours started out as storage, it was ok, but they were too deep for planting requirements & would have been a  waste of compost.

A great idea to use wasted industrial space & they worked well for us - fewer slugs, easier to pick crops, but a swine if they dried out.

There was a thread on here last year - a disused yard area on a housing estate in Hackney I think.

I have two at the plot, one for leaf mould and another as a compost bin, which I am trailling this year as a pumpkin growing container.

I have a builders bag and I am going to fill it with leaves this autumn for leaf mould. I didn't realise how big they were until I got this one. I thought the idea of using them for urban gardens was brilliant, just goes to show given the chance everyone loves to grow their own stuff. I loved the lady who just wanted a big patch of mint to make her own mint tea with.  :)

I'm so excited- have I started the first GW thread with no dissenters?Could be because this bit didn't include any presenters! ;D

 Hi all,
          Yes I saw it & like most people think it is a brilliant idea, one problem if doing it yourself, how on earth do you find enough soil , compost etc to fill it ???

                                                                               Adrian.

I guess the easiest way (but expensive) would be to get a bag of topsoil delivered, then you'd get bag and soil in one!

I'm always amazed at people's creativity and inventiveness. Builders' bag gardens rock! imho.. :-[ What a delight for all those flat dwellers who are not even allowed balcony gardens.