I Love It!!!!

[sallym]

Had our first trips to our new Lottie at the weekend.And i loved it! Loads of hard back breaking work. We started by clearing the plot and then started a bed where we knew it would be hard work( what looks like the previous dumping site) on the premise that once this is cleared anything else would be a doddle. After 2 days of clearing we have our first bed, only measures approx 4 foot by 7 foot and in that area we found a bed frame and the remains of a burnt mattress, a bike frame, a singer sowing machine, corrugated metal sheets, glass etc the list goes on....
But...WE HAVE A BED!! Covered it in well rotted manure and will cover with weed membrane on next trip.
What I could not get over is the friendliness of other plot holders. The plot below ours is next to the tennant's house so they lent us their strimmer plugged into their mains to clear our plot of nettles etc., so only fair that we shared our beer with them. Sunday at around lunchtime they invited us to their plot for wine and cheese So kind, and they gave us a compost bin. We were also given a huge head of lettuce from an "old boy",and any advice we need, "just ask". Of course the problem now is when do you actually get: any work done? Everyone is so chatty and you don't like to be rude, especially when they are so generous. We really feel as if we fallen on our feet here.

[BrideXIII]

sounds like heaven, I am glad you are enjoying it so much.
wish I could consider a plot, but I don't drive, and the nearest even if I could get one is a good 45 minutes walk, which wouldn't be too bad, if I didn't have such bad joints, never mind, the garden will have to do, and I have two more raised beds today, didn't even have to build them as the guys fitting my kitchen bodged the old carcasses as they took them out for me, so they can go straight into place.

[Farmer_Gyles]

Of course the problem now is when do you actually get: any work done? Everyone is so chatty and you don't like to be rude, especially when they are so generous. We really feel as if we fallen on our feet here.

same here - took me and my boy 2.5 hours to dig 4ft x 4ft cos the neighbouring plot holders were chatty!
on the plus side, one of them is giving us some grape vine cuttings in feb!

[bluemoon]

Ah, the chatty plot holders. And the men are the worst! Still the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, far better to have friendly, helpful and, as Farmer Gyles says, generous neighbours.
I'm so pleased that you love your new plot. Best of luck, love BM.

[littlepooley]

Wow - sounds like you had a great time Any piccies of your plot? Would be interesting to see your progress

[Two_Sheds]

wish I could consider a plot, but I don't drive, and the nearest even if I could get one is a good 45 minutes walk, which wouldn't be too bad, if I didn't have such bad joints

sorry to bang my drum, but you could cycle? My plot is 3 miles away, it only takes 15 mins to cycle, and I can carry 3 bags full of produce in my panniers.
I did 8 miles today with a 6 ft piece of guttering strapped on the back.

Cycling is less hard on your joints, because the bike takes your weight. I have a bad back, and can't walk far at all, but I can do a lot on the bike.

[Two_Sheds]

Ah, the chatty plot holders. And the men are the worst!

so true!
I had 3 chaps chatting to me today, I had to just walk away and leave them to it in the end.

[BrideXIII]

sorry to bang my drum, but you could cycle? My plot is 3 miles away, it only takes 15 mins to cycle, and I can carry 3 bags full of produce in my panniers.
I did 8 miles today with a 6 ft piece of guttering strapped on the back.

Cycling is less hard on your joints, because the bike takes your weight. I have a bad back, and can't walk far at all, but I can do a lot on the bike.

feel free to bang away, I had to give up cycling 3 years ago ( i have never driven) i have arthritis in my knee, ankle, knuckle, hip and shoulder joints, and whilst I still walk every where, and will till the day i drop of this shoddy coil, I cannot ride a bike anymore, the pressure on my knee joints can lay me up for days, and trust me i am a stubborn begger, i have tried to defy the doctor.This is NOT an excuse, i don't do excuses, it is however a reason.

edit: and , the allotments are up a steep hill, we live just under the south downs, north of here, the only way is UP

[Two_Sheds]

yes, I remember those hills. I used to ride up to Devils Dyke (and fell off coming down); and did the Beacon a couple of times too. Pure pain.

[BrideXIII]

yes, I remember those hills. I used to ride up to Devils Dyke (and fell off coming down); and did the Beacon a couple of times too. Pure pain.

ah devils dyke, playground of my childhood, fantastic views, marvellous legends, last time i was there was the notorious tv prog we were in, and no, i am still NOT telling

i do hope you will forgive me for not having a lottie now? i mean i AM turning my garden into one.

[Snadger]

edit: and , the allotments are up a steep hill, we live just under the south downs, north of here, the only way is Up

Ah, but just think of the ride BACK!!!!! Wheeeeeee!

My allotment is about a forty minute bike ride each way. I don't always take the bike, usually just on days off and weekends.
I travel up hill then coast down to the allotment. Similar on the way back, each end of journey finishes on a downhill stretch!

I used to jog a lot but a weak achilles has ruled that out!

Surprisingly I get no pains in knees or calves with the bike. I have been taking glucosamine and CLO for about 3 years now so that could have something to do with it!
I love to get out on the bike whenever possible!

[BrideXIII]

Ah, but just think of the ride BACK!!!!! Wheeeeeee!

My allotment is about a forty minute bike ride each way. I don't always take the bike, usually just on days off and weekends.
I travel up hill then coast down to the allotment. Similar on the way back, each end of journey finishes on a downhill stretch!

I used to jog a lot but a weak achilles has ruled that out!

Surprisingly I get no pains in knees or calves with the bike. I have been taking glucosamine and CLO for about 3 years now so that could have something to do with it!
I love to get out on the bike whenever possible!

I still swear it was all the running i did 20 years ago that screwed my joints leg wise, although the arthritis is hereditary, i still have my bike, and i do still try, but my gods i pay for it, it's ok once a week, but a lottie is not once a week, i just feel bad that i could try and get one, and then not be able to maintain it, when someone else could, then i would feel worse.

[Tam]

Physiotherapists advocate swimming and/or cycling for dodgy leg joints.

[BrideXIII]

Physiotherapists advocate swimming and/or cycling for dodgy leg joints.

yes they do, but not for crumbling ones, unfortunately

[MrsC]

yes they do, but not for crumbling ones, unfortunately

Mr C had the cartlidge removed in one knee this year, he was in agony prior and I couldn't believe how much it swoll up and restricted his movement etc. Saying that I have suffered with back problems to the point when it does go I can't walk (it's frightening the 1st time it happened). However, another friendly grape recommended exercise (yoga based) and I have since join my son's Judo Club who have set up a class for Mums on a Japanese Body Conditioning exercise (from which Yoga was taken). I cannot tell you how much this has improved my back! One of the ladies (and we are all shapes, age and sizes) has severe arthritis in her hips and she swears by it! Just a thought. I was really worried the first time as I thought my back would give in, but it hasn't.