Allotments 4 All

I went to my plot today and barrowed 6 loads of manure with another bag load balancing on top of it, it's rather hard work as the manure is one end of the site and my plot is at the other end.  I thought I'd better stop before I killed myself and would go tomorrow for some more.  So I decided to dig and do some weeding as I was enjoying being down there when along comes another plot holder with 2 gardeners in tow.  The gardeners then proceeded to barrow manure to his plot. His plot is more or less opposite the manure. The plot holder never barrowed any, and when I walked up to see how much manure was left, nearly all the manure had gone.  I would think it's all gone by now as I walked away and they were still barrowing it.

I was a bit cross to say the least and think it highly unfair and selfish that an able bodied man has brought two gardeners to the site and taken all the manure.

When I said to a committee member that it was unfair he said he didn't have a problem with it.  It was there for plot holders to take.

What do you think?

Hi Sinbad 7

Our site is only very small with just 15 allotments and we don't have any bulk supply of manure or anything else, it is down to the individuals to sort it out for themselves.  I do totally agree that what this man did is very unfair to the rest of you and very inconsiderate, but i do think that when things like this are done there is always one who abuses it.  We had water put onto our site 2 years ago with a rule that no hosepipes to be used to water your plot only to fill barrells, this year we have a new guy who has abused this rule and spent most of the summer watering his plot with a hosepipe which has now caused our rent for our plots to be trippled (rent was very cheap at £5) to cover the water usage.

Hi Lottiman

I think I would've had to have pinched his hose.  Didn't anyone say anything to him?

I can't believe people can be so selfish, that's really bad for all the plot holders on your site.

Yes it is unfair. Did you say anything to him, sinbad? Sometimes embarassment puts people off, even if they argue and act like nothing's wrong at the time. 

Sinbad 7 Another plot holder did'nt take the hose just the connector  ;D It seems that a couple of other people at various times have been seen using hoses. Aparentley the main stop thingy is going to have a locked man hole cover put over it and will only be turned on sunday's for people to fill there barrels.

No, I didn't pigeonseed as I thought I might have been rude.

Also, the committee member I spoke to about it, who said he didn't have a problem with it, is his neighbour and they were talking about it.

The plot holders on our site, that bring their gardeners, don't seem to suffer from embarrassment.  

That sounds like a good solution Lottieman ;D ;D ;D  At least your problem is sorted.

A bit strong though if you have got to pay £15 a year now though because of it.

We never take manure (which is available, but has to be paid for) or wood chippings which are free.  That way there's no jealousy about whether we've taken more than our share or underpaid.  We simply buy our own.  Much better relations that way.

you get manure for free? delivered to the site?
all of our plot-holders arrange their own deliveries, no hassle!!

I'm having a load delivered on Saturday (£25) but it will be dumped on the "hard standing" at the front of my plot. This bit I gave up is where "collective" things are dumped so I will be moving it all onto the plot "pronto" before people start helping themselves...   ::)

we're getting 2 loads (16 tons) delivered on saturday..8 people, 10.00 each, 40 barrows full  ;D

Gosh Mal, that's amazing! We pay £26 per tonne for manure and the mushroom compost has gone up from £160 per trailer load to £250 so I've had to put the price up from £15 to £20 for the members.  :o :o

Good grief, Anne, that's a bit steep ,haven't you got many horses up there  ;D

Quote from: grawrc on November 17, 2010, 22:08:59
Gosh Mal, that's amazing! We pay £26 per tonne for manure and the mushroom compost has gone up from £160 per trailer load to £250 so I've had to put the price up from £15 to £20 for the members.  :o :o

holy moly.

How do you produce veg economically at that sort of expenditure?  £250 + ferts, compost and seed and  the plot rent must be well more than what you would spend in a supermarket each year on veg if you didnt grow it. My entire yearly expenditure all in is about £100  a year, which i think is about the break even point. Any more than that it woudl be cheaper to go to ASDA.

We have both free and paid for deliveries of manure.We take both,some folk take rather more than their share and for the most part it doesn't bother me.
However a couple of years ago we had chippings delivered, to repair the potholes in the track used by cars.
One able bodied chap,who uses the track regularly in his car,  passed me my OH and three pensioners barrowing /raking/stamping chippings with his wheelbarrow,availing himself of the free manure  >:( >:(
He's a local councillor-I didn't vote for HIM  >:(

Quote from: lincsyokel2 on November 17, 2010, 23:11:36

Quote from: grawrc on November 17, 2010, 22:08:59
Gosh Mal, that's amazing! We pay £26 per tonne for manure and the mushroom compost has gone up from £160 per trailer load to £250 so I've had to put the price up from £15 to £20 for the members.  :o :o

holy moly.

How do you produce veg economically at that sort of expenditure?  £250 + ferts, compost and seed and  the plot rent must be well more than what you would spend in a supermarket each year on veg if you didnt grow it. My entire yearly expenditure all in is about £100  a year, which i think is about the break even point. Any more than that it woudl be cheaper to go to ASDA.

£250 is for a trailer load - enough for 12-15 folk. Our rent is £20.

All this is reminding me, I've still got to organise some sort of communal manure delivery for our site. I did say I would, at the last site assoc meeting.

But it seems to involved contacting various people who are only known by first name, and for whom I have no address or phone number.  :o  ;D

sorry to deviate from original topic, sinbad. Sounds like you're feeling they'd gang up on you somehow if you complained. It's true that those who are unembarassable get away with more, isn't it? Anyway, you have our support!

it does seem much cheaper in the UK - our association pays 70 euros a year each!  And I just bought some manure, it was 18 euros for 1 cubis metre. or about 10 barrowloads.
I don't think allotmenting is necessarily cheaper than buying veg but the taste and quality is nothing like it, also you get exercise :)