Social predicament

[Mikey]

Ok this is the scenario, last year I gave away some of my spare runners to a neighbour well 20 odd houses away. He didn't say a word to me about them, and I thought well I'm not sure whether they enjoyed them or not.

A couple of weeks ago, I passed him in the street and he asked if I had any spare runner beans this year. I said everything is behind this year due to the cold weather in spring and I haven't really started picking them yet. He said they had loved the beans I'd given him and he'd much rather buy them from me than get them from the supermarket.

Now I wouldn't sell any produce I get off the allotment, but I'm happy to give some away when I have plenty, but I've seen him a couple of times over the last few weeks and everytime he says any beans yet?

Now how would you deal with this predicament, I don't mind him having some when there is some spare to go around but I'm not going to start handing them out while I'm only getting a handful at a time. He saw me give a big bucket of veg away to one of my other neighbours the other day so he obviously thinks I now have loads to go around.

In reality I only gave my neighbour a bucket as he'd been recently diagnosed with cancer and was going into hospital for chemotherapy in a couple of days and I wanted him to be able to enjoy some really fresh produce while he could still eat properly.

What would you do in my position?

[veggiechicken]

Tell him that you have an arrangement with another plotholder to swap them for some of his/her surplus produce? If you get a glut you'll give him some but you can't promise as this year is so slow..........

[Bigmallly]

If you have any runners spare Mikey, by all means give him some but at the same time, I would give him a handfull of seeds & explain how easy they are to grow.............

[Mikey]

He didn't want them for nothing BM he wanted to buy them off me. Now if the land was mine I'd let him buy some off me, I'm not precious about my veg, but its illegal to profit from an allotment, and it isn't something that I'd want being repeated with other neighbours.

I like the seed idea though... I could give him some at the end of this year and it won't have cost me a penny.

[Bigmallly]

I know what you mean about selling your produce, I brought a couple of bags of veg in to work for some Consultants & folk were offering to buy it.........I declined.

[taff]

I'd just explain the next time you see him that you haven't had any and when you do, you'll give him some.
Tell him you've had a glut of everything else, but not runners yet.

And do what he said ^^^

[Snadger]

A bloke I new sent a shoe box full of runner beans by post to his Daughter. He phoned her and asked her whether she had enjoyed them? She said "Yes they were nice Dad, but by the time I'd finished shelling them there wasn't very many though!"

[MrsCordial]

How about suggesting a swap of some kind? If it were me I'd be quite honest that you're not allowed to sell from the allotment and there isn't usually much left over once you've fed the family, but if you do find a glut on your hands you'd be happy to swap. I find that sort of honesty takes the wind out of people's sails, and if he's the sort who doesn't want to swap or water while you're away or whatever, he'll soon stop asking!

[marchogaeth]

You could try growing a few extra plants next year and taking them round with some simple instructions. I'm amazed what a mess people can make of getting a bean to germinate. I once sent some home as a project for the children and parents - unbelievable.

[zazen999]

Give him 3 canes and 9 beans for Christmad.

[Feral007]

I do sometimes swap veg or honey with other people. Sometimes it gets a bit out of hand though. Some people want a lot of stuff but either don't want to or can't be bothered with the swap bit. And others have so much you're embarrassed to take it all.

I'd just say it's been a slow year for beans, that if they finally come thru you'll give him a 'Hoi' and give him some. And tell him you don't sell.

How nice of you to give that neighbour some fresh food while they could still enjoy it!

[sammy_roser]

I would tell him that if you get a glut of them this year you'd be happy to pass on any spares but you wouldn't be able to sell them as the land you grow them on is an allotment.

I have this issue at work with cakes. I love to bake cakes but only eat a slice so I take it into work. One of the security guards in there asks me every single day if I've made cakes, because of my poor health I haven't been well enough to stand in the kitchen to make them and it's already upsetting enough without him telling me every single day that 'it's not good enough and I have to bake cakes this weekend'

Sorry! Think I went off on one then

[Polytastic]

Awwww, Sammy Roser this is such a shame. I think people want to let you know when they enjoy something and go out of their way to 'compliment' you by asking for repeats. It's like they don't comprehend the pressure this can be to you. I often have similar problems when the apples are in season. It's difficult and I'd try to take it as a compliment - your cooking is so good that they are prepared to hassle and take lumps out of each other for it

[Farmer_Gyles]

I normally give some veg or jam to the old boy over the road - he's well into his 80s, known him 20 years, he's always grateful, never asks for anything
I hope he likes courgettes .... I probably shouldn't have planted so many ....

[Seahorse]

I agree with the 'just be kind but straightforward' advice above but like Polytastic points out, sometimes when people repeatedly ask if you've grown/baked/made something, it's their way of paying a compliment and trying to be sociable. I wouldn't be too hard on the fella.