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Fran Calderbank

Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 12:06 pm Post subject: allotments
I have just joined this site and am currently in the process of acquiring an allotment. Has any body got any hints or tips on the subject? I am quite new to the gardening and whole subject of downsizing.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 12:13 pm Post subject:
I've moved this to grow your own. There's quite a lot of stuff in here about allotments. There are also articles on the main site about crop rotation etc..

Fran Calderbank

Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 12:14 pm Post subject:
Thanks I had just realised that i had put in the wrong section.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 12:48 pm Post subject:

The first thing I'd say is try to get a good feel for the local allotment association. Find out whether it's a friendly site, whether there's any help and handy advice locally. You want somewhere that will welcome you. Then I'd say have a look to see how good the plots are; see if it looks like it's going to be a good place for cultivating what you want.

After that, it's plot selection. You want a plot not too far from a water source (pump or watering point), and ideally one that's already got a shed. Then it comes down to what's already growing there, whether it's all overgrown, how much there is there you can salvage, etc.

Fran Calderbank

Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 1:15 pm Post subject:
Thank you for your help. I have visited the site and spoke to some members and they all seemed keen enough to help. I have already been told that there is a good will payment for any sheds or greenhouse that is on site. This purely is negotiable between the applicant and person vacating the site. This seems fair. Good advice about the tap that is something that I haven’t thought about.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 1:50 pm Post subject:

Fran Calderbank wrote:

Good advice about the tap that is something that I haven’t thought about.

That's well worth considering!

In some places in the country, you'll find a tap at the end of most of the plots. In others, you'll have pumps or cisterns situated around the site. Either way, you want to minimise your work by being able to get to water.

It's also worth having a good look at how wet the site seems; one site near me has an end that's good and moist, or at least isn't too dry, and another that seems almost desert like. Make sure your plot isn't the latter.

And don't feel like you can't be swayed by little things like whether you like the look of it. You've got a lot of hours to spend down there, might as well be a plot you like being on.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 3:28 pm Post subject:

Hi Fran - welcome to the site, by the way.

Are you on the waiting list for a plot or have you been allocated one yet?

We've had our allotment about a couple of months now, we are complete novices at allotmenteering! My hubby built an enclosure and a hen house (proud 'parents' to 7 hens!) at one end of our allotment and we are just in the process of trying to get some digging done and getting some seeds/plants into the ground.

What do you fancy doing with your allotment? Any ideas as yet?

Fran Calderbank

Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:43 am Post subject: Allotments

We have just joined the waiting list and after speaking to the allotment secretary we are quite confident that we could have an allotment in a week or two.

My wife and I are, like your selves, are both new to the allotment scene and are looking forward to the prospect of growing are own produce. We intend to grow organic vegetables if we can, but we will have to read up on the subject and rely on the good advice of other fellow allotment holders.

As regards what we intend to do, this is start with the basics, see what other people are growing with success, copy their methods used and learn form example.

My wife and I both like the idea of having chickens on the allotment, but this will be done at a later date. Are interest was inspired by the TV show River Cottage with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

It looks like it’s going to be a good weekend, so happy allotmenteering to you and your husband.

Res

Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 1172
Location: Allotment Shed, Harlow

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 8:31 am Post subject:
Your lucky, we are not allowed chickens etc. on our council allotments in essex

Fran Calderbank

Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 8:40 am Post subject:
Hi Res, Sorry to hear that, not all allotments in Manchester allow chickens, we are just looky that there is an allotment at the bottom of are street and that it allows chickens.

*Fluffykitten*

Joined: 03 Dec 2004
Posts: 74
Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 9:19 am Post subject:

Hi Fran
We've had our allotment for around 4 weeks and its keping me so busy i dont get time to read/post on here that often!
It was a bit daunting a first, the site we inherited is full of couch grass and dandilions so its going to take ages to clear - but thats all part of the fun, never thought weeding could be so theraputic. Like Gertie we're taking it slow. Got some potatoes in and we've made three raised beds so far and sown some lettuce, spring onions and radish in the first; Beetroot in the second and onion sets in the third (theyre only around 1metre square each). Its going to take an age to clear the rest of the plot but i just had to start planting straight away! At the moment we've only got half a plot aprox 8ft by 12 ft but thats enough - for now at least.
I found that the other people on the allotment site are really friendly and full of advice to tap into.
The only draw back with us is that the plot is a 15 min drive away from the house so if yours is going to be right by the house then WAHAY!! No worries!!
Good luck in your home grown veggie endeavours - its an exciting and addictive project!
Clair XXX

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:46 pm Post subject:

Good luck with getting your allotment soon, Fran. There are quite a few of us who are all in the same boat, starting out with allotments. One (did I say one, there are hundreds!) good thing about downsizer is that there are also people far more experienced than us who are willing to share their knowledge with us. So any experiences we have both good and bad we can discuss here and get guidance and support.

We go to our local library a lot and are always getting out books on gardening, keeping hens, etc. Life is a learning curve, isn't it

We've still got a few plots free on our allotments, but they are starting to be occupied - which is brilliant! We don't have an organised society as such - bit of a grey area!

Fran Calderbank

Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 8:25 pm Post subject:

Hi Clair, Gertie

It is really great to hear that there are so many like minded people out there who are interested in the whole aspect of downsizing and have a love for a more natural and laid back way of life. Just like Clair states what a great way to chill out.

My wife and I have been telling are friends about are intentions and they have now started calling us Tom and Barbara, just like the characters in the classic comedy “The Good Life.” Let’s hope we all have as much fun and games as they did.

I would like to add what a great site this is and thank everyone who as took the time to answer my initial post. I shall no doubt be using this service often once we get started.

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