It's the time of year when our allotment rents are due. My plot is just over half the size of a full sized plot and for the past two years I've paid £20. This year the rent has increased to £24 which I still think is a bargain. Other allotment sites in our area have water charges added to their rent, but as we don't have water on our site, we're not charged for that. There's plots which haven't been used at all this year, yet there's lots of people on the waiting list. I don't know people's personal circumstances, but in my opinion, if they're not going to use the plot they should allow someone else to get some use out of it. I remember being on the waiting list and seeing overgrown plots not being tended, it's so annoying.I have two Phalaenopsis, Moth Orchids, and they're both just throwing up a new flower spike. This will be the fourth time that they've come back in to bloom. I always thought that Orchids were hard to take care of, yet all I do with mine is water them once a week and cut off the flower spikes once they have faded. I've never fed either of them yet they keep rewarding me with new blooms. They'll be in flower again for Christmas.
I can't believe how dark it is, both on a morning and on an evening now. The days seem to have shortened so quickly this year and the clocks haven't even gone back yet. The drizzly days don't help either, there isn't much light through the day and I'm having to turn the light on to enable me to see if I'm reading something. We're only just out of summer yet I'm longing for spring already, it's going to be a long winter.
I'm the secretary of our allotment and can tell you that it's really a pain dealing with folks who don't tend their plots. It's a difficult situation though especially for us in a small community where most everyone knows each other...
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about untended plots. There's one next to me that is a real mess and unloved but worst of all covered in weeds that have set seed. Most of them have probably landed on my well-weeded plot. They clearly haven't got the time or inclination to look after it so give it up. It's soooo frustrating. We're in a small village too so there are all sorts of issues, little cliques, local politics.
ReplyDeleteI used to have one of the "allotment" spaces within the estate that I live on. I spent months trying to conquer the weeds (horsetail) organically and eventually had to admit defeat as my work got busier. I'm now back on the list again but it's unlikely I'll be lucky as most of the "allotments" have been turned into leisure gardens, used for barbecues and sunbathing for a couple of weeks of the year. In the meantime, we haven't had too many drizzly days - the weather is still warm and it's tempting to start off a few more winter crops like Pak Choi, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe ever shorter days are reminding me of the jobs I need to do - clear out the greenhouse, plant the garlic and sow some broad beans. Then it's time for curling up on the sofa with a cup of coffee and scouring the internet for some vintage tool bargains!
ReplyDeleteI hate the dark mornings - it makes getting up really hard so I try to make the most of the daylight whilst I can.
ReplyDelete£24 does seem a really good rate. I've been tempted on numerous occasions to buy an orchid as they are so pretty but I haven't as i thought it would be short lived. If i have half the luck you have had it would be worthwhile. The dark mornings and evenings are a wee bit depressing at the minute (and all the rain too).
ReplyDeleteHow does the council justify the price-hike from 20 to 24 quid? Are they giving you anything extra? are their "administration costs" that much more than last year I wonder??
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like a good price, but it is still a big percentage rise. Maybe they are planning to get some water pipes laid.
ReplyDeleteFinding things on-line has made life so easy that you can find everything on INTERNET. Toronto is a city of joy and very energetic.living here it will be a lot of fun. Apartments in Toronto are easily findable on on-line, it's a very interesting thing.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good price! Untended plots are a constant problem sadly. I don't like these dark mornings and evenings either! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteYes it is depressing isn't it? just getting dark so early now.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that's it's awkward enough dealing with people who don't tend their plots, Tanya, but it must be especially difficult in a small community.
ReplyDeleteIt must be so annoying knowing that all those weeds will be blowing over to your plot, Wellywoman. For all the community spirit on allotment sites, there's always those cliques and politics.
I can sympathise with the horsetail issue, Caro. I don't have it on the plot, but I've got it in my garden, such a dreadful weed. Let's hope that you move up the waiting list swiftly, I know how eager I was to get an allotment once I'd put my name down.
My greenhouse is still waiting to be cleared out too, Suburban Veg Gardener. I've got plenty of things I could be getting on with, if only the weather would cooperate.
I hate getting up in the dark too, Elaine. It will make the mornings a little lighter again once the clocks go back, but not for long.
I'm more than happy to pay £24 for my plot, Kelli, it's worth much more than that to me. Definitely treat yourself to an orchid, they're such pretty flowers and very easy to keep.
We're not getting anything extra, Mark. If you look at rents for other allotments around the country, our rent is on the cheap side. I don't mind the increase as the plot is worth much more than £24 to me.
There are four allotment sites in our area, Don't unplug your hub. Our site only has six plots on it so it wouldn't be worth getting water pipes laid. We manage quite well without water though, by collecting rainwater or taking water with us in bottles.
Thank you for visiting, Rent Vancouver.
I'm happy with the price, Flighty. I think there must be untended plots on every site, it's such a shame when there's so many people on waiting lists.
It's even worse when it's raining too, Matron, it gets dark even earlier. It was pitch black by 6.30pm yesterday.
I think it will be Jo and we may not have the 'benefit' of the brightening snow of last winter. It's the greyness that gets to me ...
ReplyDeleteYour allotment is really good value - even at £24. I think they are more expensive here (when you can get your hands on one that is!)
Jeanne
x
We are in the process of moving allotments to one with water in the hope some veggies will survive this time round :-) I have orchids too , fantastic aren't they. x
ReplyDeleteJo your post reminded me that my lottie rent will be due before the year is up. We get clobbered just before Christmas. We pay just over £30 now but we do have water. When you even it out over a year it seems a bargain. My mum has a small collection of moth orchids - they are not only pretty but seem to flower for ages. Must get myself one or two :)
ReplyDeleteDear Jo, Interesting information about allotments -- don't have any in the US. I'm sure if I lived in England again, I would want to have one. The days are getting shorter here too. I was only away 10 days and I'm overwhelmed with the amount of garden work I need to do. P x
ReplyDeleteI think you get quite a good bargain on rent...probably not quite as good as I'm getting but a lot better than some. I know what you mean about the un-used plot...it was exactly the same for me when i was first wanting an allotment...and still there are those that aren't tended at all....guess we are never going to live in a perfect world though.
ReplyDeleteI hate the fact that the days are so short and i am so far behind...i haven't even got my potatoes out the ground yet......
I would love to have an allotment! The closest ones to us are a 10 mile round trip, so sadly I don't think they are worth it!
ReplyDeleteI think we're at the cheaper end of the allotment rent scale, Jeanne. £24 is really good value. We've had a lovely bright weekend, it's perked me up no end.
ReplyDeleteThe no water issue really hasn't bothered us, Scented Sweetpeas. I suppose it depends what your soil is like though, our's tends to hold some water so it's not too bad. I love my orchids, though they're both nearly the same colour so I've been eyeing up a new one.
Evening the rent out over the year is a good way to look at it, Anna. That makes mine just £2 per month, a small price to pay. Orchids do flower for a long period, usually over Christmas and beyond.
I know that many people who don't live in the UK don't know what allotments are, Pam. I know you have community gardens in the US, we seem to be cottoning on to this idea too as more and more are springing up over here. It doesn't matter what time of year you go away, there's always plenty to do in the garden when you get back.
Don't panic about your potatoes, Tanya, I'm with you as I haven't got mine out of the ground yet either. I'm happy with the rent I'm paying, I know many people around the country would prefer my rent than their own.
What a shame you don't have a local allotment site, Libby. A ten mile round trip does seem a little too far.
That's great value Jo, I've just received my forms to sign for half a plot in the next village for £10 a year which is incredible - probably due to being run by a charity as opposed to the local council - with a voluntary contribution of £2 a year towards water which I'll pay at the end of the year. Really looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI thought £24 a year was good, but £10, I'd snap their hands off, Damo. It's amazing how rents vary around the country.
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