[lisa80]

aunt sally i wish our site was like yours :)its such a shame when plots arent worked even though our contract says they can be taken away it never happens.
Hubby has convinced the powers that be to only allocate half plots to new comers and to give priority for full plots to people who alread have half, but only if they have been working it :)its worked out well so far  people that want a bigger plot put the work in,  then get one  :)sorry to hijack post ::)if it was me id put in dwarf beans and courgettes

[bigben]

Are you most concerned with ensuring you keep your plot by being seen to grow stuff or is this not an issue and you just want to maximise what you get compared to the work you have to put in. As others have hinted, if you know your not going to ever be able to work your full plot there is a bit of a moral issue with lots of people waiting for a plot - what about asking a friend to share and work part of it?

If time is tight at present but you expect things to improve then stuff grown thru weed fabric or cardboard tends to be lower maintainence. Squash is meant to  be planted a meter apart so you can use it to cover a wide area. Spuds could be grown thru fabric. Plant leeks thru cardboard to minimise weeding. Even planting a green manure would improve the soil and avoid leaving areas bare - you would need to dig it in before it set seed though.

[Aunt Sally]

Our site was very bad 18 months ago.  We kept on to the parish council but nothing ever happened.  Some of the "good" gardeners got together and we brought in a reporter from the local rag who did an article with a nice group picture of us hoes and spades in hand. 

Low and behold the council finally took notice and we formed an association of the tenants and a management committee and manage the site ourselves in a day to day basis with the council taking responsibility for rent, letting and evicting.  We do regular plot inspections and make sure all plots are let and well tended.

The change has been dramatic:

18 months ago


6 Months ago

[digalotty]

that looks great now aunty , its suprising what the power of people can do when they get together '

[JayG]

Our site was very bad 18 months ago.  We kept on to the parish council but nothing ever happened.  Some of the "good" gardeners got together and we brought in a reporter from the local rag who did an article with a nice group picture * of us hoes and spades in hand. 

Great lotty pics Aunty but where's that * picture?

[Aunt Sally]

In "The Downs Mail" but I'm afraid I don't have a copy 

[JayG]

In "The Downs Mail" but I'm afraid I don't have a copy 

Huh! (thought so!) 

[madcat]

before getting too hard line on the 'use it or lose it', we also consider personal circumstances.  The 'Rules is rules' view of the world can be very harsh.  The lady with cancer ... should she lose her lottie because she is going thro' chemo and has been very unwell?  Looks like we think she will never recover!  Or the mid season knee replacement?  Or the twins that are expected ... the young mum is making plans to use the space in a way she can manage in late pregnancy  - yes, squashes, green manure, sunflowers - but you never know, she might have to spend 2 months in bed.

[Aunt Sally]

Absolutely right madcat. 

We always make sure we know if any of our gardeners have any temporary problems and work out a plan with them to help them over a tricky period.  It might be that we will just keep a part of their plot strimmed down for them for a few weeks or ask another gardener to cultivate it for the season. 

Taking back part of a plot is only done if the problem becomes a permanent one and they will never cope with all of their plot.

This is the beauty of the allotment holders themselves managing the site.  They know all the gardeners and their problems much more than a distant council.  Until we started shaking their boat some of our councilors didn't even know where the allotments were