Is common sense dead?

[mrgrower]

We had a young guy come take on a plot last week. His expectations where the plot would have been worked and left recently ( Not the case ) Anyway knowing he is taking the plot on he turns up with no tools ( not a prob there are some he can borrow ) and no gloves. Luckily for him the brambles had been cut the day before but he is there pulling lumps of grass up by hand and cutting his hands on sharp stuff. He carries on even though he is advised to wear gloves.

He then disappears and has not been back since

I wounder if he will be back? I'm not a gambling man but even I would give 5/4 odds that he don't.

[Two_Sheds]

Yep, an allotment can be a real shock to people brought up on the BBC's coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show

[frogga]

People don't realise all the effort and materials needed to have a successful veg plot, they see the perfect straight rows in books and magazines, after 4 years I'm no where near that stage of perfection, but persistence and the correct gear gets me through.

[darcyvuqua]

I Took my plot on and tipped up on a Sunday with nothing!
I planned this just so I could do an initial assessment but I did research on obtaining an allotment an found that you will 95% of the time be allocated an overgrown mess so I had no shock there!

I do think at times it's overwhelming but I think you really have to have to 'want' it and not toy with the idea!!

I hope he does come back and is more prepared but that would be in an ideal world and that does not exists

[The Masons]

Awww bless him. As newbies ourselves, we have not over glamourised the whole process and know its gonna be damn hard work. Guess it just depends on how prepared you are...

[Two_Sheds]

When I got my first plot, all I had was a hand fork, and a field of couch grass. I'm sure the other plotters laughed at me too, but I couldn't afford anything else yet, and I wanted to get started

[pdblake]

I don't often wear gloves either, but I tend not to pull things out by hand unless it's something shallow rooted that won't rip my hands.

When I first got my plot last year I actually found a few tools buried around the place and a couple of old boys left me a fork and a hoe, even though I already had all the tools I needed. I must say though, that rusty old hoe cleaned up well and is one of the best I've got. Cuts like a razor.

I'd be be tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt though, he's probably waiting for the cuts to heal up

[kathycam]

If he's young he may not have a garden, so wont have gloves or tools. That was certainly the case for me. Its a lot of land to take on, so it can be daunting, and really you've no idea what to expect when you first turn up. Maybe he just came to check it out, but decided to get straight on with it. I always try to encourage new people.

[Yorkistransplant]

I help set up our allotment in old field that had nothing, but farmer did turn it over before we took over so it could have been worse. Un like the folks starting this year. I found one guy hiding in the docks and weeds,in the middle of the unoccupied bit with a strimmer.Took Him a coffee and a friendly smile. He now has a folding chair and a nice clear space to sit in.

[Hans Mum]

Our newbies are told on the phone the state of the plot so they are mentally prepared even if the reality is a bit of a shock. We tend to keep old tools from plots that have been given up & let newcomers borrow/have the basics to get them going if they dont have anything. Hope they come back as TS said there is an expectation that the Gardeners World team are preparing plots for people to come and work the real world is somewhat different

[KevinM67]

When I moved house I was just wandering about the area getting to know the place (as you normally do on holiday) - came across allotments nearby, started talking to the fellow at the "cabin" - he took me to show me this overgrown jungle, and bob's yer uncle - £20 later I had this rather sizeable piece of England to do what I wanted with.

Having viewed it first -then obviously it was clear that having some basic tools was a must.

However, until you start - I don't think you realise how much effort and time is required, especially at the beginning to turn the jungle into something that will support a seed through its course into something edible.

That was 3 years ago - the plot is still nowhere near perfect, but I can now grow stuff on it.

On a nice evening (usually with a glass of wine in hand) I often just wander about the plot - still thinking this "little piece of England" (although I'm Scottish) is mine to dig/grow/eat/build/knock down/start again - it's my little place of solitude, where I don't think of work, or any of life's little issues.

Will it ever resemble anything like Monty Don's garden - not a chance, but it will still be my Garden of Eden.

[Mikey]

It took me about 4 years to get the plotholders which weren't adjacent to me to talk apart from saying hello. It seems that many only talk to other experienced gardeners, and they hold back until they've made a judgement of you and your efforts!

[Dusty Rhodes]

Since he isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, you should give the lad a few pointers if he ever returns!

[mrgrower]

The lads in his early 20's and does phone beggng for charities so one would expect more than a flicker between his ears He had been to the site previously and knew what it was like but his vision was that it would be a plot that had been worked and resently given up

He was offered tools but didn't use them I also gave him loads of cardboard to cover and plant through the cardboard disapeared but not on the ground thats confused me

I was at the allotment this morning and he has not been back since Thursdaylast week something tells me he wont be back

[alldigging]

I like to show potential allotmenters round before the go on the list. It allows them to see the site and I can point out potential plots coming up so they can see the state of the site.