[upert]

On our site a gardener left last year but appears to have sold soil on their plot. To me this seems a terrible idea as if one does it why not everyone? Our landlords rules stipulate no soil or mineral should be removed from the 'site' yet could this be interpreted to mean you can sell it to your plot neighbour when you leave?

[Nobbie]

Sounds like they've found a loophole in the rules, but not really cricket is it? How much have they transferred to the other plot? Is it the contents of raised beds?

[DHM]

Assuming he bought a load of soil for raised beds and sold it to someone else for raised beds (I would think the most likely scenario) he could justify it on the grounds that he bought, therefore owned the soil but generally people work on the premise that soil stays upon vacating a plot. I wouldn't sell anything except for tools personally but that's me.

[sunshineband]

I have never heard of this happening... how disappointing for the next tenants 

[upert]

It was the entire contents of a raised bed about 20 centimetres high and six to eight metres long, one or two wide. It is alleged that it is compost and therefore it can be sold. It has been on that plot for years. I think any compost or manure when added to a plot's soil should not be sold. It goes against what I consider to be basic principles of allotment gardening especially on a public site.

At best it will leave huge holes across the site as gardeners leave and seek to profit. At worst it might create a two tier system of those able to buy their neighbour's soil and those who can't. Not to mention the rapid transfer of soil borne pests and diseases.

Personally, I like the challenge of making my soil as good as I can by my own efforts.

[Goosegirl]

Good job he's left as it seems he can sell the ground from under your feet.

[rowlandwells]

I to have never come across this before because our rules are if you leave then all you do is close the gate behind you when you leave the site the plot stays soil and all for the next customer

i have to ask myself what id idiot would be so stupid as to buy second hand soil that mite contain contaminating soil to transfer it to there own plot brain dead or what

could the purchaser be Simon simple Simon?

[upert]

We have even provided free soil on the site.

There is one person defending the actions of this soil remover with levels of sophistry I've not seen outside the Houses of Parliament.

Does anyone want to buy any soil I've loads of it. There's three diseases that I know about, one of which can't be eradicated, hence the low, low price.