GYO Article

[Mikey]

There was an article in the back of GYO this month about why people have an allotment. I was wondering what made you decide to get yours?

Mine was an overwhelming desire to feed my new family with healthy produce, and a real pleasure in physical fatigue. I have an office job, which means I don't get to exert myself much in work, but I take great pleasure in the fresh air and back breaking work on my plot. Its very rewarding.

[chris]

I don't have an allotment, but exactly the same reason as yourself is why I grow fruit/veg. Hoping for a lottie in the near future mind, as I'm loosing my veg beds in the garden for a wendy house thingy.

[jackie j]

Watched a programe on the telly about allotments, and as I like gardening and only have a tiny one with no where to grow fruit and veg, except in a couple of pots, I put my name on the list. 18 months later ( sept 2007) I had a call to say I had reached the top of the list for a half plot. Looking after two families and working part time I wondered how I would manage and thought I had taken on too much. One month after taking it on I lost my sister who I had been looking after, so it was meant to be, as it gave me something else to focus on.
I put my OH's name down and just over 12 months ago got our second half plot, I love it and would spend all day everyday there if I could.

[Hilary B]

I doubt I'd get one close enough to actually work on it. There are a few in the town, but wrong side of course, and I know what I'm like, it would only get neglected if it was any distance away!

[jackyspratty]

Myfriend who is a professional gardener asked me to help on his. id only grown toms in pots prior to that. Id also got a little isolated as a stay at home mum and wanted to share some time with a friend, get out and about and learn at the same time.

I got my own plot last year, it has to be walkable as I dont drive. Unfortunately this means its on the site that no one wants to be on!! Hey HO, it has no facilities, heavy clay soil and is built on old mines that are slowly subsiding......but its mine, all mine!!! Plus I did manage to get a good amount of veg all thinigs considered!

[Mikey]

The good thing about clay is brassicas like heavy compacted soil more than the airy fairy stuff. Ah, sprouts.......mmm

Every cloud has a silver lining, you just have to find it.

[Dane End Dolly]

I have to say lifestyle choice, cheapest gym, fresh air and gosh the fruit and veg tastes better when you know you have grown it yourself. The side benefit is that you can save loads of money and when we are in a recession that is a major plus

[Florence Fennel]

I started off growing herbs in my garden only because my brother gave me loads of plants. Then I graduated to strawberries for the children and since then there's been a little more each year. If my growing space wasn't outside my back door, I wouldn't be able to do it. My family love the taste of home grown veg.

[Alison]

I overgrew my backgarden, no way I could be self sufficient without getting more space and there's not better tonic for your physical and mental heath than being outside in the open air.

[arpoet]

Getting an allotment was my Blind pals wifes idea.. he was getting more and more depressed as his eyes were getting worse and she needed to get him out of the house from time to time.
He could not manage on his own so asked me to be his eyes.

The plots was very run down, and not being cultivated for several years full of weeds.

We built a new shed ( well rebuilt a second hand one ), and made a bricked seating area, laid paths from begged and scrounged slabs and then got to grips with growning crops for our families.

No matter how bad we feel, a couple of hours down there supping tea and putting the world to rights is just the tonic we need.
Roger

[Two_Sheds]

I was going through months of chemo and not working, and dead bored. My neighbour invited me up to see his lotty, then to share it, and I was hooked. That was 15 years ago