Taking the plunge? worth it or not?

[Fezinio]

Hi all,

I am getting well hooked now on growing my own fruit and veg.

My wife's nices are all vegetarians and my wife is alergic to red meat and so also eats a lot of veg.

I have got lots of ideas in my own garden but i would consider getting an allotment as a few work colleges etc always rave about them. And another plus point is the cheapish rent.

The thing is am i being negative here? Don't know if its because i come from a rough area in Stoke on Trent but all i can remember is alloments getting vandelised. (grant its along time ago and im in mid to late thirties).

So my question is does this still happen and what are the pros v cons?

Fezinio

[Snadger]

I can only speak as I find (touching wood!!) No break ins at all on our site. Thats why I moved there as my garden was getting vandalized!

From what I have read on this forum vandalism is the exception rather than the rule, but my heart goes out to the ones who have suffered.

It seems to be sheds that are broken into and not vandalism of the crops usually?
If you keep little of worth in the shed, and even leave it unlocked I would think the percentages would be working for, rather than against you!

Thats my opinion for what its worth!

[rustylady]

Vandalism happens everywhere, unfortunately! If you have a tatty looking shed with a cheap padlock (or none at all), people tend to think you have nothing worth nicking. It doesn't pay to leave expensive equipment on an allotment though. Our site has a very sturdy metal (don't quite know what to call it - it's bigger than a shed, more like a portakabin) which houses things like rotovator). We also have a very good perimeter fence on our site.

I've found the worst vandals are the *** pigeons going after the cabbages, but I suppose they're hungry and it's free food. Don't mind that so much, it's the yobs who destroy things for the sheer hell of it that make me mad

[Mrs Dobby]

There's been a couple of sheds that were attempted to be broken into a week or so ago, but apart from that the last break in we heard of was about 12 months ago, one of the plot holders had her large shed broken into and a lot of tools stolen, and other than that we've only heard of 2 instances of veg going missing and one instance of a tramp breaking into a shed 2 years ago for somewhere to sleep!

Pro's of having a plot, lots of room for lots of crops, lots of likeminded folks to socialise with and ask questions, peace and tranquility of getting away from it all down the plot, cheap to rent, provides hours of cheap entertainment, good exercise (a lot cheaper than going to the gym and more productive), and most important of all, all that lovely tasting organically grown superfresh veg, much nicer than the taste of anything bought from supermarket or grocers!

Cons of having a plot, lots of space to weed and water, potentially insecure, travelling time, amount of effort needed! Erm, cant think of any other negatives, but that may just be cos we are newbies and thoroughly enjoying having our plot!

BTW - what part of Stoke do you come from? I grew up in that neck o the woods! T'reight mate! Owwat? Yer dunner wunner not get a plot I tells ya!

[Fezinio]

LOL Mrs Dobby

Me, well most of the family from Bentilee. I have also been in Longton, Fenton and Hanley.

Now live in Portsmouth taking the queens shilling for the last 18 yrs.

Still love it up there and still follow and watch Stoke City. I guess someone has too

BTW i still love me oatcakes and cheese

Fezinio

[Mrs Dobby]

I grew up in Biddulph, tho the families all come from stoke, alsager, tunstall and biddulph area!

I aways use Stole and Port Vale for the reason why I dont follow footie, I mean, if thats the choice then I dunner bother! Lol! Mind you, did see Stoke play Liverpool in the 70's (went with the next door neighbours), when Kevin Keagen played for Liverpool!

Oatcakes! Dunner you mean wrotecakes? I luv em, especially rolled up with bacon and cheese! Mmmmm!

[Nicos]

No doubt about it..go for it Fez .....(utterly fantastic!!!! )

[nick the grief]

If you don't have a lottie because of the vandals then they have won - end of that one.

Pro's
Fresh air
Free work out
Improved health
Fresh Food
Save money
You'll aquire a new extended family of plotters

Is that enough for you

[yoanbob]

just take your valubles home with you, our lottie is right outside our back garden but wouldnt dream of leaving anything up there, we live in quite a bad area and go to the tip once a month with stuff people throw over the fence, its a small price to pay for the benefits, we go to the tip a lot anyway.
we keep the sheds open as they only have feed in them anyway.
go for it, just be sensible and you wont have any regrets.

[seasprout]

Fezinio,
I would make inquirys about local availability and address's of sites, then visit a few and talk to the current plot holders and just be very nosey and find out whats go'es on etc...

I am told Sunday's are the best time to catch other plot holders. ;-)

If you can get a plot straight away then you are allowed to be smug as some places have very long waiting lists.

I would deffinatly give it ago. :-)

[Alice]

I'm with Nick on that one. That's my philosophy. You never let the yobs win or influence your life in any way. If you fall foul of their antics - clean up the damage and carry on your own sweet way.

[Earthbabe]

Fezinio even though we have had an "incident" we wouldn't dream of giving it up and it's the first on our site for a number of years. I agree with RL - not getting a lottie for that reason is letting them win. I know there are some very rough parts of Pompey but you'll find lottie holders generally very friendly even if they don't always want to chat. I think most of the pros have been cited so I won't add any more. The soil is this part of the world is generally very good and the weather is in your favour. Go for it. Ring the local council to see what is available or go online to have a look at what is nearest. If the Pompey website is more up to date than the Soton one then it may even give availability.

[kirsty b]

I'll add my voice to the 'definitely worth its'. The other plotholders on my site have all warned me about occasional vandalism but it tends to be sheds etc if anything that gets damaged. They said not to leave anything there, and not to have a padlock on my shed. Padlocks make them think that there is something worth pinching in there.
Still got loads of weeds to shift and digging to do, but keep visualising what its going to look like next summer. Helps keep me motivated.

Kirsty

[Earthbabe]

That's the spirit Kirsty. All the hard work is worth it which is why those of us who have had a problem generally see the shed being broken into as a nuisance but would be devastated if the veggies got trashed. All that hard work.

The taste of your own veg and the satisfaction of saying "I grew it" has to be one of the best things going.