Allotment atmosphere

[growingkasbar]

Well im quite new to this gardening lark but i am now obsessed with growing vegetables and am running out of space to put things. So, i was thinking about applying for an allotment. However i happened to see a thread in the rule the roost section labeled "Im sooooo annoyed(again).......chickens dead!" I read all about matthew and his poor chickens who may have been killed by a fellow allotmenter. I thought allotments were a friendly place where people of all ages and experiences were welcome to come and contribute on their own patch and discuss random things such as the weather almost as neighbors. Are allotments a clicky place to be? Do you have to have the right face to fit or is matthew the victim of a one off horrific experience?

[blackkitty]

I think this must be a one off, everyone at our allotments are really friendly, barking mad, but friendly.

[Cloud]

All gardeners are Barking!!!!!!

[Nicos]

He's just been exceptionally unlucky...don't let that put you off.

I've been on 2 different sites - and both have been lovely- of course there's the odd one or two peeps who are very private and go there to get away...and others who are a bit too chatty/helpful...but over all- nah- tis a lovely thing to do!
Put your name down, and if you know which site you'll be on, then nip down one weekend and have a chat with a few folk...you'll soon get the right impression of the place!

[zebedee]

Our allotment people are, in the main, very nice (but daft) people. there are 'themes' that run through; for example flags are flown when people are on site, such as English, Scottish(mine), Pirates, etc. Also people have developed nicknames. Mine is 'straightline' cos I can't do one, we have a 'trendy wellies' and a 'tatty knickers'. Enjoy the madness and the fresh air.

[jackie j]

Good idea about the flags I never know who is on site even though I can see everyone arriving from my plot. People are friendly on our site but very often cos I am in the bottom corner I dont see anyone as I can go during the week but my nearest neighbours can only do weekends. I love it even if people dont come and have a natter, I sometimes go for a walk around the site to see what others are doing with their plot and stop for a natter.
Go for it after all you can easily give up if you dont like it, you wont know till you try.

[growingkasbar]

Thanks guys i will deff look into it. Im not sure where my closest lot is. Will have to do some research i think.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Have a chat to your council's allotment officer and they'll be able to advise you on locations and availablity.

I'm on a small privately run allotment (just nine plots), and everyone is lovely. Though my nextdoor neighbours dog is not my best friend (he jumped the boundery fence to come and see me and landed in the middle of my precious onions!). Most people do respect your privacy, and similarly most people are happy to give or receive advise/ share a cuppa, that kind of thing. I'm confident that Matthew's experience is an isolated event, I can't imagine anything like that happening on my site.

[SlugLobber]

It's not a life sentence, OP. If you don't like it, you can always back out, later. I don't have an allotment, but those I know who have don't report any psychotic gardeners.

[bluemoon]

I've had allotments for years and 99.99% of the people are genuine, friendly and helpful. Usually they are very encouraging to new plot holders too. Occasionally though you do get one with a Napoleon Complex, which usually isn't obvious until they are elected on to the committee. At this point the lotties become their own private empire and the megalomania bubbles to the surface. From reading Matthews posts I think this is unfortunately what has happened to him. I certainly wouldn't allow it to put you off... at least not unless you were planning on a plot on Matthew's site.

[Hans Mum]

our site is a mix of all sorts of personalities, some want to chat others dont, you soon get to know....all are happy to give advice & most give excess produce with the advice...me i'm known as the one where the kettles always on and we can stop and have a cuppa & a natter

[growingkasbar]

I have been thinking about getting a plot, because at the moment i am growing in pots but i want more I am becoming addicted to going out in the garden, watering my veggies, talking to them, moving seedlings into larger pots, getting soil up my finger nails the lot. But it doesnt take me long as i say everything is in containers. Im quite sad when everything is done and i have no more work to do. I would love to have an allotment where i could go and spend a good hour or two. I would also then have more space for my veggies and possibly be able to grow so larger veg such as pumpkins Ive always thought allotments were a nice place to be my grandads friend had one when i was little and i used to love going and helping out......and getting an onion or some carrots to bring home

[Two_Sheds]

I would love to have an allotment where i could go and spend a good hour or two.

And the rest! Just the weeding is taking me an hour a day at the moment.

[growingkasbar]

see i have clearly gone mad because that doesnt sound like a bad thing to me lol

[Two_Sheds]

No, it's great. It's just that when i have time, it's raining. When the weather is good, Other Half wants to drive halfway round East Angular on some mission