allotments

[Angleparkinn]

I`ve had an allotment for about 10 years,it`s great for the veg but even better to go and sit in the shed away from the wife and kids.[;)]

[look_divine]

i am sooo envious look divine!!we moved here 8 mnths ago & the land at the back of us is all allotment plots.we were so excited by this & couldnt wait to start our "good life" way of life & even better,the 1 right outside our back door had been abandoned.so we rang the council to enquire only to be told "sorry,there is a lengthy waiting list & it could be yrs before you get 1"!! even after sending 4 letters stating how keen we are to renovate 1 of the STILL ABANDONED plots they wont let us have one[:(][:(]

awwww i waited for 5 months was really overgrown etc but im getting there, a little at a time
got 2 greenhouses on mine and 2 sheds its that big lol
luckily i got one greenhouse for £50 and the other free and the sheds were cheap too
can you not contact the allotment people and state you live right behind one and you know its vacant as you have not seen anyone there, also take pictures of it to show how overgrown it is
a really good website for ideas and chat is
www.allotments4all.co.uk

one lady is fighting her cause on there as there is vacant ones near her to but they wont give em up
its heart wrenching as so many people want them and some that get them dont even work them

[Skippy]

I've just emailed the council to ask if they have any allotments available. Dave calls me Margot (as in the Good Life!) so this could be interesting!

[look_divine]

skippy where abouts are you, ours are not run by the council they are private allotments
i just had to ring my parish council put my name down etc

[imstruggling]

ive been growing veg in pots- my first attempt. Ive got about 60 green tomatoes ranging from big to like cherry size ,they just wont go red! some turnips that i had a peek at are about as big as marbles, caulies that are just masses of leaves, and pea pods that have just got white and black ish flowers on them- maybe i started too late? its not as easy to grow stuff as i thought, and geting so much rain im spending a fortune on slug pellets

[Skippy]

My local council is Spelthorne in Middlesex. I wrote to the council as there are allotments just round the corner from me and they are council run. I'll see what they come back with and then I'll try the parish council. Thanks for the info Look Divine x

[tori]

Thanks for that look divine,will have a peep on there!..the secretary for the allotments came out to see us about a mnth ago(after we rang him every single day until he agreed to come & meet us[:p])& we told him we were very enthusiastic & would have plenty of spare time in the summer hols to clean it all up & have it looking lovely.so,he said he'd think about it & let us know.2 days later he rang us to say "sorry,you cant have it,you will just have to wait your turn"[:(!]we were so disappointed[:(]!!

[tori]

And it is frustrating because aswell as there being numerous plots unused and in a total mess,there are people who have them but dont look after them or use them as a dumping ground!! i will get my camera out! by the way look divine your allottment sounds lovely!![:D]

[look_divine]

exactly there is 3 near to mine that the people rarely tunr up, the weeds grow and spread onto mine and still they dont get told or evicted
i work full time but go up every night after work to water the greenhouses and spend most of the weekend there
kids love it and they eat the veg they never did before lol
besides why pay £1.80 for a cauli when you cna grow 25 for the price of a pack of seeds
keep nagging they will eventuallycave in also go the the website i stated there is lots of good ideas and information on allotments and how to get one

[tori]

Thanx for that,i'll def take a look.you certainly cant beat homegrown fruit n veg.a lady who i work with has an allotment & shes always bringing us samples of stuff she has grown & everything is just so fresh & yummy.get me,im just so not green fingered,but the thought of being able to grow our own food really appeals.& skippy,i too was getting called margo ledbetter when i told people we were after an allotment!they said they couldnt see me up to my elbows in mud or digging weeds in case i broke a nail[:0]

[look_divine]

me either never grown anything to eat anyway all house plants died etc etc when i got my first cauli you would of thought i found gold
how sad huh LOL

[tori]

i bet you felt a great sense of achievment when you dug up that cauli !! keep growing! like you say you can save yourself a fortune.id want a few chicken's on mine so we could have an endless supply of eggs!!! crikey i must be getting old before my time,im starting to sound like an old farmer's wife!?! [:D]

[look_divine]

lol we can have chooks BUT i work full time and wouldnt be able to be there when they need me so i have a plastic falcon and owl instead LOL

[tori]

[:D]yes,it does appear that chickens need alot of attention.there's a little old chap near us who has chickens on his allotment,and he's backwards and forwards up n down the lane all day long!! sounds like your better off stickin with your plastic birds!![:D]

[look_divine]

they keep the pidgeons away lol hence stop my veg from getting eaten