Summer days at the allotment

[Holly]

Hello grapes,

This month we want to paint a picture of summer life on the UK allotments. Are you gearing up for a season of BBQs with the other gardeners at your site, or do you prefer to get your head down and make the most of the longer evenings? Do you rely on the input and advice from neighbouring gardeners? Fill in the poll above to give us an idea of life at your allotment.

If your site has a particularly vibrant social scene then please share your ideas for summer events and any fun growing projects below!


Your comments may be edited and printed in the June issue of Grow Your Own magazine.

[arpoet]

Each one of our lottle plots are surrounded by its own hedges, and as there are over a 100 on a sloping site we can be down and not see anyone but hear the others working.
Roger

[jackie j]

I voted ' there are no organised events but people say hello ' but I am hoping to change that and arrange events.

[Holly]

That's good news Jackie, do you have anything specific in mind?

[jackie j]

Bbq 's, seed / plant swop, opening a small shop that will be funded by the main shop on another site, just need to refelt the shed that a previous site manager left to the site and I can open it once I get some bits in it.

[Mrs Dobby]

I've voted the same as Jackie, as although we do know most of the folks, we only get together 3 or 4 times a year, generally for the AGM, followed by a BBQ, for the pre-judging tidy up (followed by another BBQ) and then Augusy Bank Hols (BBQ again) and the last one of the year for the Bonfire Night Bonfire and BBQ.

When we joined the site (5 years ago now) there had been social stuff going on in the past, but it had pretty much stopped apart from the Bonfire night and the pre judging tidy up, but since the former Committee Chairperson and now myself as Chairperson we have tried to reinstate a bit more community involvement.

Our next projects are a plant sale (Mothering Sunday) followed by a BBQ, and then we have a plot that we've just taken back from Red Rose Forest, which is set to become our community orchard, once the AGM is out of the way (2 weeks time) and we've ratified our constitution (to enable us to look for grants to buy in the fruit trees that we want to get)

There are folks on the plot that will stop and have a brew together, and another couple of plot holders have joined us in keeping bees on our plot, so the 4 of us do see a lot of each other socially.

[VirginVegGrower]

Our sites are in a large village and community spirit isn't helped by a dictatorial parish council hence a lot of plots don't put the time or money into them. We are just ploughing ahead with our plans and everyone else is having a good look each time they pass. I think those where you are encouraged to be a long term resident are much more connected. My mum's old allotment site were allowed bonfires, sheds, anything within reason. They were self managed by a group of the old boys. Manure was bulk ordered along with seed swaps and tea brewers. Such a shame they are not all like that.

[Shadylane]

Ours is a friendly site and at the very least folk say hello. Some keep to themselves other than that and others stand around gassing for hours on end. I'm quite a shy person and won't approach people for a chat but if someone approaches me (usually the plot veteran who is always giving us stuff and telling us we need to spray) I'll happily chat for a while. We don't have any organised events just the AGM, which suits me fine as I'm far too busy to be socialising with folk down there. It's great to swap produce, get advice and generally just have a chat, but I go down there to get stuff done not socialise.

[Alison]

We're a friendly site and have a good natter when we have the time but we are all short of time and go to the plots to garden not to socialise. It's unlikely I'd attend any lottie organised social events that weren't gardening related and to be honest, at only 10 plots in size, we're a bit small for the likes of plant sales etc.

[Piggle]

I'm not a big social animal really - my lotty time is my peaceful time away from my noisy neighbours ( I live in a flat with young kids above me, to the right of me and a barking dog to the left )
Unfortunately there seems to be an increasing amount of people with screeching kids getting plots so I guess there will soon be nowhere peaceful left for me to hide soon.

[gillian62]

My council run alloment site has had a lot of work done over the past few weeks to make plots useable for those on the waiting list - they have been covered in brambles for years. There are only a handful of us on site from previous years (or year in my case) and we always say hello. But I expect there will be more of a community spirit as the site fills with new tenants.

I do find that although I want to be friendly with the other plot holders, as I have limited time at the plot I don't have time to spend my day chatting. It can be hard to strike a balance.

[sarahspatch]

Our association has monthly meetings and an annual BBQ, and a veg show, although I never get round to entering the show unfortunately.

I know my allotment 'neighbours' and always say hello to people walking to and from their plots. One or two of the old boys will always tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing on the lottie if I'm working near the path!! I'm good at politely nodding!

[Nes]

People are friendly at my site, and will stop for a quick chat, but mostly, we are down there to do some gardening! My allotment is my space, where I can have an hour or two away from home, childcare and housework, while the OH looks after the children (while watching the rugby), and just have a little time to myself. I don't go there to be sociable (sorry!).

[Hans Mum]

our site is friendly, we have several BBQ.s/Picnic on the Plot every year, & can fire up the BBQ at a moments notice.....there's nothing better than getting a text friday afternoon at work saying we're lighting at six.
We have a plant sale in May which raises much needed funds for site (we're self managed). Big bonfire & BBQ near Nov 5th, everyone is very friendly and we stop and have a chat & a cuppa, there's a communal 'garden' with benches and a gazebo so folks without a shed can sit and rest awhile. Lots of families on site and the children are 'free ranging' as long as they observe common courtesy and stick to the paths or play in the garden area. A group of us went to the Edible Garden show this weekend and we often attend a quiz night at the local hostelry. AGM and meetings somebody usually turns up with some home baked goodies and the kettle's always on. Dont know how we get time to grow stuff sometimes but we do

[binley100]

We are a big site and in the process of becoming bigger ( old allotments are in the process of being brought back into use). All plots have hedges so are fairly private but everyone speaks when you walk round the lanes. We have a monthly site meeting in the hut which is also open for drinks and bacon butties on a Sat morning. We have social events and open days. The last event was a quiz night with a fish and chip supper and the added bonus of people bringing along some home made beverages for sampling.
As people on here may be aware we are in the process of creating a centenary garden (this being our centenary year) and a lot of plot holders are helping with that in various ways. This garden is for everyone to use and also for events such as summer bbq's.