Kids at the lottie?

[Nikki Arnold]

Are children a common sight at your allotment? Do your little ones love digging your plot? This month we want to know how you and/or your site encourages youngsters to get growing, how you make your community garden or plot safer for them to visit and why you think it is important for kids to visit the lottie?




Please note your answers may be edited and printed in the July issue of GYO magazine.

[SarzWix]

I brought my Gardening Club group on a visit to my allotment last year, which was a great success. I had to gain approval from the allotment association committee first, and then fill out a risk assessment for school. This highlighted things that may have been a danger, and gave me time to make changes before the visit, for instance putting covers on open water-butts, tidying away/locking up fertilisers/pesticides/herbicides, tidying paths to ensure clear passage and covering any sharp edges.
The children were able to gain an insight into the different ways of growing - raised beds, small beds, whole-allotment plots grown in rows, no-dig gardening etc. They also got to look round the polytunnel of a 'show-grower' on our site, and saw giant onions which they were very excited about. They also had an impromptu salad made with things that we picked and washed on the plot, along with the packed lunch they had brought with them, and were given peas, lettuces, beans and tomatoes to take home with them.

The trip was very valuable in many ways; it reinvigorated their enthusiasm for the school garden, and we decided to try some different types of beds for this year, and some different crops - most were determined to grow red iceberg lettuces, purple peas and giant onions!

[chris]

I take my two and a half year old to my plot, she loves it. She plays with snails, worms and whatever else she can get her hands on. She is also great at taking dandelion flower heads off - it's a game we've come up with [Collect our family, and extended family in dandelion heads - daddy dandelion, mum dandelion, sister, grandparents etc].

It was a bit difficult taking her when I was trying to sort the plot out but it's better and more fun for both of us now.

My parents weren't interesting in gardening, so for me, I think it's important to get my children involved as I'd rather them be outside than sat in front of a TV. I love the fact that my daughter knows that eggs come from chickens (we keep them), you eat the eggs, and also the chickens if you're a meat eater. I'm sure that I didn't know that at 2 years old! It's really starting to pay off, as she knows soil is a growing medium, apples come from trees (rather than supermarkets!!), flowers attract bees etc. It's a great feeling that she is taking a natural interest in it without me trying to force her to enjoy being outside with me.

I see older children at the plot - not that often, but they're always having fun there. I think as above, it's healthy for them to be outside.. I spent my childhood outside and I'd like my children to do so too.

I cannot wait to get some harvest this year from the plot, the excitement in my daughters face last year at taking sweetcorn straight from the plant was priceless.

The best thing so far has been the fact that when I've sown her tins of sweetcorn, or bags of peas you can see the confusion in her face.. currently she associates peas as of being in a certain part of the garden (always is asking where they are, when are they coming again), and sweetcorn from the beds at the bottom of the garden - it's great and what I've set out to achieve really.

[jackie j]

My daughter came with me when I first got my plot but not interested any more ( 16 going on 30 ).
We do encourage children to the site's in our area as well as dogs, BUT, most people come for a bit of peace and to get away from it all. Most people that bring children know this and to be honest they are mostly well behaved as long as Mum and / or dad don't stay to long as they get bored. Dogs must be kept on a lead and on your own plot, unfortunately some one was bitten by a dog recently and lots of comments about this.
Where our site is its very peaceful, not many houses around.

[Paulieb]

It was a bit difficult taking her when I was trying to sort the plot out but it's better and more fun for both of us now.

.....It's really starting to pay off, as she knows soil is a growing medium, apples come from trees (rather than supermarkets!!), flowers attract bees etc. It's a great feeling that she is taking a natural interest in it without me trying to force her to enjoy being outside with me.

My 2 year old always wants to come in the garden with me (even when its raining). Last year was a nightmare because she'd just walk all over the beds and veg, but now she understands to stick to the paths.

Its great teaching her that food comes from plants and not plastic packets, and when there are tomatoes and blackcurrants ready for picking just try stopping her from having the lot. Its also great that at 2 she knows that we need mud to plant potatoes in, and she's always after a packets of seeds to put in the ground.

[smallfrog]

Children and familys are now very much part of allotment life. Our site is made up of people from all walks and stages of life; it’s what makes AGM’s interesting. My family have all been made welcome by all the other members of our site. My son helps one old boy feed his chickens, another couple offer him seeds to plant and strawberries to test. One still won’t past on the secret to massive pumpkins but kindly gave him said pumpkin for Halloween.

Children of all ages should be encouraged to go to the plot. Of course they will learn to plant seeds dig soil and eat healthier. More importantly they will learn to respect other people’s property and mix with a wider circle of the community. So when they are older and the plot is no longer the place to seen hopefully they’ll think twice before stealing that pumpkin or smashing that greenhouse.

I’m not sure if I’ve explained myself very well I hope you get the basic idea of where I’m coming from. I go to the allotment to grow vegetables the rest has been a happy accident much like my veg growing

[di]

I got my first plot when my lad was a babe and my little girl two. From when he could sit unaided, he'd be plonked on some bare earth to do his investigating, whilst his older sister was picking green strawberries and trampling on carrots. Now eight and nearly ten, they both know not to stand on freshly dug soil, help with planting and harvest only after checking things are ready.

When we first got a plot, we were the only family with young children. Shortly after someone got a plot a few down with two slightly older lads, then we got neighbours with a slightly older girl.

Now. The plot opposite, has a girl in my girls class. The plot next to them have a lad in my boys class and an older son. A few down have a girl in my lads class and one younger. Also, two plotholders on the other side have Grand children in my ladfs class.

When they've had enough of the helping, they all go off to play together, enjoying the freedom of the outdoors.....all knowing and respecting that they don't go on other people's plots.

I think the majority of plotholders love to see them there enjoying being outside and learning about where real food comes from.

[Thelma Sanders]

I love to see them playing, and take my grandchildren in the school holidays - it's good for them to learn where food comes from

One family does annoy me when their (older) boys play football and the ball comes flying over and they run across plots to get it back. If they stayed on the grass area at the front they would be no bother to anyone, so it's a shame they are not told what's right and wrong.

[greenishfing]

Most of the children on our plot are great. They come and watch our frogs sunbathe in the pond. My young nephews and nieces love to come and pick their own strawberries and sweetcorn in summer Usually when they leave I find a mountain of peapods on the floor. However the parents who bring children to the site when they clearly don't want to come, don't bring anything to amuse them and then don't supervise them and let them wander over other peoples plots should be dunked in the comfrey tea barrel headfirst.

[salome2001]

I have a new plot and an almost-4-year old boy. I have made a sandpit, which is usually looked at, if not used, and he has an old ride on trike and some diggers to play with. Nana bought him some kiddy tools (rake, spade, hoe) and he is happiest "helping" me dig the beds. He is also very proud of his own 2ft x 2ft raised bed, which has carrots, peas, onions and a leftover Swiss Chard seedling happily growing in it.

He knows not to go on other peoples' plots, that nettles "bite", and loves visiting our lottie neighbour's chickens.

His favourite task though is filling his watering can from the water trough and making a puddle to jump in

[di]

My girl will be ten next month, her favourite thing is still digging a big hole and making it and herself as muddy as possible. She now has her own little 'hole are' to dig to her hearts content.

[northepaul]

I gave my daughter (whose 9) a small section of the allotment as her own area to do what you wanted with, as long as she grew things. She has a flower area (Full of pretty little violas at the moment) carrot, radish, sweetcorn and pea beds marked out, a pot with strawberry plants in and an apple tree. She wants to have a small chair to sit and read in too!! It certainly kept her interest and encouraged her to think about where food comes from.

[ladylottie]

No children on our allotments, it's not that they aren't allowed, it's just that everyone except two lottie holders are over 50 (I think) so there aren't any children around.

Very occasionally you see someone bring their grandchildren just for a look but I've never seen them actually do anything on the plot. One man has an immaculate plot and no weeds are allowed on it so can't imagine him wanting the children touching it. He does explain things to them though, but it's just not hands-on stuff.

I must admit though that I do like the peace and quiet up at the lottie - must be getting old

[Piggle]

I think you will find that opinions are divided into two camps - those who have kids and think they are a welcome addition to a site and those ( like me ) who don't have kids by choice and get annoyed when other people's are inflicted on us!

I am not anti kids but if people are going to bring them then they should be well behaved and not causing other holders disturbance. I just don't want to listen to someone elses kids running round screeching - I would suggest the playground is a more suitable option in most cases.

[Snadger]

Never seen any bairns at the allotments.

Spotted a women there once though..........

Think she must have got lost.................