Sad Allotment Tale.

Forget-me-Not · Sad Allotment Tale.

I went up to my allotment today. I was talking to the owner and he said there's been no interest there except another guy who's already sprayed and ploughed his plot at the other end and now wants the next one. He said he has someone who wants to put a horse on there and therefore' don't mean to be awkward,' but moving me up to other guy.

Now have worse soil, huge foot thick couch looking grass, sheltered end and a sprayer next door. To have a hope in hell of geting to soil, need it ploughed, which he would probably do (for more money) plot is already £150 a year. Hadn't paid yet, as he's still sorting access etc.

This plot seems bigger, too big and lumpier too.

Feeling like a deflated whooppee cushion, cannot afford these costs, £150 was definitely enough, this isn't my perma and friendly community idea and I now have plants with nowhere immenent to go. Haven't cancelled yet but thinking I need something smaller, no chemicals and more human scale. All this and nearby. This guy only gardens at the weekend too. Fancied a cuppa and a sharing experience. Plant swaps etc.

Beth

Diana

That is a real shame - and how much land were you getting for £150 (sounds like a lot of money).

Have you checked Landshare to see if they've anyone near you? Is Kelly anywhere near you?

Smooth Hound

thats a shame, could you pllant willow round the outside and seclude it,
is there someone else to share it with you, that may be the way to go, if you can find someone like minded

also i would suggest you ask him as to whether this will happen again,

or whether you are safe there for a long time, if not keep hold of it, do a few annual crops ad look else where.
i do sympathise, ive put my back into a few projects like hat in the past only to lose it all except what can be dug up and saved, it can be very disheartening, but dont let it bring you down

there is always a way

Forget-me-Not · Sad Allotment Tale.

I registered with Landshare ages ago but haven't looked for a while. Re plot moving, I'm supposed to be about to get a contract, so I doubt it but over the evening and parent evening at school time out, I've decided to back out. A share would be good but it could ake a while and easier to plant alongside and do your own thing but enjoy neighbours. I'll carry on with my own patch and keep an eye out for something else. Re the money it was a generously sized 10 metres by 40 but this was a tall man striding bigger estimate.

Beth

Smooth Hound

thats a shame, but keep looking out, youll find somewhere, i do feel for your disapointment though

Smooth Hound

before you hand it back though, what sort of contract is this chap willing to give you ???

Forget-me-Not · Sad Allotment Tale.

I haven't seen the contract yet and it's the first time the guy has done this but he'd said it was the amount, a tenancy for a year, he's sorting the water supply, I can park my car in there and I could put up a shed. He's probably the biggest business man in the area, so he's pretty savvy.

Beth

Smooth Hound

you could use juust a small piece of it to grow your veg, and put the rest to wild life, its quite a large area, so you only need a quarter of it for your veg. maybe i should take a drive up, and put a new set of eyes on it.

a new lease of optimism

you could get together loads of cuttings thi year and plant them next year, and turn a hell into heaven. i would keep hold of it

Forget-me-Not · Sad Allotment Tale.

Ohhhh, just cancelled it.

That's really lovely of you to say but you know to be honest I feel a big sense of relief. Sad but relief re that location. I agree with what you're saying but the land wasn't good and the effort to improve it enough for the wildlife would have been large too and I haven't a lot of time, besides it's been left to wildlife for years and I didn't see too much up that end. I think the horse will have a beautiful field further down though.

Something will come up, something easier and something away from sprays. As Perma says, don't fight against nature, go with it.

Beth