Hope Its the right decision

[cariann88]

This has been the hardest decision ever!! But I have decided to give up my plot at the allotment.

I work full time, days and nights and my allotment is not near me and is in another town.I am struggling getting down there to keep on top of things. On my days off I am just so tired. My body is mixed up from changing from days and nights and that on my days off I am just sleeping all day.

I am going to email the guy in charge of the plots today and let him know I am giving it up.

OH has said he will build me some trugg beds at home so I can carry on growing. I think that might be better then having a plot no where near me.

Hope I am making the right decision.

[greenishfing]

Can you not also put your name down for an allotment nearer to where you live? You might have a long wait but by the time you get offered a plot you might have more time.

[cariann88]

I have put my name down on a for a allotment near me. For now I can just grow at home.

[SarrissUK]

Carrie, don't feel like this is a problem or a let down or whatever negative may be going round your head. Your life is hectic, work is clearly taking its toll on you (I know I would struggle with swapping between working days, then nights, then days again). You need a balance in your life, and sometimes the things you want to do the most are the first ones that need to go, because of circumstances.

Growing will be part of your life, and you will find your way - it's your life, no one elses. You are being mindful which will be so good for you

[greenishfing]

I used to work shifts and it can really mess up your sleep and energy levels. It sounds as if your allotment has been adding to your stress levels rather than reducing them. I think you have made the right decision.

[Thelma Sanders]

If anything starts being something you have to do, you resent it and eventually stop doing it.
You don't want gardening to be like that - so growing at home on a smaller scale sounds the perfect solution, until life becomes a bit easier...

Be a pots and tubs gardener for now and you'll enjoy it

[rary]

I think you are doing the right thing Cariann as Thelma said doing something you have to do rather than because you want to, you will resent it, so having the garden at home means you will have more time for it, look through the Vine and you will see a lot of good advice on small scale gardening, as for working shifts after more than 40 years of shift work I found that getting up after 3 hrs or so on my first day off when night shift though tyring allowed me to sleep that night and was better rested the following day might be worth a try but only you will know if you could do that, oh and the children called it, dad's grumpy day

[Nicos]

It sounds like you are doing the right thing Carrie.
I recall how stunned we all were at how fantastic your plot was when you first got it. You're going to make another gardener utterly thrilled to be able to take it over and get the most out of 'owning' it.
Yep, I'm sure there will be days when you semi regret giving it up, but I think over all you're going to give a big sigh of relief.
Home growing is fantastic in other ways-and how lovely your OH is happy to support you with this!

[muckdiva]

Sounds very much like the right decision. You will likely get a lot of enjoyment and less stress from growing in a small area at home where you can just step out of the door to maintain and harvest stuff. I’ve had to grow in a small space this year, using 1m square raised beds and pots plus mixing veg in with flowers in existing beds and it’s been my most enjoyable year of gardening ever... Have fun!

[Snoop Puss]

There are only so many hours in a day, doubly complicated by the fact that you're working shifts, and triply complicated by the fact that your allotment is a long way away.

None of us can do everything (not even lottie dollie, who has me exhausted just reading her posts on the Chatback thread). Sounds like you've made a good decision given your present circumstances. Always good to get the happiness quotient up and the stress level down. And good on your OH for helping you out.

Nice time to get everything ready for the spring. Including getting some autumn-planting bulbs in?

Good luck. Don't stop posting, by the way.

[lottie dolly]

HAHAHAHAHAHA,that made me laugh Snoop thanks,
Carrie the others have said it all,i had to cut down and glad i did,good luck lass.

[ESBkevin]

I too think it's the right decision for now. There is a future at home and later another plot nearer (or perhaps a half plot to be managable).

[cariann88]

The good side to growing at home is that I can go out in my pjs haha

It is the right decision and in the long run I will be happier.

Thanks

And don't worry I will not stop posting.

[Bren In Pots]

Carrie I'm a back garden grower I like how i can nip in and out of the garden thats handy just now going out inbetween showers.

[veggiechicken]

Back garden grower here too - and I gave up an allotment when I had too much to do elsewhere. I remember giving a huge sigh of relief when I handed back the keys. I'm sure you'll feel the same Carrie.