Am I daft to think...

[Rabidbun]

...of taking on an allotment with a wee one in tow.

I just rang up the man in charge, as it were, of our local allotments. He says that there is no waiting list but that the two available are very overgrown. I figure that they will be "very overgrown" in the same way that medical professionals mean when they say "this may hurt a bit", but I am heading up there at the weekend to take a peek (he recommends wellies and I'll be carrying the wee one in a sling so she can tell me I'm daft too).

I am honestly not sure whether it is even feasible, but I fear that if I wait to take one on (assuming they don't resemble forests with trees) I might find myself facing a waiting list in two years when wee one starts nursery. The plot would be free for the first year so I would have that long to get them into some sort of shape, and I would be planning to use the cut down/black plastic clearance method followed by mulching deep enough to stop most weeds (with something, but no clue what) and laying it out bit by bit with paths and non edged beds. I don't have much room at home, and would love to be able to plant different types of potatoes, squashes and fruit on an allotment.

Does anyone here take their wee ones to the allotment with them and/or could offer any advice?

[Fruit&2veg]

Go for it!
Couple of people on our site have had little people with them, one about six months, the other 18 months.They never had a problem. Secret is, little and often, dont make it a penance either for yourself or the kids, that way no one gets bored or dispirited.
Best of luck

[baldrick]

Yes I do. It can be hard going, and digging hurts your back with the sling on. All I would say is sort your shed first so you have somewhere to sit and feed or change in bad weather, somewhere to make a cuppa, and somewhere to store dry stuff. Make sure you have something portable to sit little one in while you are working as its just not feasible to have them round your neck in a sling all the time. The car seat with a variety of toys on the handle, a clean tarp to lie baba on the floor while you are weeding. Now mine is 8 months I bring a bath seat I got off freecycle. Prams are not great really as they get filthy and are a bit unstable if you are not holding them (or they are stable but weigh a ton and dont like rough ground).They are also harder to squeeze right next to you when you are working. Plenty of biccies/toast fingers etc are essential. Also you have to be realistic. Its better to set yourself a tiny task (today I will pull the weeds out of the row I turned over yesterday) than just go and plug away with no end in sight. Its disheartening and adds to any feelings of OMG Im hopeless at everything we all have along with our wrecked figures after childbirth. If you exceed your target great. I would suggest you hack the weeds down with a strimmer and cover the lot with tarps. Id then suggest you clear a tiny bit at a time and cover them with tarps with the aim of getting potatoes in one bit next year. If you dont have a shed rig up some poles you can throw a tarp over (I like tarps) as light drizzly days are warm even this time of year and much ncer for little ones than fierce heat or windy and bitter cold.
Older kids have trouble with the whole "dont step here dont walk there" thing. A lot of percieved "disrespectful" behaviour from kids on allotments is actually that they are sick of being nagged and dont actually know what they are allowed to do. Ive got defined paths (woodchips) and my 8 year old knows she must walk here, there and over there etc. She knows she must stay on communal paths and our paths and go nowhere else unless specifically invited. Much nicer and clearer that "be good and dont tread on any plants and dont go on anyones plot" She also has her own flower garden which she (thinks she!) does all by herself....... The baby goes in the wheelbarrow in her car seat when we are clearing weeds or collecting wood chips. The older child is in carge of earmarking anything decent from the skip for me to collect. The way I look at it there will always be people who dont like your kids being there, but if kids arent raised to think allotments are fun, said allotments will be turned into more stinking football pitches when the new generation of kids are running things. People will usually help out if they can see you are working hard and need a hand. Good luck x

[Aberdeenplotter]

Kids on Allotments Whatever next? Seriously though go for it. A neglected plot is a huge undertaking though so bear that in mind. We have a young lass on our site and the plot she was given was an absolute disaster but she has doggedly tackled the mess and after her first season, she has the plot looking like a plot. She takes her young kids along with her and has hung up bird feeders to attract entertainment for the kids and that has certainly helped her keep her kids amused till she gets some work done. Start them young

[veggiechicken]

Go for it! Who knows when another offer will come along.
What's the worst thing that can happen? - you can't cope with all of it. So take it bit by bit and be happy with what you can do.

[binley100]

I say go for it too..........Get it strimmed and covered tarps, cardboard , then work it bit by bit . set little targets as for little'un then I think Baldrick has given plenty of good advice

[VirginVegGrower]

NO! Not daft - go for it! There are at least four of us on our site that have children, varying ages. If tiny, strap him/her to you. Start off a bit at a time. If a toddler, you get pre school places past three onwards. Before you know it they are at school anyhow. If a baby - take the pram/push chair.
I hope you say yes to one. You may have to do it in dribs and drabs, but you'll never look back - not once the nice fresh veg and fruit starts rolling in!

[Currysniffa]

Yeah I say go for it, I would suggested what binley said "strim, cover and work at it bit by bit" . Good luck and enjoy

[Newton]

I applied for my lottie when my 2 girls were 4&6 which is an ideal age to get them interested.

I got the lottie eventually this time last year when they were 10and12. Now 11and13 and they don't mind picking strawbs and fruit! Digging? I don't think so.........

So introduce them young and get stuck in. try Heavy mulching and tarps method and see what works for you. I am experimenting with no dig on part of my lottie.

Good luck.......but don't leave the baby unsupervised at home. That would probably be illegal if you are off your own property. I wouldn't dream of doing that even now......

[rustylady]

How old is the wee one Rapidbun?

[HeyWayne]

Go for it! Remember how fast they learn at such a young age.

I was lucky in that my plot was well maintained when I took it on. However, I can't deny it's hard work - and if you both work, finding the time to get to the plot is difficult. However, the time we do spend down there as a family is brilliant. Bean loves to "help" me digging and weeding etc. My plot is one of those "new fangled" types that's divided up into "raised" beds - it means that I can treat the plot section by section rather than trying to tackle it all at once. I've also created an area where we can sit/cook/play as a family, and built a dedicated raised bed so that Bean can plant/dig/sow/destroy whatever he wants and it's "his" allotment to tell his family and friends about (which he loves doing).

[chris]

I take my 2 year old with me - she loves it It's good to get them out in the fresh air too.

[chris]

Oh, I bought a small swing for £20 off amazon - folds up and goes in the boot so I can take it with me.. it is a bit difficult for heavy work with them, but now mine is happy wandering around playing the snails and frogs and stuff so gives me a bit more freedom to get work done.

[Rabidbun]

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

She's only 10 weeks (11 weeks on Sat), so very tiny still.

The daunting thing is not just the clearing - apparently access is really bad (potholes), so I'll be checking out if there's any chance of getting a pushchair up there or somewhere to store things as suggested, thanks.

I guess I just feel that it will be a heck of a lot of juggling, but it could be my only chance for years to actually get one and hopefully get something out of it. I'd be able to get there when I have the car (so two or three times a week), or walking with care in good weather (it's along a country road then the side of a field) so tarping/mulching might be the only way I'd get it to where I can keep on top of it.

Hubby thinks I'm mad of course.

[chris]

Sling is the way forward then, if you can't get a pushchair/buggy up there!