Gatherings at Allotments

[pukka.tukka]

Hi

I was thinking of organising a Christmas get together at the Allotment and was wondering if people would turn up and what I might need to offer to get them there.

Any suggestions/advice gratefully received.

Does anyone else do anything like this?

[Mrs Dobby]

We always got to the plot on xmas day, to harvest sprouts, leeks, cabbage and whatever else we can find, and also to Wassail the plot, its something we've done for the past 2 years that we've had the plot, so has become something of a tradition now!

Never seen anyone else down there tho on xmas day!

[Alison]

Wouldn't have time on Christmas Day but something, say a week before could be nice but depends on the committments of your other holders.

[pukka.tukka]

Hi

The proposed dates are 7 or 14 December at the time our shop would be open during the summer.

Please help with someone ideas.


Thanks

[Hazel at the Hill]

Well, a big bowl of hot punch and some mince pies would get me there.

Why don't you do a seed swap at the same time?

[pukka.tukka]

Hi

Seed swap is a great idea, although I would like to keep it more festive.

[jackie j]

Some hot punch mince pies sausage rolls etc would get me there and how about a draw with bottles of wine or hampers or gift tokens as the prizes or maybe a local garden centre will help with prizes. Maybe a luck dip for the kids and if someone is prepared to dress up as santa maybe he could put in an appearance.

[Wren]

Maybe you could make a community soup with everyone asked to contribute a carrot or two, or a parsnip, or a swede etc in advance for a hot winter soup cook up.
If you particularly ask people individually to bring something along then they are more likely to come.

Wren

[Farmer_Gyles]

sounds brilliant
it's a shame the members here don't/won't do group meets like on other sites - did a meet up and BBQ yesterday with other dog owners, been on holidays with other groups etc
tip - if you've got a bottle of pimms, it doesn't matter what the weather's like!

[Peter]

Following an incident where a Councillor wandered into a private party being held on an allotment site to enquire what was going on and nearly got lumped by the plotholder.....

....our council has changed its tenancy rules to specifically ban social events on its sites.

[Paulottie]

On our site I organise a couple of evenings a year ...a midsummer's BBQ..cooked a whole lamb over an open fire, and lots of spuds,salad asparagus and garlic bread this year....good fun,

And we had a big slightly damp bonfire and a few fireworks on 5th November with sausages spuds and butternut soup...which helped us get site cleaned up.

We also have a couple of afternoons a year where we tackle communal areas etc.. that normally involves someone bringing some cider ans nibbles too.

I don't know that too many parties are welcome. luckily I'm on the council and invite the chairwoman who lives next to the allotments...Its a shame they didn't offer the councillor a beer and thank him for keeping an eye on the site rather than be aggressive and spoil it for everyone else.

Our site is too small and everyone is probably too busy for an Xmas do..plus we have no sheds or shop, just a few greenhouses so it wouldn't really work in the cold. A few get togethers helps strengthen the community...but it must be inclusive and EVERYONE invited (even if they are unlikely to come. I am not sure I would be pleased if private parties started happening without consent.

[Snadger]

Following an incident where a Councillor wandered into a private party being held on an allotment site to enquire what was going on and nearly got lumped by the plotholder.....

....our council has changed its tenancy rules to specifically ban social events on its sites.

I though all Christmas staff parties involved someone getting very p****d and having a potshot at the head of dept................ It's a tradition, innit!

[Paulottie]

So is photocopying your backside but then that might be more difficult to organise on the lottie.

I hope some folk turn up and think it is great that you are organising something Pukka.

[BarleySugar]

I suggested to our garden club that we all bring along a wrapped gardening pressie, put in a bag, then lucky dip out. That way everyone will get something, and it doesn't matter how many come, as long as they know beforehand they need to bring something. A guide price would be a good idea too, like Secret Santa, but you don't have a particular person to buy for. Doesn't matter when all gifts would be garden/plant based.