Good Samaritans!

[Snadger]

Had my lottie about six months now and still don't know the names of everyone on the site!
Today I arrived with 17 bags of rootzone mix 50% soil / 50% sand to use as the bottom layer in my carrot trench for next year.
Parked the truck at the main gate as there is not enough room to get closer to my allotment. As I pulled up one of the allotment holders came over and opened the main gate and insisted in giving me a hand to unload the bags by the gate. I asked him if he would shut the gate when I went, explaining I would be back later to shift the bags to my plot with a wheelbarrow.

With this sorted I left to get some lunch!

Came back after lunch to find the same chap struggling with the last bag onto a wheelbarrow he had borrowed, having shifted the rest to my plot.!!!

I don't even know his name, or have forgotten it if I have been told it at some time! When I tried to wrestle the wheelbarrow off him with the last load, he said. "No you're alright mate, bit chilly today, thought it would be a good way to keep warm!"

When I peered in my leek trench there were two butternut squashes there as well, left for me by another lottie holder!

Two more people to add to my Christmas prezzie list me thinks! Restored my faith in human nature it has!!!

[Fezinio]

Well that brings a smile to my face

Just goes to show there is still some decent people around. Its not all hoodies and war mongeres.

Fezinio

[Waffler]

That's a nice story Snadge!

[Mrs Dobby]

Thats wonderful Snadger, really must make you feel as though you are an accepted part of the fraternity!

[rustylady]

Lottie people are like that!! Doesn't matter if you know or remember their names. I don't see many of my lottie neighbours as I work strange hours, but when we do see each other we have a natter and swap surplus seeds, seedlings and produce.

In fact last weekend the only one who never has much to say came over and handed me a butternut squash!! (I've now decided he's not grumpy, just shy)

[nick the grief]

The daft bugger Snadger, I'd let you struggle

It is good to see thas sort of thing. When I first took on my plot I though it was going to be a pain as it was really weedy.

The next week I came to it to find it ad been ploughed & my neighbour met me with his rotavator to save me digging!! I had a couple of hours at it, stopped for a tea break & when I came out of the shed there was a dozen cabbage plants for me & two Cauli's cut for sunday lunch !!!

Lottie folks tend to be friendly in the main as they want to see you succeed that way there is one less plot to worrry about.

[Snadger]

Lottie people are like that!! Doesn't matter if you know or remember their names. I don't see many of my lottie neighbours as I work strange hours, but when we do see each other we have a natter and swap surplus seeds, seedlings and produce.

In fact last weekend the only one who never has much to say came over and handed me a butternut squash!! (I've now decided he's not grumpy, just shy)

I'm beginning to wonder if there is an unwritten allotment rule that newbies must be given a butternut squash!

[Mrs Dobby]

Lol! We got one too, and a bunch of grapes, carrots, lots of toms, cucumbers and courgettes! It was great! Taste was really amazing, I suppose they are not only welcoming you, but encouraging you too, as its one less mess, plus it gets rid of some overproduction in a useful way too!

[Nicos]

And why not??? It's a wonderful way of life/hobby....am thrilled everytime anyone takes the plunge...SO worthwhile!!

[Waffler]

I'm beginning to wonder if there is an unwritten allotment rule that newbies must be given a butternut squash!

That made me laugh!
I also thought - having read all these posts - that there were a lot of butternut squash flying about!

[Mrs Dobby]

Waffler, 'flying around' gave me a picture of folks throwing them around the allotment, kind of like an airborn rugby ball! Sorry, but had me giggling here! lol!

[yoanbob]

wow thats cool snadger, we are all alone on our lottie, good in some ways but dont have the comaraderie, we just get the uncouths from the council estate giving us pressies of anything the dustman wont take, they use it like a tip, just chuck it over the fence.
i caught somone trying to nick a fence panel once.
nice lot around here.

[Nicos]

This is our 3rd yr on this new lottie and have produced our 1st 2 butternut squash.....will nibble anyones knees ( or worse ) if they derised our achievements.
Courgettes...eat your heart out!!!
We love to give away surplus veg,,,,isn't that what part of this is about??

[bramble]

I quite envy all you who have an allotment. I know i don't have to worry about vandals and the like buti would love to have other people to swap plants stories with. Must be really nice.

[Lesley Jay]

But you have got people to share stories with and swap seeds Bramble - all of us!!!!