Does anyone’s site use trial plots?

We have to do a years probation before we get a full contract... sounds official, I know!

Thanks for the explanations.  Food for thought.

With the turnover we have, and the way the tenancies are done, it wouldn't work for us at present but I'll file it away for the next time the idea comes up at the regular city-wide site secretaries meetings.

I for one would not be happy to be given a plot for a short while and effectively told 'you needn't grow anything just keep it weed free then we will give you a bigger plot so you can grow something' (well thats how I interpret what you are saying.)

No, the way it works is someone who would like a plot takes on a miniplot and is able to grow short term vegetables - carrots, early potatoes, mini-veg etc. and works that plot until a bigger one comes along or they decide it is not for them.

What usually happens then is they harvest what is on the miniplot before they switch or leave. If there is anything which is not ready for harvest it may be agreed between the leaver and the new mini-plot tenant to split the proceeds when they do mature or whatever they decide in fairness between them.

I'm certainly not suggesting that test plot tenants are just used as a way of keeping vacant plots clean until a full plot comes along.

It works well and it gets people working together as miniplots mean those new tenants get to meet other new gardeners and longer tenants as the miniplots are near the tea room so new people get to be part of the whole site community.

I still don't understand  

Angela, how long is your waiting list?  Are you suggesting that as soon as someone signs up on the list, they get a trial plot until they reach the top of the waiting list?  And at that point, they get offered the first proper plot and have until the end of the season to give up the old plot?

What happens once your waiting list is longer than the numbers of trial plots?

What happens if a proper plot comes free as soon as someone has taken up a trial plot?  Do they get offered it immediately?

I'm not being critical or deliberately asking awkward questions; I'm probably just being dense but I just cannot see how it would work.  :blink:

No, the thought was to allocate trial plots when they become available to people at the top of the list.  Our waiting list is approximately 15 months (about 45 people long at the moment).

Plots only really get reallocated approximately twice a year on our site, although this has changed this year (mainly because the site has started splitting 10 rod plots into 2 x 5 rods).  The main purpose for a change in process is to prevent plots being allocated to people who really don't know where to start - and end up finding the whole thing too much.

On our site we have sub divided plots into halves and even thirds. This has kept the waiting list down. New people are asked what size plot they would like ie full, half or third if there was a choice. Difficulty is if you want a full and only a third is available do you offer them the third or keep them on the list as full plots are few and far between.

We have found that people, given the choice, seem to want to wait for a larger plot - despite (in many cases) never having any allotment keeping experience before!  Perhaps I am being a bit mean, but I don't think people should be given the choice.  I would have personally have loved a full 10 rod plot as I had been growing vegetables for over 20 years so knew I could manage it, but only a half plot was available at the time and I was chomping at the bit to start growing on an allotment so I took what was available.  The plot I took was one which nobody seemed to want as it was near the shop and I think people were worried about it being "constantly scrutinized" (which it is!).  However, in the early days, it forced hubby and I to turn the plot around far faster than it probably would have done had the plot been in a quiet corner of the site.

Even now, I only have a 5 rod and 2.5 rod plot (having been on the waiting list for the second plot) and would have loved one large 10 rod plot, but you have to take what is available.