Allotments 4 All

A friend (kitty) steered me to A4A because she knows how much I love my garden.  I am now hooked and want a lottie of my own.
There are 4 sites in my area run by the council and I have taken a look at them all.  I was amazed how little people around here do on their lotties, they look very uncared for, nothing like yours!  :o
Anyway 3 of the sites are close to each other and reasonably close to me.  One I could walk to, whether I would be in a fit state to walk home is another matter.  2 of them have a waiting list but the 3rd has some vacant plots, infact looking at it, you would think only 3 or 4 were in use.  This site is a stones throw from one of the others and so I'm wondering why it has vacant plots when the other one has a waiting list.  Do they get a lot of problems with vandals and so on?
So my dilemma is should I get my name on the list for the site nearest to me, or should I be very brave and go for one of the vacant plots or would you go for both.  Would be really interested to hear your views.
I know which ever I decide there will be a great deal of work involved in clearing it.  They are terribly overgrown (even those that are supposedly in use!) but what is the best way to tackle this.  Is it best done by digging and getting grass and weeds up by hand, or is a rotavator a good idea?
If, and at the moment it's a big IF, I go for a plot now, it's not too late to clear an area and get some tatties, beetroot and parsnips in, is it?  ???
It's at times like these I really miss having my Dad around but although Greg thinks I'm quite mad, he says he will lend a hand.

All comments will be gratefully received

MM

it's rarely too early and never too late, MM :)

have you managed to have a work with the relevant site secretaries, because they could tell you why certain allotments have waiting areas, and others dont. kinda hard to give advise as it would all be speculation.

in an ideal world, i would go for the one you can walk to - a great excuse not to have an excuse from going down there, i think
my plot is just around the corner from my house, and i pop over there for five minutes with the contents of my compostables bin, and get back two hours later :)

svea

thanks svea.
I'm going to ring the council on monday morning to find out if all the sites have water, as pointless if they don't.  also if there any things they don't allow.  a friend has said that where she lives the council prepare the site for you as a welcome.  well I can't see that happening here but you never know.
how lovely to have your plot just round the corner, unfortunately we haven't any that close, the nearest is about half a mile!  :)

MM

You sound like me last year! I had a choice of lots of vacant plots on a not so good looking site or sit on a waiting list at a really nice, well kept site. I decided to wait and am really pleased I did, the wait wasn't that long, my name went on the list in June and I got my plot in October I think it was. Find out why so many of the plots are vacant, there is usually a reason. Today our site was really buzzing with lots of activity, I think I'd miss that atmosphere on a quiet site. Good luck whatever you decide.  :)

Thanks Jesseveve,
I had thought of asking on Monday why the vacant plots.  The trouble is you want to get going don't you.
Thanks for your input.
MM

i'm glad you like this site mm-good 'ere innit?
thing is....
there will be a reason why one site has a lot of available sites..i think :-\ ...maybe that will be the one without water...or the one with tigers in the undergrowth :o...
the council here(in lincoln)seem to look after their lottie people quite well...but thats from an outsiders view ;)-we have got the corner of a  farmers fields that is forever kittys ;Dso although its OUR allotment-its not strictly speaking a lottie-but wwe are treating it as such-no grass for us!
..it needs a lot of work but i wouldn't want to take on somewhere that was a bit of a trek...
see what the council says on monday mm...

Maybe one has no water supply.  Lots don't.  My bro has just taken one on without water but I expect it's more of a challenge as you have to harvest water like you do all the veggies. 

If there is one close by which you can walk to then that's got to be a plus point. 

I hope you get one soon. 

MM  Here is my OH and niece on our newly acquired plot last summer.  Our plot is the one behind, with all the long grass.  That group of trees behind them is actually a privet hedge!  We've not done much since then but we are taking our time as we want the lotty to be a happy experience not a back breaking nightmare.  Everyone has told us to rotovate the lot but what for?  It's massive and I don't want to expose loads of bare earth just so the weeds can grow back.  It's just another treadmill.  My OH and I got the plot to relieve stress so it's ok not to do much at all except sit, listen to the birds and enjoy a few lagers in the sunshine.  Been plenty of that today.  In fact I got quite red faced.  We're putting up an old shed at the mo and when my old man has finished it he says that's his bit over.  He will put down his deck chair, get a box of wine in and a crate of lager and just chill.  the veg are down to me  ;D

thanks wardy, think you could be right about the grass and weeds.  goodness the height of the weeds etc on your plot make me realise they aren't as bad around here after all  ;D
went to have a look at our nearest site again today (about three quarters of a mile away) and there was quite a lot of activity.  but we did notice that there were a lot of water butts about so I have a feeling that there is no water supply but never the less there seemed to be a fair amout being grown.  If I manage to get one there I think the first thing we be a shed with means of catching every drop of water!
think you and yours have the right idea, enjoy it rather than it all becoming a real pain.
Anyway thanks for your thoughts and for the photo.

MM x

Merlin's Mum :)
You've had some very good advice :)

Explore all the options.......way it all up and do whats feels right for you.

Good Luck with the Council....and dont forget to ask those awkward Questions too!! :D

Thanks Tulip-23, I will

MM

Quote from: Merlins Mum on April 02, 2005, 18:46:24
I'm going to ring the council on monday morning to find out if all the sites have water, as pointless if they don't. 
MM

My site doesn't have water, but everyone seems to be okay. I can't speak from experience, as I've only just recently got the plot.

You can always set up some waterbutts. We have communal ones, and I intend on getting my own as well.

Hope your search for a lottie continues to go well  ;D

Thanks Moggle

MM

Hi again Merlin's Mum,

I had two plots on two different sites to choose from. I went for the one further away with all the people on it. The closer one seemed like a better deal (closer & in better condition) but the problem was every time I went I never saw anyone else. Ever. So I went for the plot that was further away and just a mess (not entirely unlike Wardy's!) but on a site that always had someone working there. I've had tremendous help and advice from my allotment neighbours, so I think that was the right call, although as I walk up the hill past the closer site I do sometimes wonder!!

Best,
Melanie

Thanks, there's lots of different things to consider, isn't there.
MM

Just to update you all, I have rung the council and my name has now been added to the waiting list of the site nearest to me and with the most activity.
April is when the rents are due and I was told this is when the plots generally become available and although I am 7th on the list I am an optomist, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I would like to thank all of the above for their contributions, it has all been very helpful and encouraging.

MM xx

Merlins Mum  ;)

Good News...................Well Done and lots of Success when the lottie arrives