I dont understand some people

[allotmentlady]

I will always try to help others, I think its in my nature From helping people put up greenhouses, advice on crops, seeds etc....also helping folk get an allotment but I have now decided that it can be a thankless task.

There are a few people that I have helped on our allotment site and I have never received a 'thanks'. I was up at my allotment yesterday, again, and during a break I decided to have a wander around the site as I knew that our lottie officer was coming for a visit. I was astounded at the state of some allotments.......one particular allotment was completley overgrown again, all crops rotted, this is the third year running, another was like a field of grass and weeds and many others neglected. Some of these allotments I have actually helped on, working to get them to a good standard and then they are just allowed to go into a state of neglect.
I know some people have not got a lot of time to go up everyday but these plots are left for 6+ months at a time.
I spoke to the lottie officer who says she is going to a rottweiler of an officer this year in evicting people who are not bothering anymore. I really hope she does.
When I was secretary of the allotment society, I used to greet new people, show them around, keep them encouraged and get them involved. Now sadly, since I resigned March 08, nothing happens, you dont see the committee unless they have meetings, no-one gets involved. I decided to not to even be a member because of the way things are run by them.

I have campaigned for 4 years to acquire new allotments and work started on them a week ago, yipheeeee! Now I sit here worrying whether they will end up neglected and unloved. I know it isnt my worry or problem, cannot help but feel the project I started is being uncared for, I feel an obligation to see it through, although others are trying to step on my toes and take over, so they get all the limelight and push me out.

I WANT to stand back and say yeah get on with it but having dealt, campaigned, media involvement, meetings etc.....I feel like I SHOULD have a say.....

I am ranting I know lol...........just needed to get this off my chest lol.

[SarzWix]

((((Hugs))))
Hope you feel a bit better getting that off your chest.
Allotment politics can be a nightmare - we've got some shenanigans going on down at our site, and people are happy to remember stuff that makes them cross, and very quick to forget when they've been helped out...

[Keith2202]

I totally understand your frustration, shared by many I'm sure. People like me who are on waiting lists, (which in places like London & Norwich number tens to hundreds) find it really annoying to look over the fence and see them neglected. If people have got bored of their latest plaything, they should be chucked off! Lots of them aren't going to voluntarily give them up because they can't be bothered or have forgotten they rent them, especially as the rents are very small so they don't notice a financial hit!

[Irie Jan]

Rant away! We all need to at times, especially when somthing is heart felt.

I do not have an allotment but can understand how you feel after reading all the posts on here about how lazy some people are with their plots and all those waiting for a plot it's all wrong that the lazy toads get away with it!

[dexterdoglancashire]

You get it off your chest love! Its a real bugger when you work your socks off and arent appreciated - and yes, having had a super tour round your site know exactly what you are talking about.
Only prob is - is, people! and I think this is the same throughout life - if you are really, and I mean, really passionate about something in life, and even though you try your best for other folks - there are always going to be those who arent, for whatever reason, as passionate as you.
The only thing you can do is put it down to experience, and in the future not necessarily "go the extra mile" to help folks.
That sounds really, really c*** but I learned this through work. I wont go into details but sometimes letting folk do their own thing, despite all your efforts, is to let folk do it for themselves.
I know how much youve done for your lottie site - and yes, those folk who are quiet - really appreciate what youve done.
Take care chuck.
Bernie x

[zazen999]

Always always always plan into your calcs a certain amount of what I call 'muckwittage' although I may have spelt it slightly wrong.

No matter what, more often than not you WILL get a fair amount of it.

And if it doesn't happen, then someone upstairs likes you.

xxx

[dexterdoglancashire]

Always always always plan into your calcs a certain amount of what I call 'muckwittage' although I may have spelt it slightly wrong.

No matter what, more often than not you WILL get a fair amount of it.

And if it doesn't happen, then someone upstairs likes you.

xxx

I would call it something else! It begins with B and ends in T.

[janeyo]

It's so annoying. I would be tempted to wipe my hands of it and put my efforts into projects that are not thankless tasks.

janeyo x

[Glutton4...]

'MUCKWITTAGE'

What a great term!

I think it is sooooo difficult, if you are passionate about a subject, to expect others to feel the same way. Some of these folk can obviously afford to keep their allotments, financially, even if they don't need them, in the hope that one day they will have the time. So they pay for them rather than lose them.

Perhaps some people don't know about the waiting lists, and the new 'Veg. Growing epidemic' that is sweeping our Country

That said, I hope that you, personally, have the time to continue, because your successors may not!


Sorry, I'm rambling...

[Alice]

I think you just have to accept that not everyone shares your values Allotmentlady.
I don't have an allotment but I do think people who don't work them should be chucked off and pretty quickly.

[Snadger]

I would call it something else! It begins with B and ends in T.

And makes wonderful manure!

[Alice]

Give me another clue

[rogesse]

Thanks I feel really guilty now! My allotment is looking the worst for wear (lots of grass) as I've not been able to give it my all over the last 6 months. In my defence My mother passed away 2000 miles away all of a sudden and my dad had a bit of a breakdown so I've had to give up my job and spend the best part of that time abroad.

I did tell people what had happened but it hasn't stopped the bitching, possibly because we are a very small site with lots of people (particularily relatives) wanting a plot.

To make ammends I did spend 8 hrs down there today and I can truely sympathize with the lack of thanks - the people moaning about me are the same lot happy to have me strim their pathways and take advantage of my transit van when collecting horse/cow/chicken poo as well as gladly helping with the hard graft on their plots.

Aaaaah a good rant is good for the soul!

[miffy]

My mum, wise lady that she is has always told me to only worry about the things i can change and let the others go. It works.

[allotmentlady]

Thanks guys............i feel better now lol