Allotment offer

[anton002]

I have just been offered an allotment on one of the sites in my town ,i have one which is a two minute walk and the other is a 5 minute car journey or 20 minute walk.

Its on the site furthest away which is abit of a disappointment.

I have been told that if i take this one then when one becomes free on the closer site i have first refusal (if they stick to there word).

Im unsure what to do ,i have been waiting years and i'm wondering whether to wait for one on the closer site or just go with this offer.

My worry is that if i refuse this one i might miss the start of the season.

What would you do ?

[WendyC]

Are they able to give you a rough timescale for the closer site? If not I'd go and look at the offered plot on the further site, which isn't too far. If there is a huge amount of clearing to do and you are likely to move plot in the near future I'd decline it. However if you could be up and running with it in a short while, with not too much effort, I'd go for it as you can at least get a growing season in. I wouldn't bother with anything permanent e.g. Fruit bushes. Whilst distance to home is an important factor I'd also consider things like what are the plot sizes, what is the water supply - if any?
I'm sure you'll come to a solution one way or another. Good luck!

[Coopers]

Hmm. I wouldn't bother taking one to then move. You'd put too much investment into plot to just move.

Maybe go take a look at it. When you see it you'll know what to do. The one further away is still a nice distance but will you be able to go so often?

Other thing is will you be disappointed if you get neither...

[Kleftiwallah]

I presume there is no waiting list for allotments in your neck of the woods then? I find it hard to believe.

Cheers, Tony.

[muddled]

Well, I'm going to buck the trend here and say that if it's not massively overgrown, take the first one you are offered.
Here's why......

1. It's murphy's law that you will be offered the next plot AFTER getting this one....like buses that come along in threes.
2. It will be good practice for your 'forever plot'. I don't know a single person who got it all how they wanted it the first season anyway....practice and find what suits you.
3. There's nothing that can't be moved in a year. Even fruit bushes. Come autumn they can all be transplanted to a new plot, nae bother.
4. Distance is not the only consideration. It might be that the people on the nearest plot are vile, cliquey stirrers....the other plot a gang of new pals (or visa versa) but the only way to find out is to try both.
5. The time to sow and plant is NOW. So your actual choice might in fact be....have an allotment this year...or MAYBE have an allotment next year....or the year after.

Go on! Grab it.
You know you wanna

[Jay-ell]

I'd have a look at it, after all you don't know how long it's going to be until a plot on the closet site is available (how big is the site?).

You won't know until you see, but as well as the location of water, standing crops (e.g fruit bushes), soil condition, structures, etc do you pass it on your way home to pop in and weed or harvest?

[sparrow100]

Personally I would get the first refusal offer in writing and take the other plot on that basis. I'd offer the same advice as muddled - getting some practice in is invaluable. My plot's a 20 minute walk away and that's the nearest site to me by about 3 miles. You might not find it's such a chore to get to if you like the site.

If you do want to move everything you put on the site can pretty much be taken across when it's dormant so you won't lose anything. Though obviously that might depend on the weeds you have - i wouldn't transfer my fruit bushes now as, thanks to my slack neighbour, I now have horsetail all through that bed.

[anton002]

Thanks for all your input

I viewed the plot this morning ,but it wasnt worth going for ,it was a quarter plot ,of basically Soil.

By the time i had added a shed and greenhouse i would have had nothing to work with atall.

But on a positive note i preferred the feel of the larger site which is the one further away and me and the OH have decided that that would be the better choice,it felt like more of a community.

I also found out from a very friendly lady that was on her plot that there is an inspection on May 1st .She said there were a few neglected plots that she hadn't seen the owners of for a longtime.So finger crossed i might not be waiting to long atall.
I have been on the list since 2008 so a few more weeks wont be to hard lol

[Nicos]

good luck with this one ....will have my fingers crossed for you.

[anton002]

Well after turning down the lat plot a it was only a quarter and was not what i was looking for i have now been offered a plot at the site nearest to me.

It is a two minute walk from my front door and as i told them last time that i wanted something bigger i'm hopeful that this could be a goer.

Im viewing it tomorrow at 4pm so fingers crossed.pics will follow if it all goes well.

What can i get in the ground this year ?,i have plants started at home ready to go over to the allotment but i really wanted to make the most of the plot this year.

Thanks

Anthony

[skeggijon]

You can still get most things in. They usually manage to catch up somehow

[Sarico]

That's good. I would accept it if there are no more choices. You lucky that you can turn down one. Because the waiting list here are about 500people on Salford the council has made a rule that you apply for one and the first one that comes available int he area they offer to you and if you turn down they will cancel from the list. No more choices of plot and long waiting list of people that want to wait for a perfect plot. I'll grab whatever size will be or conditions

[Elfeda]

There is no harm in accepting a plot at far allotment society, but be choosy if you want to keep it for long just incase you get the closer one. our initial thought was to get another one in farthest place and make it a less maintainable orchard. which still pending, once I sort out the current ones into good order, I may definately dig up my application I have put in that allotment , I must be the top few in the que, they do not bother with just the list but we should keep visiting them to show up the real interest.

Now I got 1 and mostly get another one in this week. but only 2 plot max I can have in this/each site, so the one in any other allotment society would be always tempting. Hope I will go there sooner

[sparrow100]

Hope your visit went well Anton, what was it like?

[anton002]

Well the viewing went well ,its on a small site with a communal fruit orchard (well a fair few trees ) which are not to far from my plot.

room for a shed and greenhouse with plenty of space left.

So i am very happy and i'm popping back later today or tomorrow so i will get some pictures.