How can I prepare my plot for when/if I move away for temporary work?

[Samuel1988]

Morning all,

I am thinking of doing some 'wwoofing'/helpxchange work (where you do some work say on an organic farm in exchange for your board and food) as a way to learn things such as keeping bees, gain some work experience and do some travelling as I believe this will enhance me as a person and I can bring some knowledge of what I learn to use on my allotment patch.

So inevitably I could be away from my plot for a few months.

Lucky for me my aunty helps (and hopefully I should get others on board) out and she likes to help on the plot but I do not want it to overwhelm her in the event that I have to leave for a bit.

So I was wondering what actions can I do so that when I leave and return (as I don't want to give up my plot or let it go wild again) I wont have to start from square one?

What would you do in my shoes?

Thanks for your advice,

Samuel

[Gardening_Girl]

hi Samuel,
any empty beds you have I would stick some carpet squares down, I have just got an allotment that was left derelict for 2 years (Council) and the areas that had been covered with carpet (once lifted) had no weeds (as the weeds had seeded into the carpet), let water through and was not badly compacted either so when getting started I was grateful to the person who had it before me for doing this.

p.s I went on a work experience/temporary work in the Czech republic in 2011 on an organic fruit farm for a month through a group called Grampus Heritage scheme (free flights, food and accommodation) also got a certificate of training at the end of it so check it out

DESIRE Czech Republic

hope this helps

christy

[Aberdeenplotter]

plant the whole thing in spuds.

[veggiechicken]

Are you the same Samuel who asked recently whether he should take on another plot?

[Samuel1988]

Yes I was lol I am currently studying for a RHS level 2 course which is why I want the extra space.

At the end of the day for the area I have worked in (conservation - I spent 3 months of 2012 working on the whale watching boats in Tenerife & 6 weeks in Indonesia) I could be working abroad but you never know what the future holds but as I have some more human power I reckon if I can take some actions so my family can keep it ticking over I know it will be in safe hands

I am going to get lots of cardboard and lay it down into sections - hopefully this will keep the weeds at bay for a while.

[bearded bloke]

What time of year are you away
How long will you be away
What will already have been planted before you leave
What will need planting in your absence

[Feral007]

As bearded bloke said, work out when you might be away, what will need to be grown during that period. Then I'd put cardboard down and just use the bits that need to be used. Hopefully by the time you come bacck you could find the cardboard starting to disintegrate and you can just plant without even trying to cut holes in the cardboard. Or you could put in green manure in areas that you want to keep loose an ready

[Samuel1988]

What time of year are you away
How long will you be away
What will already have been planted before you leave
What will need planting in your absence

~June time currently, but as I said you never know what tomorrow brings
~A Month but if an opportunity arises like where I had the opportunity to work abroad, I could be away for several months
~ I can make a list for my family to cover this aspect as my aunt would be happy to look after the crops its just the general maintenance of the plot which may be neglected if I go away so I need to work out how I can stay one step ahead!

[snohare]

Mulch everything.
That and a quid pro quo with a friend/plotholder will do the basics.

[Samuel1988]

Whats a quid pro quo?

[snohare]

Whats a quid pro quo?

Sounds like it should mean something like, "money for that" doesn't it Sam ! And it very nearly does..."this for that" is what it says in Latin...basically, you help me dig/weed/whatever sometime, and I water your plants when you are away.
I am quite often unable to get to my plot for various reasons, mainly my health, and might go an entire month without visiting - but having mulch to keep down the weeds, planting out seedlings when they are big enough to outcompete anything else around, and when all else fails, watering the crops, makes a heck of a difference. It's not as tidy as I'd like, and yields are not so good - not least because I miss rasps, beans etc when they are ripe - but a worthwhile result is still very achievable.

[bearded bloke]

Just out of idle curiosity is this thread referring to your original plot or the plot you have just taken on or both ?

[Samuel1988]

Both - but my original plot has lots of chippings for paths etc so only requires mulching the growing areas where as I haven't begun the other one as of yet.