[debih]

What lovely people allotment holders are.

Hubby has been up this afternoon doing some more clearing and some digging ready for the brassicas to go in (when they arrive) and he has come back laden down with veg from other people.

The woman with the allotment in front of ours has given us the biggest marrow I have ever seen and loads of courgettes (and told us to keep picking the courgettes whilst she is away over the next two weeks); someone else gave him some carrots; someone else a huge armful of rhubarb and someone else a bowl full of tomatoes.

Maybe I can just leave my plot as it is and just visit every day to be given armfuls of veg  

[Kate and her Ducks]

Can't people be lovely

[peapod]

Brilliant some lotty folk arent they?
When I got my plot in may, when they realised I was serious about the plot they became really friendly with me. I was given plants of sweetcorn, fennel, swede, cabbages, coriander, beetroot and leeks
Ive also been given broad beans, runner beans and rhubarb to eat

I will do that to newbies when I get enough going next year, it made me feel really welcome.

Paula

[debih]

I think they are pleased to see someone on the plot as it has stood untouched for over a year after Brian,  the man that had it before died.  He had one and a half plots (we have taken over half of one - because of the demand all allotments are now split in half as they become available).  I think his wife was hoping to keep it up but they also have a really big garden and I think it was all too much for her.

He seems to have been very well respected from what people have said.

Apparantely a couple took over the half plot in front of us (which was the other half belonging to Brian) about a month ago but they only came twice and never bothered again.  But although we have only had it since Monday we have been up every day - my dad has been with my youngest daughter twice, hubby has been 3 times and has started clearing and digging and I have been up 3 times with my youngest (although I didnt actually do anything - just wandered around chatting to other people!!).

I was speaking to a woman today who has had an allotment there since they first started 24 years ago and I found out that she is the grandma of someone I was at school with.  

They all seem to be really pleased to see Lucy (youngest daughter - aged 6) and say how nice it is to have children at the allotments.  Our plot is in a great position as the allotments are terraced and ours is at the top so as she wanders around I can see her wherever she is.  Whilst I was picking raspberries she was wandering around chatting to everyone, asking them what they were doing!

[Bombers]

PP wrote

I will do that to newbies when I get enough going next year, it made me feel really welcome.

Exactly Peapod, When I first arrived at the plot, I was inundated with kind neighbours all offering various plants/veggies. At first I felt overwhelmed, but I soon learnt that as I got the stuff growing, I could then repay their kindness. ...and some!

[orfy]

I'm lucky enough to have an allotment next to an old time who grows for shows.

I get the odd sample that is not up to specification

[Noah'strolly]

When I first got my plot everyone was so kind with veg and plants. It's so nice to bring something home when you're spending all day clearing the plot with nothing to show for it and looking longingly at other people's productive plots. My husband was a little bit jealous of one guy who gave me flowers until I told him he was in his eighties!
Now I'm in the same boat as everyone else and politely turning down whatever the latest glut produce is ...........mostly lettuce and courgettes at the moment!

[mrs bouquet]

I am soooo envious.  I only grow in my garden and I do miss out on the camaraderie of you lucky lottie folk, still thats why I love this forum, it gives me the friendship and advice that I dip out on.  Mrs Bouquet

[senrab_nhoj]

I was up the lot yesterday chatting to an 'old timer' who has been fantastic with advice and what not....  although he does laugh at my munty frame... asks me who nicked the goal at the other end of the raised bed  Anyway he comes over with a lovely bunch of dahlias for the missus... she absolutely loved them... On top of that.. while I was popping back with the veg and flowers he went home and brought back a vegetable doctor book and left it on my barrow as I had been unsure that I had blight at home....

... he's gutted I'm going to beat him with my pumpkin though... keeps threatening to nick the underside of the stem lol

[yummy]

We are being given so much that we can't eat it all... gave some to the neighbours yesterday...

I remember coming home a couple of weeks ago and feeling really chuffed about our lovely veggies, then realising the only bits grown by us were the 5 little radish  :oops:  

[mashbintater]

I received a letter from our local allotment society last Friday asking if I was still interested in remaining on the waiting list, waiting time currently yrs rather than months. Basically up-dating the list. I emailed a reply as well as returned the application form personally. I also opted for the first available plot. My heart leapt when I initially read the letter as I thought I'd been offered one. Do you think I was keen enough? Lol.