Setting up starter plots - any advice?

[sparrow100]

Do any of you lovely people offer starter plots on your site?

We're considering offering quarter plots as starter plots, and since I suggested it, I've been given the job of finding out how it works on other sites.

The basic idea is to give people on the waiting list a chance to get going and see whether this is for them. The starter plots would be cleared by us but let without permission for a shed or greenhouse (we have communal sheds available) and would only allow annuals/moveable fruit to be grown - a half plot would likely come free in 3-4 years' time at the outside for people to move on to.

One of the key concerns is how to make sure people do move to a half plot rather than staying on the smaller one. But I'd like to have an idea of all the other pitfalls that need considering.

We're self-managed, so can implement what we think would help improve the site and encourage more usage. We'd be bringing disused plots into use to do this - currently a sea of brambles...

Any advice or things to avoid?

[Guest]

I like the idea but have no idea how well it works. What state do the half plots end up in? My fear would be peeps having nice lovely starter plots not wanting to take on a larger plot requiring a bit of graft. If you have a long waiting list it is a lovely way to offer something, but I think someone on here said they were 79th on a waiting list in less than a year because peeps didn't want the work. You may need a clause that the starter plots are only temporary once a larger plot is available they either take it or they need to go. It sounds harsh but I would think if you only had a few starter plots they could quite quickly be occupied by people not wanting more work or even change.

[jackarmy]

Im currently waiting for a plot that works exactly that way Sparrow.
Cant tell you too much about it as ive only had a quick "tour" so far and didnt take any measurements but....

There are raised beds at the bottom end of the site, approx 40 yards by 5 yards ( and that really is a guesstimate made from my chair) and these are on quite boggy ground so new members get these first and then move up when , well who knows when really .

Anyway, like you they have a shared shed for hand tools and the like and then a larger lockup up for barrows and the like, apparently there are rarely problems with people not wanting to move on up but i daresay you will get it, like i said tho, it is quite boggy ground.

Dont know how much that would have helped you reading it back....

[alldigging]

That's a really good positive idea to help people discover if allotmenting is for them.

We've let someone with a quarter plot (about 46m2) have a shed. We didn't have any communal storage space at the time. He was offered the adjacent quarter but decided not to have it. He's on the list for more space but with hindsite we should have put more thought into our splitting plot rules.

We've got lots of half plots now - which means potentially there's double the number of buildings on the site there would have been if we'd not split plots.

[spamvindaloo]

Sounds good to me, especially knowing how much time (or lack of it) and effort a half plot is taking me.

The only thing I would say is that if people want to stay on the quarter plot let them. If need be you could always split the available half plot into two more starter plots. The reason I say this is that 'forcing' somebody onto a half plot could lead them to give up if they see it as too much work. The absolute worst thing anybody could do is to take on something that is too much for them because they'll just decide they can't face it.

And I would think it better to have a happy quarter plotholder rather than an untended half plot.

[sparrow100]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

Making sure people move on to bigger plots is the main concern as we don't want to start a creeping trend of permanent quarter plots.

It's before my time, but there has been a huge amount of effort from the various Committee members and work parties in turning the site around. Our waiting list is now between 3-5 years. Because it's a popular site we're lucky in that there aren't many neglected or overgrown plots and we've put in quite a few facilities - but we only have half plots and max 2 per person.

Jackarmy and alldigging, are there any particular terms in your contract about the temporary nature of the starter plot and moving on when plots become available?

[jackarmy]

Im still waiting for my plot but i will contact the sec and get back to you.

[jackarmy]

Hi again Sparrow

heard back from the sec and they dont actually pressure anyone to move on, horses for courses i guess.
rules are rules though and if you make them then they have to adhere surely.

[sparrow100]

Thanks for checking for me, is much appreciated.

I'll do a bit more research - we aren't doing anything till the Autumn.

[jackarmy]

Your welcome, sorry i couldnt be of more help.

[Elfeda]

be flexi?

If the rule is to vacate the starter plot when half is available for sure to make more new comers get quarter plots looks okay, but same time I have concern.

If any of QP holder is not willing to move, the available half plot can be offered to the new ones on the list should get the direct half plot, rather to bother . When I have a chance to get more space I should have an option to weigh the extra work to restart and weigh the advantages of the two plots on location and other thing like water, existing plants and trees etc.

for example I have an option to take a half plot which in fairly good condition, but I feel the way half is offered by current tenent is not seen fair share. all the good things like shed, big appletree, water access is on the existing users side. I had to turn it it down though It is free of any couch, bad weeds.


intead I can go for a full one, which gives me to plotform for the compost, menure bags etc though I have to do a bit of work. but If it is my first plot and that is only piece available at the moment I would have accepted it unconditionally.


better to have flexi rules to move or not to move.

[Elfeda]

Small addition sparrow

If at all the first quarter plots being offered are just like the ones given to participants in big alltment challenge, I agree with you that they should leave when normal half plots are available. otherwise I stick with my 1st opinion

[WendyC]

Would newcomers have to have a starter plot? Great if they are new to allotmenting but what if they have just moved into the area and have years of experience at another site?
All our plots are 2.5 rods but you can have more than one plot, subject to joining the waiting list again. I understand the concern not to want to keep subdividing plots but most of our plot holders are happy with just the one plot.
Could you decide how many starter plots you want on site, say 10. When a bigger plot comes up, offer it first to the longest standing starter plot tenant and if they refuse offer to the next. I guess the problem might be that no-one wants the bigger plot. Would it also be possible for starter plot tenants be offered adjoining starter plots if they came available and so effectively just extend their plot rather than move. This is what I did and was certainly preferable to having to move. Then another half plot could be subdivided and the total number remains constant.
When people ask to join the waiting list, our secretary asks a few pertinent questions. E.g. Have you have a plot before? How much time have you got to dedicate to a plot? It might seem a bit nosey but it enables plots, as they come up, to be matched, with a little waiting list jiggling to the right tenant. We have a very overgrown plot which has just been taken on by a experienced plot holder who has moved into the area. Another plot which was beautifully laid out and relatively weed free went to a complete newbie. At least they have a chance of success.
Good luck with your new venture!

[sparrow100]

Thanks for your comments Elfeda and WendyC.

Newcomers wouldn't have to have a starter plot. People going on the list are asked about their previous experience so our Lettings Sec has a pretty good idea of each individual and I agree, it's really helpful to do that. If you then want a second plot you have to go on the list again, like everyone else. If you turn that down in theory you go to the bottom of the list again, though there's some flexibility for people with an existing plot as it wouldn't make sense for each plot to be on opposite ends of the site. It sounds harsh but it stops people messing about.

The biggest concern by the Committee is that people will take a quarter and not move, which is why we were thinking about not allowing sheds/greenhouses/perennials/permanent fruit (apart from the fact that a quarter is small!). That way we keep the plots easy to move on to the next person. The starter plots were really an idea to speed up the waiting list and to give a taster of what an allotment is like. We do offer help to people who are new, particularly if they've taken on a difficult plot.

To be honest it sounds like we'd end up with people sitting on the quarter plots & waiting for a perfect plot to become vacant, so it might be better to just abandon the idea. We were only going to have 4 anyway. I just wanted to do something for the people who are waiting years...

[Elfeda]

People going on the list are asked about their previous experience

I was suggest to answer as if I am an experienced allotment holder, to showup myself as a strong candidate to offer one immediatly and never ever to mention am new to allotmenting

Still there might be few innocent aspirants to get considered for the starter plot only

which is why we were thinking about not allowing sheds/greenhouses/perennials/permanent fruit (apart from the fact that a quarter is small!). That way we keep the plots easy to move on to the next person.

Got it, but still this discourages them doing too much efforts in improving the plot for the sake others to use. still I wish people take it up in to benificial approach and act in your guidelines.