Communal Composting

[Sheneval]

Wow! I'm surprised - I don't think anyone on our allotment site started out that way but some may have developed it through time when they became interested in Green issues but I can't be certain. Most of the ones I know bury all but the most invasive weeds - based on my view since last June, many plots seem to be covered in weeds for much of the year, after having been cleared for spring planting.

I am aware of the process for composting all weeds - I've done a lot of reading, both books and Internet since I got the grandkid's plot/s last June. Afraid it's not for me - I prefer to let the Council do the composting of the perennials and it's much easier or simpler to throw them in a bag and take them off site the same day. However, each to his own - if it works for you that's the main thing.

Having removed all the weeds in half my plot on hands and knees and the other half by digging with a fork last Nvember/December, I'm sorry to disagree that docks are easily removed prior to digging out the rest; originally many docks and other perennials on my plot had been dumped in a number of heaps by previous plot holder and removing them was a major task. Many of the docks were buried, presumably having been broken during previous digs and only came to light when digging over the plot.

The Committee here disseminates information by posting on a notice board and at various other points round the site - your way sounds a lot better, but I suspect your arrangements may have been in force for a lot longer than 4 years. The Committee members here carry out some tasls such as keeping the water tank full, mowing the grass paths, carrying out inspections to ensure the Council & Committee rules are complied with, that the fence is secure, planting shrubs round the boundaries with the aim of improving security and carrying out improvements such as installing a shelter with money secured by grant, collecting fees etc. but otherwise let the plotholders get on with it.

I don't think they would take kindly to me telling them they should change their ways and I think that if I made any suggestion re. holding workshops etc. I would be told to get on with it.

[binley100]

I never said digging out docks was easy .......I spent days digging them out on our plot and still do..
I've been on site about 5 years which is just after there was an EGM where our current secretary stood up to the committee of the time and said enough.......very very big change in the running of the site.
Our committee is voted in by the plotholders and we have rules that have been voted in at AGM by plotholders but they are fair and reasonable and are there to make the whole site enjoyable for all.
I've found that the majority of plot holders are happy to join in and attend workshops .....
Is your committee voted in ?

[Two_Sheds]

Well, Shen, that's telling you
(PS - I don't think you're bossy)

It was self-deprecatory: I'm putting my name fwd for committee this year (I feel I should do a turn)

[Two_Sheds]

Perhaps it's because of the one dalek rule that this is an issue in the first place?

One? That's crazy. I have 5 up the lotty and 2 at home

No - just the usual docks, buttercups, couch grass, brambles

As Binley says, there needs to be an info leaflet given to every tenant: all these can be killed by

- stuffing into black sacks, like leafmould
- drowning in a bottle or water butt with a lid on (exclude light preferably)
- burning to a crisp on a hot path (yeah, dream on)

[VirginVegGrower]

VC - thank you - bossy perhaps not, but I can be awkward, as the Secretary now knows since I have sent her two emails deriding this proposal quoting the type of responses I have had from those on this thread who have experience of this type of facility

To be fair to the Committee, it seems they just want to stop those who are dumping their unwanted weeds, soil and rubbish next to the periphery fence, where the heap is now higher than the chicken wire, which runs along the bottom of the surrounding fence to keep the rabbits out.

The heap is so close to the fence some of the posts are being pushed out.

I think they may well copy Phil's sites idea of eventually spreading the material round the adjacent area.

You see, this is what happens on our parish council run site - they paid the local farmer and gardener/job man to get rid of it all. But it took 2-3 years of complaint from the plot holder next door to it. I'm waiting to see where folks put their new season's discards.

[Sheneval]

I never said digging out docks was easy .......I spent days digging them out on our plot and still do..
I've been on site about 5 years which is just after there was an EGM where our current secretary stood up to the committee of the time and said enough.......very very big change in the running of the site.
Our committee is voted in by the plotholders and we have rules that have been voted in at AGM by plotholders but they are fair and reasonable and are there to make the whole site enjoyable for all.
I've found that the majority of plot holders are happy to join in and attend workshops .....
Is your committee voted in ?

My point was that many if not most of the docks on my plot were not visible to enable them to be dug up first and disposed of separately from the rest of the weeds, grass etc.

The Committee is voted in at the AGM by those plotholders who attend the meeting - I suspect that most of them are the original plotholders who set up the site with the council.

Your Committee sounds very well organised and committed

[binley100]

If you could persuade your committee to hold regular gardener meetings then issues with weeds and their disposal could be brought up and discussed , also an ideal opportunity to pass out leaflets / information on various things.
If you're hand digging you would be able to identify dock roots ......they are long and parsnipy, horsetail roots are like black bits of stick, nettles are brown and stringy and couch are white and spaghettyish......
I still find dock roots even after two years of being on my current plot which was like an overgrown field ......and don't even get me started on the horsetail . I'ts an ongoing battle and always will be.

[VirginVegGrower]

If you could persuade your committee to hold regular gardener meetings then issues with weeds and their disposal could be brought up and discussed , also an ideal opportunity to pass out leaflets / information on various things.
If you're hand digging you would be able to identify dock roots ......they are long and parsnipy, horsetail roots are like black bits of stick, nettles are brown and stringy and couch are white and spaghettyish......


I still find dock roots even after two years of being on my current plot which was like an overgrown field ......and don't even get me started on the horsetail . I'ts an ongoing battle and always will be.

These are great descriptions Bins - you should be master gardening all over the UK

[Sheneval]

I am not on the Committee yet - my exchanges with the Secy over this issue might possibly lead to me being blackballed, as I got the feeling she may be a little annoyed at my implied criticism of their proposal to create a communal composting area

When I was handdigging I found the docks easy to identify once exposed and was able to remove them in their entireity - see example pic

However, the part of the plot that was dug with a fork and weeded during this operation has yielded a number of docks since and I suspect there are more to follow, but once these show above ground they are easily identified and dealt with.

I can identify a variety of weeds such buttercups, nettles, daisies and mares tail as I had the latter in my old garden - it took me 7 years to eradicate it by continual digging out. I can make a good stab at couch grass because I found quite a lot during the handweeding. Brambles are also easy as I have a couple of roots in my garden but I am pretty certain there are others that I don't have a clue about.

However, the main problem here is not the identification of the weeds, (I suspect all the experienced allotmenteers know them much better than I do), but is stopping people dumping them and soil round the fencing area - there are no dumping notices all over the site but they don't seem to have stopped the practice.

I have observed that most recent plotholders have taken their weeds to the Council dump but I do think new plotholders should be given written guidance and instruction rather than just the set of rules as at present. The identification of the various weeds could be included in any such guidance - Wendy has produced a draft already - unfortunately due to a chest infection I am only now getting back into the swing of things and will need to read it over properly and get back to her.

Thanks for your interest and information - much appreciated

[Sheneval]

At AGM last night I raised the question of the communal compost bins and passed on the comments, (without individual identification), made by many of you supporting my position that this was not a good idea - after discussion it was agreed that the dumped grass and weeds would be spread over the surrounding area and the plan to provide communal bins would not be progressed.

I would like to thank those of you whose comments helped me convince the Committee and attending members to unanimously support this outcome.

[Two_Sheds]

stopping people dumping them and soil round the fencing area

You can't cure people of ignorance & laziness, unfortunately.

You can give them all the written notes you like, but you can't make people stop unless they face sanctions (eg losing their tenancy) and this has to come from the top (the Chairman) and be universally accepted.

I don't dump, bin or burn ANY weeds: they're all full of valuable nutrients, you just need to unlock them.
All the nasties can be put in black sacks, just like leafmould, and left to rot down. Once they're rotted, they aren't going to re-infest the ground.
Just dumping them while they're still viable, is going to propagate them, esp if they're in flower (dandelions will set seed even after they've been pulled up).