Lost the plot !( not literally)

[Liza]

Just put my name on the list for second plot !

7 in front of me

I did suggest I could take on a run down site (there are many!) as I have my veg sorted for this year and could take my time and not feel too rushed and daunted by it.

Am I mad ? yes probably

[Jeanied]

Yes but by the end of the summer you could be extra super fit and have a second plot all sorted and ready to roll!

[Snadger]

We have 14 on the waiting list and our crazy comittee are making such a fuss about tidying up a couple of plots before they can rent them!
"We can't rent it like this" says they............after each one on the waiting list says 'NO'........you move on to the next one says I !! Simples!!!

[mogs]

As mad as the rest of us I'd say, having just doubled the size of my plot!

Have spent the last three weeks with fork in hand, head in soil and bum in air - digging for England - that'll explain why the sun don't shine on our allotments when I'm up there! It feels sooo good, it's just lifting the legs to get in the bath at the end of the day that hurts!

If they know you will work the plot, you'd think they'd be throwing another one at you - problem is with working down the waiting list, some come and go as soon as they've experienced a day's digging. Mind, as me Dad would say - Common sense is not so common - good luck!

[Liza]

The annoying thing is loads of plots are in a really bad way. So the council write to the plot holder warning that the will boot them off, they go up and dig a little patch put a couple of plants in and the council let them keep it !

Some of the plots have plastic over them which is fair enough but it has all blown away or disintegrated and been like it all year !

I might take some pictures and give you all a laugh !

One of the other plot holders decided to give some of his plot (of two) back, beautifully rotavated by him loads of fruit bushes, perfect !

That afternoon a couple were on there with two young kids walking all over wet soil planting french bean plants ! moving fruit bushes into random places.

I know we all have to learn from our mistakes but I would have loved that plot and feel sad every time I walk past it to mine.

Needless to say the beans are dead and the soil is like concrete !

[organic]

Liza - I can appreciate that.
The soil on my plot is really hard from being walked on too. I'm double digging the whole lot (bar the paths) so it's getting better but if it gets walked on I'm liable to flip.

That reminds me - I need to get along and dig in the new coffee grounds I got at two of the local branches of Costa yesterday. Plenty of work ahead - but I'm loving every minute.


Snadger - I agree. I'd have taken on this plot whatever the state. I did have some help (the secretary and his wife shifted about a ton of manure to the other half of the plot for example) but on the whole every weed, fork or shovel of hearth and flagstone has been moved by yours truly. It's taking a while and I had to stop when I injured my ribs (not on the plot) but I'm loving every minute of it. I'm really not convinced that people need their plots sorting before they take them on. I don't think I'd be as anti-weed as I am if I hadn't had to dig up 2 and 3 feet long dandelion roots and about 15 miles of mint roots.

[chris]

I've my name down on 5 plots, I think I'm 9th on the smallest list (can't remember).

Bit rubbish.. have even thought of buying some land..

[Liza]

Guess who just happened to be busy at her allotment today when The man who inspects the plots turns up !

Had a good chat, he was appalled at the state of some plots including those who had done a little bit of digging !

HE SAID my plot was BEAUTIFUL !!! and would recommend I get another plot asap ! AND my hair was a mess AND I was covered in soil !

[organic]

Brilliant, Liza!

"my hair was a mess AND I was covered in soil !"

*sigh!*


Women who don't mind a bit of mud are great - far preferable to the delicate little things who can't look at a garden that needs work for fear of breaking a nail.

[Liza]

Thanks Organic, you could grow spuds in my fingernails and my hands are as rough as a brickies.

I dont think anyone would believe I was a Beauty Therapist for 18 years !