Greedy Tenants

[Benacre]

Whay do tenants have to have two or even three allotments? a ten rod plot feeds me my Missus my Family and friends with even lots to freeze or store. So why (in our town) do mainly Women want to take on two or even three plots.

** in *** had three and not one was ever done properly.
Just do one properly and let someone else have it. I think it is just being greedy!

But walking around my site today I spoke to a great lady who does not like rows and has vegetables and fruit mixed with flowers, I tell you what her Swedes were magnificant. Only two had germinated bu they were huge.
I did like the way she had set it out and because of the way she had done it all it was weed free. It is a credit to her. I only wish more plot holders would do this. Thankfully there is only a very small minority who do not look after their plots but thankfully everyone else is very active.

This is the first time I have seen so many plots cultivated. I have made a good choice. settling here.
Benacre

[rustylady]

Benacre, You know some people have more than one plot because they are selling their produce? I think nobody should have a plot if they aren't actively working it...unfortunately people are given 12 month leases, so they don't get kicked off quick enough, especially if they're given a 'second chance'. Then people who are waiting for plots, eager to get started, have to wait months or even years for a plot. What should we do, have 6 month leases?

[nick the grief]

We have one person on our site that has 4 and they are all imaculate ( unlike mine!) even their 8 & 10 year old sons help out.

[Digger-07]

My site has 12 month leases but the plots are reviewed every three months to make sure there is some work being done. Having said that, if you tell the committee that you have a problem (illness, holiday etc) working the plot for a time they take that into consideration.

If no work has been done the lease ends next November.

[nick the grief]

Benacre, You know some people have more than one plot because they are selling their produce? I think nobody should have a plot if they aren't actively working it...unfortunately people are given 12 month leases, so they don't get kicked off quick enough, especially if they're given a 'second chance'. Then people who are waiting for plots, eager to get started, have to wait months or even years for a plot. What should we do, have 6 month leases?

When we let a plot we tell them that they must make a start within a month (unless there are reasons to stop them) and after 3 months if nothing much is happening we (I) write to them asking if they have a problem & would a smaller plot be of use or failing that they have 1 month to make serious in roads or it will be re-let as they were in breach of the agreement.

That being said, we don't expect them to clear it all in a year ( it's taken me 4 years to get my old plot sorted as I can onnly get down at weekends) but at least the next person will be off to a flying start.

[Benacre]

Due to my illness i am unable to work and it was a chance meeting with an allotment holder who put me onto this plot. Although I have my own plot . Iam also the "Odd job" man. Me and several others all plot holders share this role but there are many who just will not get involved with anyone else.
Our Site Rep has to use sticks and we all muck in and help her do her plot and also we help the elderly ones too.
The ones who have two plots do not even finish one properly. and are the first to decline any help.
That is my point.

Talking of selling produce you can sell produce (Not from our site it's in the rules) to a shop but if the veg is washed it is deemed processed and that is a problem as it comes under th durestiction of the Environmental Health officer

[pigletwillie]

I have two plots and am taking on a third this year, I do not sell my produce nor can I feed my family on a single 10 rod plot. If you are also feeding family and friends on a single plot kindly point me in the right direction as I am obviously doing something wrong!

If somebody has one plot or ten Benacre, is it really your business unless you are on the committee and are having to fend off a waiting list of people for plots but even then look at what happened at our site as sometimes things are not what they seem.

We nearly lost our site a few years ago as it was very underused. To prevent this most plotholders took on a second or even third plot to reduce the amount of empty plots even if they couldnt cultivate them.

As allotments have gained popularity, many plots have been given over to newcomers but many people have kept them on and fair play to them if they want too. They helped to keep the site open after all. We dont have a waiting list and still have a thirty odd plots vacant so please tell me why shouldnt I have more than one.

Our site secured a new 20 year lease on the back of some plot holders unselfish behaviour in taking on a second or third plot and I personally will not be knocking them even if the plots are not the best. I prefer to keep my head down and carry on digging and tend not to judge others for I do not know their situations.

[NOG]

I have two plots and one is really two cos its odd shaped at the end of te row.

I have Apple(2), Pear(1), Cooking Apple(1), Plum(1) and Damson(3) trees that I am prevented from removing by bye laws. which take up about 1/4 of the plot. then I have about 200 strewberry plants. Then when you add the Onions Potatoes and Garlic thats plot one full.

So everything else goes on plot two.

You may think that 200 strewberry is over the top but when you come home to find grand Ma, grandpa and the aunts sitting in the drive armed with pots of cream (I lie not) on May evenings they go very quickly. We have to smuggle them in to freeze to make jam.

[pigletwillie]

Our third plot to be is a bramble wilderness and unlikely to be let in the forseable future. As it sits next to my first plot it seemed logical to tame it as I am always fighting off the brambles. It is going to be planted as an orchard and wildlife area benefiting the whole site.

[pigletwillie]

Benacre said

"I tell you what her Swedes were magnificant. Only two had germinated but they were huge."


Benacre, this sounds like Mrs D's avatar!!!!!!

[nick the grief]

I though that but was too much of a gentleman

[Lesley Jay]

Piglet!!!! You are wicked!! I will have to take you in hand!!!!

[ChrisB]

I want to say something very cheeky, but not being a regular contributer I may be over stepping the mark so have decided to keep quiet

[Lesley Jay]

Go on Chris. I can always edit or delete it!!

[Peter]

I have two 10 rod plots on an ostensibly twentyfive plot site.
Nine of those are 5 rod and the rest are 10 rod.
Most plots are split into 2.5, 3 or 5 rod subplots.

When I took on my first 5 rod plot, on solid clay, up in shade near the south hedge away from the troughs & path, there were lots of uncultivated plots. After a year or two I got offered an additional 3 rod, one full plot up, down by the path and troughs and despite the heavy weed growth I took it as I was desperate for better growing soil and more space.

A month after taking that I got offered the second 5 rod half of the initial plot, with good soil, but waist deep in grass, with the odd random bed hacked out, planted and left. I took that and cleared it.

Through various small plot tenants leaving I then managed to secure all of the intervening 10 rod plot, mostly weeds and gave up the 3 rod bit. Thus ending up with 20 rod all together. Three rod for fruit, three rod for herbs, both at the top on soggy shaded clay. Fourteen rod culitvated by Howard 350 and in the light, large squash and potato area, so a three year rotation of squash - spuds -everything else.

We have had people who sat on 15 rod and cultivated 2, people with 3 rod who did nothing and one person who had 10, cut down to five and continues to win the best on site. Due to a surge in interest and thus demand we have had sufficient waiting list to start throwing off the non-cultivators and start letting small plots to new starters. Our average holding (excluding me) is now 5 rod and our average cultivated area is 60-70%.

From my first year on site I have gradually taken on more and more site jobs, basically because no one else did them, or they were badly done by the landlords workmen and I am now the "Site Agent".

Mowing the main path, the grass got stuck in the underneath of the car.
Fixing holes in the fence, the site agent at the time didn't notice them.
Clearing a couple of uncultivated plots of twenty foot blackthorn.
Strimming vacant or uncultivated plots.
Mowing interplot paths.
Replacing the site fence, I am now 1/3rd of the way to doing all the "bad" fence.
Letting vacant plots, now have an official 100% occupancy, but most recent lets have not been cultivated for years and are solid couch.

During all this I have had help from.......... my friend who lives eight miles away, but who helps me with stuff that is beyond my lifting ability (prolapsed discs).

When we have 100% occupancy, with 100% cultivation and my kids have left home I will consider cutting back my holding. My viewpoint is that I put in more than I get out.