There were a couple of problems with that plot, one being that there was no water on the site and the other was the site itself, it was so small, only six plots, so it was very quiet. There was never anyone around when we were there and after witnessing a small incident, I just didn't feel safe being there on my own.
A couple of years ago I was offered a plot on a new site. It was a fabulous plot having a shed and lots of soft fruit planted, we jumped at it.
Unfortunately, since then, we just haven't been able to give it as much attention as we'd like. This last year particularly, it got out of hand as we just don't have the time any more to devote to it. We'd pondered the idea of giving it up last year but decided to carry on but in November when the bill for another year dropped through the letterbox, we knew that it was time.
Our circumstances have changed in the seven years that we've had a plot, though my enthusiasm for gardening hasn't so I'll continue to grow my own but on a smaller scale in my own garden. I shan't be digging up the lawn just yet, I shall go back to the way I used to grow veggies before I got an allotment, in containers, but eventually I would like some raised beds.
This blog was started to follow my adventures on my allotment but now I no longer have a plot and time is at a premium, I'm going to stop posting here. As many of you know, I do have another blog, Through The Keyhole, which I will continue with and I shall slot in some posts about my garden plot on there. Some of you already comment on that blog as well as this one but I do hope that those of you who don't will pop over and follow me over there.
I'd like to thank everyone who has followed my ramblings here over the years, I've made some very good friends and it's been a pleasure getting to know you all through your blogs. Thank you for all the comments you've left, every single one has been very much appreciated.
Wishing you all a wonderful new year and wishing you all the very best for the 2016 growing season.
Well, Yes, definitely the end of an era Jo. One's circumstances change though, and you must adapt to them. I'm hoping that things will work in my favour soon because I am scheduled to retire from work completely next year! In theory I will have loads of time for gardening, but you never know... I'll be visiting your other blog, of course!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that we'll have an allotment again at some time in the future. I had to wait about twenty months when I got my first one yet there's no waiting list at all now. I do hope your retirement goes to plan, all that extra time to spend on gardening and cooking.
DeleteI'm sad to read this post as I've always enjoyed reading this blog, and commenting on it.
ReplyDeleteGood to see that you'll be continuing to post on your other blog.
Thanks, and to you too. Flighty xx
I've enjoyed writing the blog but now I'm without an allotment and given my lack of time, I'm sure combining everything in to my Through They Keyhole blog will be the best solution. Thank you.
DeleteLike you say if you don't have the time and you can still grow successfully in the garden, we actually have alloments across the road from us, but growing on a small scale suits us, it is difficult though especially when you want a holiday and have to rely on someone to look after things.
ReplyDeleteIt will be much easier having everything growing right outside the back door, I'll be able to just pop out each time I get a spare ten minutes, I'm sure it will work much better for me given my present circumstances. I've continued to grow some things in the garden even though I've had an allotment so we've always had to rely on someone to look after things when we go on holiday.
DeleteI shall be sorry to see you go Jo.
ReplyDeleteI have so enjoyed this blog.....one of my favourites in fact.
I shall not be around so much......
I do wish you well and I hope that 2016 holds all your dreams.
Thank you for sharing your sowing, growing times.
Thank you for your lovely comment. I do hope that all is well and that your absence is just because you're busy with life. Wishing you all the very best for 2016 too.
DeleteI shall miss your posts here Jo, but it is good to know your limits and when to cut back. I'm wishing you a very happy 2016, with some good veggie growing in your garden. Thank you for all of your lovely posts here, I've enjoyed every single one. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteIt's been quite tough keeping up with the allotment this year, as well as keeping two blogs going. I've got less free time than I did have so I know something's got to give. Thank you, wishing you a very happy 2016 too.
DeleteI'm always sad when I see a blog that I really enjoy coming to an end, but as you say, circumstances change...it happens to all of us. I only wish I had found your blog a lot sooner!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I missed it but I didn't realize that you had another blog - I'll be going over to take a look today and, of course, following your "ramblings" over there ;)
I wasn't sure when I started blogging that I'd keep the blog going for this length of time, I'm really pleased that I've managed to keep two blogs going for so long. Circumstances do change though and things have to give, unfortunately, it's the allotment and this blog. I'm glad I'm not giving up blogging all together though. I'm really pleased that you're going to visit my other blog, it would be lovely to keep in touch over there.
DeleteI imagine that it was a difficult decision to make Jo but one that you have no doubt considered thoroughly before coming to a conclusion. I may not be far behind you, as although in theory I've all the time in the world, I don't get to my plot regularly enough, especially at this time of year. I will really miss this virtual 'patch' but will call in more regularly at 'Through The Keyhole'. Wishing you all the best with your alternative growing adventures :)
ReplyDeleteIn hindsight I should have let the allotment go last year. We did consider giving it up then but kept it on for another year and it was a bit like a millstone around my neck, I just didn't have the time to devote to it and we were just playing catch up with it all the time. It's quite a relief now knowing that we don't have to visit. I'm sure that going back to growing in containers will be quite an adventure, I was rather successful with it previously so I'm looking forward to getting to grips with it again.
DeleteThat's a shame, Jo but it is true that an allotment does take up quite a lot of time and require commitment so it is good that you know when to draw a line under the whole thing rather than let it become an unwonted sure as I've seen so many people do.
ReplyDeleteI shall certainly pop over to your other blog and keep in touch that way. I hope that in spite of not having an allotment you will still pop over to mine and leave your valued comments.
It was great when I first got the plot but as we've now got so many more commitments, we just don't have the time to devote to it any more. Perhaps we'll take on another plot in the future when our lives aren't quite so busy. Glad you'll be popping over to my other blog and of course, I shall still be popping by yours.
DeleteI have enjoyed reading about your growing, and I am sure that I will still enjoy it when you post at your other blog. Surprising how much you can grow in a garden isn't it. Good luck with whatever the changes bring, I hope that you enjoy and that it gives you more time. xx
ReplyDeleteI know our harvests will be much smaller from the garden than the allotment, but so long as I can still grow some things I'll be happy. I know I don't have as much time now as I did when we first took on the plot so I'm sure we've made the right decision.
DeleteWe never got an allotment because of time, we felt we would not visit enough, growing veg in a small garden creates challenges which are fun. I am always surprised where you can grow things.
DeleteI'm sure it will be much easier to keep an eye on everything in the garden rather than an allotment which is a distance away. I had great fun growing in containers before I got my plot so I'm quite looking forward to giving it all a go again.
DeleteOh! What a shame...I LOVE this blog! I totally understand though, sometimes you simply don't have the time for things, that's why we had to give up our lovely narrowboat. I shall certainly follow you on your other blog.All the very best to you and yours Jo. Have a marvelous 2016.xxx
ReplyDeleteIf only there were more hours in a day, we'd all be able to do everything we wanted. I'm pleased you're going to pop over to my other blog and follow along there. Thank you, wishing you and yours all the very best for 2016 too.
DeleteIt's so interesting if there any plots to be offered here. So I could grow a lot of things there.
ReplyDeleteI think allotments are mainly a British thing, it's a shame they don't have them everywhere though as they're great for people who don't have room in their gardens to grow their own.
DeleteSo sorry to hear that you will be giving up your allotment and not continuing with this blog which I have enjoyed so much, but I will follow your other blog. I'm sure it must be hard to keep an allotment going, especially if it's not right on your doorstep. Even keeping our veg garden going can be a challenge on our time and were are retired. Look forward to catching you on the other blog. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely had more time for gardening when we first took on the plot but circumstances change and we now find it such a challenge to give the plot the time it needs. I'm pleased you're going to pop over to my other blog. Thank you, happy new year to you too.
DeleteWell, I've only known you a short time and I love both your blogs ... so look forward to more of your posts on 'Through The Keyhole'
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your followers here will follow you over there!
Happy New Year
All the best Jan
I'm pleased you're going to follow on my other blog. Thank you, wishing you a happy new year too.
DeleteI'm sad to read about this Jo but fully understand your reasons behind giving up your allotment. I'm glad you are still growing a few things though. We are in for a few changes 2016 too, it will be an interesting year. All the best xx
ReplyDeleteWe considered giving up the allotment last year but kept it on and we couldn't give it the time it needed. It will be an interesting year with some changes afoot. Thank you, wishing you and yours all the very best for 2016.
DeleteHey Jo,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear of your letting go of the allotment. I have let plot no 10 go this November. Now I am working again, I just don't have the time to devote to it. I feel terribly guilty about it, and haven't declared it to the general public through my blog. But the thought of it was a constant weight on my mind. I shall be making a space at the side of the house for veggie growing. And I still have my greenhouse, which gives me untold joy. I shall also pop over to your other blog, and visit you there.
Leanne xx
Allotments take an awful lot of work to keep on top of and I recognised that we just can't keep up with it any longer. I know what you mean about the constant weight on your mind because now we've let our plot go, it's like a weight's been lifted from my shoulders. It's a shame really as it's a wonderful hobby but like you, I shall continue to grow veggies in the garden and I've still got my greenhouse too. Glad you're going to pop over to my other blog.
DeleteAn end of an era definitely, but I'm sure it's the start of others too. I understand the hard decision of giving up the allotment as I had to do that 8yrars ago when I moved, but I really love being able to go into my garden and potter in the small veg beds. I will continue to follow your other blog. Have a great 2016.
ReplyDeleteI think the benefits of growing in your own garden can definitely outweigh growing on an allotment providing you've got enough space. I won't be able to grow the amount I did on the plot but it will definitely free up a lot of time for me. Thank you, wishing you all the very best for 2016.
DeleteI love reading both your blogs. Thanks for sharing all about your allotment and experiences.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed writing this blog but the time is definitely right to bring it to a close now that I no longer have the allotment and time is scarce. I do hope you'll continue to follow along with my other blog.
DeleteI'm late to this one so hope you still get this message. Sorry to hear you've handed back your plot but it sounds like it's what you needed to do. I felt that last summer about mine but I'm going to see how it goes this year. To be honest I need the growing space. Good luck with all your new plans and commitments, it sounds like you're very busy. Best wishes, Louise
ReplyDeleteIn hindsight, we should have handed the plot back last year. I think we knew deep down that we wouldn't have the time for it but it's so hard to admit defeat. This last year we've been rushing round trying to give each of our commitments the attention they deserve without success so something definitely had to go and unfortunately, it was the plot. I'm hoping that we can go back to it at some time in the future but until then we'll have to manage with the space we've got in the garden.
DeleteI'm sure that you'll manage just fine with your garden - we love growing in the front garden as it's great to be able to pick it and have it on the plate within minutes. We've just given up the large plot that we've had since 2007 and we're moving to a smaller plot on a site closer to home. Without a car it was just too difficult to spend as much time at the other one as we needed to, and it felt like a millstone to me. I now feel enthused again about having somewhere closer and safer to go to. I just need to get a firm diagnosis from next week's procedure and some treatment and then my health should improve enough for me to be a participant rather than just spectating as John does the work!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the plot feeling like a millstone, we just didn't have the time to devote to it and that's how it felt to us in the end, which is a real shame. I think it will be easier to grow things in the garden for the time being until we find some extra time again. I'm sure a smaller plot will be fine for you now there's just the two of you, and you get so much out of your garden too. I'm sorry to hear about your health issues, I do hope the procedure you're having gives you some clarification and that you're soon able to help John on the plot.
DeleteIt seems quite a few of my favorite bloggers are stopping which is a pity - but I understand that you have to adapt to the different circumstances in your life. Good luck with your container garden and I will of course have a look at your other blog!
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed writing this blog but it does take a lot of time keeping up with two blogs. Now that I no longer have the allotment, the time is right to stop writing this one but it would be lovely to see all my friends over on my other blog.
DeleteIt's been wonderful getting to know you over the years, Jo. I will keep in touch on your other blog. I'll miss The Good Life! P. x
ReplyDeleteIt is an end of an era, I've made so many friends on this blog but I'm so pleased that many are going to keep in touch on my other blog.
Delete