Over zealous allotment committee?

[Lazy Gardener]

Just received yet another letter from the allotment committee. Seems its OK for them to watch me working on the allotment yet not tell me to my face that I am doing something wrong.

I am not a nasty person who shouts and swears so there is no reason for them not to approach me and say, You dont want to do it like that or you cannot do it like that.
We are usually there as a family so all doing a bit.

The previous letter stated my plot had not been kept upto standard and that i had missed the planting season. Err no i had spent the 4 weeks prior to that preparing the ground and had planted 200 or so onions.. And About 10 potato plants.

As well as assemble the frames for the peas and beans. And planted a line of raspberries.
Is that unkept for half a plot?

Our plots are quite small around here also. My half plot is probably only around 25 - 30ft wide and a pathway down the middle to the plot at the rear of ours. And about 40ft long. Not as big as others i have seen mentioned.


I wont go into full detail at the moment but its so annoying i had to vent it.

[Nicos]

Always good to take piccies!
Might be worth taking one now to show what their definition of 'not up to standard' is ! ..and then compare it to other plots.

[Lazy Gardener]

Well the plot behind mine and the one to the side are a total nightmare. They have more
weeds than plants. The one behind doesnt seem to have an owner, Despite them saying
all plots are taken.

The one next to me seem to dig 2 square patches in the centre of the plot and leaves the
weeds on both sides to run rampant.

With no barrier between the plots its a fighting battle to keep his weeds at bay.

[Jeanied]

I find it worth the time to speak to members of the committee when I see them - even if it is just to pass the time of day and let them know what I am struggling with. They know I have health problems so I have, so far, avoided getting 'a letter'. Having said that, a fellow allotmenteer did get a letter and is quite philosophical as she says it helped spur her on a bit.

[kathycam]

Speak to the committee members and be friendly, so they know your face and know you come down regularly. I think my brother was still getting questions of who he was at his allotment after a year of being there and regular sessions- he just hadn't spoken to many people. Also it may turn out they have a typo in their paperwork and think you have one of the unkempt plots.

[WendyC]

I think you need a meeting at your plot. Then you can ask what the problem is and have any issues pointed out to you. The plot holders of the unkempt plots may also have had letters. You can ask about them at the same time.

[Greenleaves]

I am in the befriend camp with this. I totally understand your frustration and the need to let off steam. I would avoid the "I did, you never" conversation as it will only exacerbate the situation.

Ask one of them for advice, it is surprising how that changes outlooks. I was always taught that taking the moral high ground and responding in a non confrontational way will win the day......and you know what, nine times out of ten it does.

[alldigging]

Take photos of your plot and then photos of the neighbouring plots.
You might have got a letter intended for someone else.

[4390evans]

For someone who is one the allotment committee I would imagine you would need to be upfront and be able to go up to someone who is doing something wrong and say it to the person there and then, not write letters and hide behind computer screens.

I would be extremely peeved. The other members seem to have some good advice with just asking for some pointers

[WendyC]

Sending letters is the recognised route for managing plots and plot holders, I guess there is evidence that due warning was given if a plot needs to be taken back in the future. A verbal request has no evidence that it ever happened! However on my site the secretary and I do an informal how's everyone doing, with a friendly email asking if all is ok if there appear to be problems. Only if after a couple of attempts and nothing is improved do we go down the Parish letter route.

[Lazy Gardener]

The letter is for me. I know because I spotted him watching me and shaking his head.

Mixing of the plots. Maybe previously because they do seem to mix up which plot I have
eg. smaller plots labelled by letter not numbers. So is A the front or the rear plot?

I know when I paid they didnt know I had not paid.

When i spotted him shaking his head and walking away I would have thought a simple you
dont want to do that or you cannot do that would have stopped us spending another 4
hours doing it.

As the council want nothing to do with the allotments, Who do you complain to if you get
issues that cannot be resolved?

Wendy C no warning was given, As I mentioned above I did see a guy shaking his head and walking away but made no attempt to speak to me.

Its not about the plot being untended, Its about something I put down and they are telling me I cannot.

Whats annoying is why hide behind a letter and not tell me in person. They are only there early Sat/Sun when i have other commitments and cannot make it.

They had an open day but family health issues meant we missed it.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Phone/write to the person who signed the letter you had, and ask for a meeting on site so that they can let you know what the problem it.

Don't know what was going on with someone walking off shaking their head, but it might have been nothing to do with you.

[veggiechicken]

Its not about the plot being untended, Its about something I put down and they are telling me I cannot.

Could you tell us what you put down? It might help us understand what is happening here.

[Nicos]

Was it carpet?...most sites don't allow them any more.

[gardening_gal]

Phone/write to the person who signed the letter you had, and ask for a meeting on site so that they can let you know what the problem it.

Seems the simplest solution doesn't it.

No-one here can tell what the problem is. You really need to use a friendly 'could you spare some time to meet me here to help me understand what the issues are' type of approach. Personally I'd also be asking about the head shaking person and if it was relevant to me. If it was, I'd then be asking why I was being judged and dismissed in that way instead of being advised, so I could avoid breaking any rules etc. I can't be done with pussyfooting about.

Problems are always down to lack of clear communication. Hope you get it all sorted out.