Should Allotments be limited?

[Mikey]

I do think there is an optimum size for a plotholder, and I will probably be shot down in flames for it, but if well cultivated a plotholder really shouldn't need more than two plots for personal consumption. I appreciate that this all depends on the size of plots, and the number in a family. Though when you get to the point where you are supplying extended family, friends, relatives, a small business, I can see how some others would complain.

[Stacey Steve]

Mikeywills

All depends what you are growing on the plots.

Plot 122: Veg, well it will be all veg when I've finnished making all the raised beds.
Plot 123: Greenhouse (with the promise of another freebie soon), shed, compost bins, cold frames, seating area and just over half of it as a fruit cage.
Plot 124: My orchard (when the trees grow enough). Grew up in the east end of London by the docks and always wanted an orchard, now 50+ years on my dream is fruiting as it were.

I must admit I do enjoy giving any excess away. I have some friends who are disabled and can no longer work, they cannot run to the expense of some of the soft fruit etc but get a regular supply from me. If people would like to complain to me about that, then that is their problem, not mine.

[Kristen]

I cut two Cues in half yesterday, wrapped them in cling, put them in the fridge and told the four people who were here to take one when they left.

Still 4 half-Cues in fridge this morning ...

... I'm going to have to make a sign by the front door as well now ...

Maybe there is a soup-kitchen-offshoot to facilitate distribution of excess veg. produce to poor & needy? or is there some nanny-state law relating to liability which makes this a non-starter?

[middlefield]

Just to add my experiences:

We're a small site (about 15 plots), for a number of reasons the guy next door to us has two plots, both perfectly kept.

In the area there is a waiting list of about 90, however next-door (in my opinion) isn't the problem.

The problem are the three sites that have never had any cultivation in the two years that we've been there. There is a site adjacent to us that one guy had for a year, he was kicked-off in April as nothing was done. The person that took over came-down once, strimmed the weeds and we've never seen him since. The site is in no worse a condition than ours when we took over two years ago, and is now in good order through time and hard work.

We have three similar plots from 15, so thats 20% wasted.

Multiple plot-holders aren't the problem, its identifying and removing the ones that start and quickly lose interest.

[Stacey Steve]

Kristen

I know that in some areas there are vans from a charity that go round selling fresh veg at reasonable prices, you could try contacting Age Concern who maybe able to offer some advice about this

[Mikey]

Mikeywills

All depends what you are growing on the plots.

Plot 122: Veg, well it will be all veg when I've finnished making all the raised beds.
Plot 123: Greenhouse (with the promise of another freebie soon), shed, compost bins, cold frames, seating area and just over half of it as a fruit cage.
Plot 124: My orchard (when the trees grow enough). Grew up in the east end of London by the docks and always wanted an orchard, now 50+ years on my dream is fruiting as it were.

Don't get me wrong I wasn't criticising you Stacey, you are very fortunate. Our site would not permit your orchard, bushes are accepted trees are not. I think it is to do with the fact that if you were to give up the plot you have to remove all permanent features from it.

[Stacey Steve]

I'm intending on removing the trees to be my son's job, he can make my box from them, how's that for recycling.

Saw the other day about a green burial site, to save space they plant you vertically not horizontally and plant a tree over you. The whole site should be like a woodland.

Now I'm a miserable old git (kids tell me) so what do you think would be the best tree to plant over me?

[Mikey]

Haw thorn!