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Post by pdblake on May 4, 2012 9:33:28 GMT
Just had word back from the town council, there is only one person on the list above me. This time last year there were 36 and the year before 80, which was exactly the same as the year before that.
Seems they have started shifting things on a lot by clearing out their list of people who shouldn't have been on it (out of the area) and by halving plots.
Not sure just how much longer I'll have to wait for my half plot though, but at the current rate it should only be a few months.
As far as I know I'm still 91st on the county council list and have been for years, they reckon they get one free plot a year, so I should get one somewhere around 2100, and I don't mean by nine o'clock.
So, how is your local list and are your council coping with demand?
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Post by Barbara on May 4, 2012 11:09:12 GMT
We got to the top of the list last year PD, the committee started clamping down on people who had moved away ((that's how we got ours)) and giving people who had left there's in a mess 'till the end of last Oct. the new payment date, to get them tidied or go. so I think around half a dozen newbies got on.
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Post by Auricula on May 4, 2012 16:46:12 GMT
There's not much demand around here - people seem to get them the same year they apply  |
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Post by Jasmine on May 4, 2012 17:18:08 GMT
I got one straight away and you still can. I haven't been turned away but I think most 'aliens' as we are affectionately called have dropped out due to travelling to the plots. Someone does regular tours of our plots and reports untended ones, you get a letter giving you a deadline to sort it out and if you don't you're out. I have never kept any of my neighbours for long  The land is ex-farm land and was sold to be part allotments and part natural burial ground then they found out that the water table was wrong for any sort of burial so more allotments were dug. |
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Post by Tig on May 4, 2012 19:47:28 GMT
There are a few available around my area, not long waiting lists either. Did consider getting one but it wouldn't be cost effective as there are just the two of us to feed and with the small veg plots I have around the garden we get plenty of crops in the summer. It's £22.50p pa for a half plot and just double for a full one. Hope you get yours soon PDB  x Tig |
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Post by Amber on May 5, 2012 7:04:50 GMT
There's around 50 on the waiting list here..The "committee" are starting to clamp down on those who neglect their plots and when a large plot becomes vacant they will be halved. The only problem with that scheme is that the top half of our row of long gardens is overshadowed by sycamore trees.......can't see many folk wanting a plot thats mostly in the shade |
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Post by pdblake on May 5, 2012 16:36:26 GMT
Hopefully I'll get one this year. Can't see anyone giving one up this time of year though, things are just getting started.
I've had a snoop on Google Earth at the three sites around here. The plots range between 8mx10m and 10mx20m. The rents are £15-£20 a year depending on size, with a £25 deposit. Not sure what the facilities are like though. Pretty sure they're all fenced.
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Post by bobbiek on May 5, 2012 19:13:10 GMT
You can all come over and farm on some of mine! No charge, either. And there isn't a hosepipe ban in sight.
You would just need to learn to enjoy some of our strange habits, including which side of the road we drive on!
HUGS!
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Post by Barbara on May 5, 2012 19:34:05 GMT
I would be crashing every day Bobby, we haven't got a hose pipe ban in the north either so we are ok .
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Post by carolann on May 6, 2012 8:11:21 GMT
You would be getting in the wrong side of the car to drive Barbara as well  |
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Post by Jasmine on May 6, 2012 8:38:25 GMT
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Post by Jasmine on May 6, 2012 8:39:00 GMT
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Post by bobbiek on May 6, 2012 12:00:15 GMT
Jasmine,
One of the most amazing things here are the candy shops! They have huge bins of different flavors of gourmet jellybeans!
PDB, I do hope you get your lot soon. When I first started reading this post, I thought you were talking about monthly rents, not annual ones. I know all of us are a bit batty, but those rates made me think all of you had gone over the top.
But no, they are annual, which is much, much better!
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Post by pdblake on May 9, 2012 15:26:09 GMT
I just got the letter today ;D 150 sq yards for £11.97. I've said yes already and I've not even seen it ;D
Can't get to see it for a week or so though, the bloke who shows you around is on holiday, but they're sending the forms anyway.
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Post by Rosefriend on May 9, 2012 16:13:34 GMT
Hey, that's marvellous news PDB...hope it's in good condition but the main thing is that you have it..
RF
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Post by Jasmine on May 9, 2012 17:10:30 GMT
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Post by bobbiek on May 9, 2012 17:18:35 GMT
How wonderful PDB, how very exciting! The best part will be doing before and after photos ... It's something I've been enjoying!
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Post by Barbara on May 10, 2012 13:38:30 GMT
Good news Pd, I was only telling hubby about your waiting list this morning.
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Post by pdblake on May 12, 2012 19:18:17 GMT
Well I finally got to see it:  It's not the jungle I was expecting. In fact it's overrun with rhubarb and rasps. There's a black currant bush and a few strawberries too. The rubbish is mostly grass and thistle and there's a heavy tarpaulin there to help with that (I just need to drag it out). There was even an old fork stuck there. I'm just hoping that heap in the middle is something useful, like compost or manure ;D |
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Post by bobbiek on May 12, 2012 19:50:26 GMT
Thank you for the photo! How exciting. Now you just need some nice weather!
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Post by Ladygardener on May 13, 2012 6:19:01 GMT
Congratulations PDB, just take it a bit at a time and you'll get there. When I got mine it was chest high in weeds and 3 years later I'm still enriching the soil but it's worth it. |
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Post by Barbara on May 13, 2012 10:18:11 GMT
Well it's a fair size PD and not too overrun. ours had lots of loganberry runners around the plot we cut them off and pulled them up, you'll get on top of them in the end, the pile in the middle WILL be compost when you've finished with it no matter what it is now.
The grass paths will help we had to spend money buying stuff for paths on ours.
Have you a planting plan or will you just see how it goes. ?
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Post by pdblake on May 13, 2012 13:44:40 GMT
Just going to see how it goes for now, but I have some spare squashes coming on in the greenhouse so they might help with smothering a bit of ground. There is a bit already cleared but it's had time to fill up with weeds again. I might get some sowing done there first and then see what I want to move where. I definately want to move the rasps into a neat line along the back of the plot and split those rhubarb clumps up and line them up too. Once I've got the stuff I want to keep tidied up along the back I can take a fork to the rest of it a bit at a time.
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Post by carolann on May 13, 2012 15:28:44 GMT
Well done there PD glad it is early enough in the year to get something planted, as Barbara says it does look a good size is it on a slope or is that just the camera angle?
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Post by Jasmine on May 13, 2012 17:26:27 GMT
You'll get your plot into shape bit by bit PDB - good luck!
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Post by pdblake on May 13, 2012 18:56:32 GMT
Well done there PD glad it is early enough in the year to get something planted, as Barbara says it does look a good size is it on a slope or is that just the camera angle? Just my wonky photography skills. ;D It's flat as a pancake. I've got a fair few plant in the greenhouse. I still intend to plant a lot at home as I've got the beds ready, but there's always overspill. ;D |
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Post by pdblake on May 16, 2012 19:40:37 GMT
Just been to have a look where to start. I've done a little bit of digging, but mostly working out where to start. I thinned out those big clumps of rhubarb by picking one in every eight or ten sticks. I came away with 18lb in the end. I'm going to need a big compost area:)
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Post by Dutchy on Jun 24, 2012 17:06:42 GMT
Did you build a big compost area? First thing to do on a new lottie I feel. Get some good compost space.
I hope you are still having fun PDB
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Post by pdblake on Jun 25, 2012 8:29:00 GMT
Compost area. Compost mountain more like ;D After clearing the place and digging out beds I've got a heap that's taller than me. I'm going to cover it all with a tarpaulin when I've done and leave it to brew for a couple of years. Just one more bed to dig over and weed.
And I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
There's some pics on my blog if you want to take a look.
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