Kindness of Neighbours

[Sue]

I'd just like to say how grateful I've been for the generosity of my allotment neighbours in my first year. It was my 80-year old neighbour who first spurred me into getting an allotment, his many generous gifts of fruit, vegetables and flowers from his allotment last summer made me determined to have a go. And now I am reclaiming my own allotment space, people on the site have given me: rhubarb crowns, another said I could have as many of their eating apples as I wanted, another gave me 4lb of cooking apples and a sack of pears, another 10 beetroot and a big bag of jerusalem artichokes. One neighbour cuts the grass for me and has even driven me to the garden centre to pick up heavy bags of compost etc. There has been much advice and lending of tools and of course I try and do my bit and give back what I have in exchange.
It's wonderful to become part of this community, how I wish I'd not waited so long before taking the plunge.
Sue

[Snadger]

38-22-35 I pressume! Very sexist I know but only joking! LOL

[Lesley Jay]

Sue I have to agree with you. Time spent on the allotment is truly fabulous. Once I close the gates behind me it's like being in a different world - so peaceful and relaxing. It takes me ages to walk to our plots because of stopping to say hello and the work is constantly interrupted by people wanting a chat but I love it. Next year try growing something a bit different to your neighbours then you will be able to give them something that they don't already grow. Last year fennel and pak choi went down a storm. Most of all though Sue enjoy it!

[Lesley Jay]

Snadger!! A 22 inch waist?

[Earthbabe]

Is that conducive with having a life?

[Nicos]

You are clearly on a great site Sue.

We grow some 'different' veg- as LJ suggested- which are eagerly swapped by the younger lottie holders, but the 'old guys' on either side of our plot look at us with a confused glaze in their eyes!! One guy was telling us that they have the same meal every Monday..different one every single Tuesday etc etc - they just store the veg for when it is out of season
They grow about 20 rows of spuds for the family- meat and 2 veg and spuds every day. I like pasta, rice, noodles, wraps etc to vary my carb intake, so I probably have the same glazed look when they are enthralling about their 20 rows of one variety of spud!!!!
I love the variation of styles and techniques of growing- so much to pick up on and adapt.
Every one to their own ,and with helpful neighbours....such a bonus

[OverWyreGrower]

Wish our neighbours were as nice as everyone else's! (Not lottie neighbours, actual ones...)

They have a huge apple tree, and the wind the other night brought down loads. I was about to go and ask if they were going to use them, when I saw the old geezer collecting them... I waited until he had a wheelbarrow full and then could only watch in disbelief as he tipped them all into his fire pit (I was watching from between the hedge)

Apparantly they don't like apples...

I went round afterwards and said that we would take whatever they didn't want, rather than see him burn them.

[Alison]

Miss the old boy who used to be our neighbour - he seemed to know when to look over the fence and offer a cup of tea and came round with all sorts of bits and pieces. He didn't grow much in the way of crops but had a beautiful garden and when he became to ill to manage it much insisted I have a load of his stuff, including some deep tom type pots which have been used every year since. The ones we have now are OK but too busy to stop of a chat and you should see the state of their garden!

[Snadger]

Snadger!! A 22 inch waist?

Sounds better than 560mm doesn't it?

[nick the grief]

22" thats just about the top of my leg !!

[Nicos]

Such a strapping chap!

[Shortie]

Snadger!! A 22 inch waist?

LJ, Jessica Rabbit is coming to mind...

[Sue]

Snadger
The measurements made me laugh, I'm on the wrong side of fifty and it's been a long time since I saw those results from the tape measure.
Perhaps that's part of the reason why I've been surprised!!!
Also having only previously endangered houseplants before, I felt very new and inexperienced so the kindness has been a great spur. It's not a great site for amenities but I do so look forward to my time there and as I don't drive and am quite a way from the site, tend to spend the whole day up there when I go, so get to meet some of the new people looking for a site, three lots of people recently so try to do my bit to inform and welcome.
And Lesley, grew Pak Choi, but just found it dotted with black eggs, so something (and what was it?) snuck in under the fleece. However I did find new potatoes, garlic and basil very adequate "swops". I've also taken up jars of jam and chutney made from their produce as a thankyou. So shall go up armed with beetroot cake today to say thankyou for the 10 beetroots which was my latest gift.
Sue

[Lesley Jay]

Sue I have never bothered with fleece on Pak Choi. It is sown later in the season and is quite a quick crop so try it again but don't cover it. You can see any insects or snails and these can be picked off.