Wednesday 1 January 2014

I'm Giving Up My Allotment

Yes, I'm really giving it up. Actually, this was decided in October but the key to the site will be handed back this week. It's the end of an era.

Don't worry, it's not as drastic as it sounds, I've already got a brand new plot and I love it.

This all came about a long time ago. My allotment is on a very small site, there's only six plots on it. You have to go down a ginnel to reach it and it's tucked right out of the way behind some houses. I was there on my own one day doing a bit of weeding. When I looked up, I saw a lad mooching about nearby. I was a little taken aback and eventually he made his way through some bushes which run along the side of the site. About five minutes later, a couple of men came running through the site. When they saw me, they asked if I'd seen a young lad. Apparently, he'd been trying to break in to one of the nearby houses and the men were giving chase. This episode really unnerved me and since then, I haven't liked to visit the plot on my own. With it being such a small site, it's extremely rare that anyone else is there when we visit so it's quite lonely.

There are four allotment sites in our area, all run by the same association, so Mick had a word with the secretary who put our names on the waiting list to switch sites. We've waited quite some time, but we got a phone call in October offering us a plot on a different site. In fact, we had a choice of plots, but we've really struck lucky with the one we've taken.


It's really been looked after and has only been given up because of ill health. There's a blackberry bush, currant bushes, raspberry canes, gooseberry bush, a strawberry patch and quite a large rhubarb patch. All the fruit is tied in to frames where necessary and looks very neat and tidy. There's also a shed on the plot which Mick's very pleased about. What is it about men and sheds? It will come in very handy anyway.


We'll have to wait and see what the soil's like, but our first impression is that it's better than what we've been used to on our other plot. We've been told by a plot neighbour that it was looked after really well so I'm hoping that there's plenty of nutrients and fertility in the soil. Our old plot used to flood quite badly until we ran a drain along the side of it, but even then, there were places where we still encountered standing water. The new plot looks to drain well.


One thing which will make life much easier on the new site is mains water. We didn't have access to water on the old site other than what we managed to collect ourselves so it will seem a little strange being able to water our plants without worrying we're going to run out of water.

The new site is much larger than our old one and there always seems to be someone around, so I should feel more confident about going down there myself. Mick's uncle has his allotment on this site and he's down there most days. The gardeners we've met there so far have all been so friendly.

Mick's spent a couple of days over the festive period clearing everything from our old plot. We'd only planted a gooseberry bush, a blackcurrant bush and a rhubarb crown a few months ago, so he's dug those up and potted them up until we decide where on the new plot we want to plant them.

The photos in this post were taken on 26th of October 2013 when we signed up for the new plot.

It's all really exciting and taking on a new plot has renewed my enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in now. Roll on seed sowing time.

50 comments:

  1. You had me going for a minute there! You have access to your new plot at just the right time to get started for next season so I look forward to see the plot develop.

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    1. I made sure I had a new plot to go to before giving up my old one. I'm really pleased that we've got it at this time of year, as you say, I can get a full season in and time to prepare for it too.

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  2. Sounds like you have struck lucky there, Jo! Your harvests will increase enormously, I suspect.
    P.S. What's a "ginnel"?

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    1. It will be interesting to see how everything does this year and if there's any difference in my harvests. I should definitely have more soft fruit than ever before. I think ginnel is a northern word. It's a snicket between two buildings or an alleyway.

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  3. What a good idea, you don't want to take chances on lonely plots. The new one looks great.

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    1. I'm sure I'll feel much safer on the new site. I'm really pleased with my new plot, it's in great shape so we don't have too much to do to get it ready for the new growing season.

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  4. New year, new start. I think I'd be a bit worried about your old plot too, sounds like this one is going to be much safer for you :)
    Looking forward to hearing how it works out for you :)

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    1. It does feel like a new start. I'm really excited about the new plot, I feel as I did when I got my first allotment. I'm looking forward to getting it just how we want it.

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  5. Lucky you as it sounds and looks to be a really good plot, and site. I'm sure that having a shed and water makes a big difference as well. All that soft fruit is a bonus.
    I'm not surprised that you're excited and looking forward to the new season. Happy growing, Flighty xx

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    1. We had a few vacant plots to choose from, this was the best by far, even though one of the plots had a wonderful apple tree on it. I'm really excited about all the soft fruit, it's something we haven't grown much of in the past. It will make a huge difference having water on the site, and the shed will make things a little easier too. I'm looking forward to getting going with the new season now.

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  6. Oh that's great news Jo. What better way to start a new season.

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    1. I'm really excited about it, it's like having a brand new blank canvas, I can't wait to get started on it.

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  7. You had me worried there Jo ...... but only for a sec :) It looks as if you have a much better spec - less water but more water, a shed as well as that soft fruit. Great that you got another plot so quickly. In these northern parts a ginnel is a jigger :)

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    1. Our names have been on the waiting list for quite some time, it's been worth the wait though now that we've got such a good plot, I'm really pleased with it. I've never heard a ginnel called a jigger before.

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  8. How exciting! Reading this really makes me want to have one again.

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    1. It's really exciting, it's like starting all over again. You should get your name on a waiting list, just think of all that lovely veg you could be growing.

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  9. Fantastic news Jo, you will be able to grow even more now.

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    1. The plot is about the same size as my last one, but I'll definitely be growing different things than I have before, I've never grown blackberries or raspberries previously.

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  10. Wow- what a great looking plot- Happy New YEar!!

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    1. Thank you, we're really pleased with it. It doesn't need much doing to get it in to shape for the coming growing year. Thank you. Happy New Year to you too.

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  11. Have fun on your new plot Jo.. look forward to reading all about it :o)

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    1. I'm sure there'll be lots of fun on the new plot, I can't wait to get stuck in, and of course, I'll be telling you all about it.

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  12. That's a great Christmas present for you. How exciting.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. It's a brilliant gift, I can't believe everything which comes with it, we've been so lucky.

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  13. Lucky you Jo! I do envy you having an allotment but I know I just wouldnt have the time to maintain one just yet. It would be nice to have once I retire or really cut back on my hours.Some friends of ours took one on this spring and they havent had to buy any veg for months! Bryon is very handy and has built his own shed and beds.I wish you luck and hope this one will be better for you.

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    1. It does take time to keep an allotment ship shape, that's one of the reasons I want to be on a site where I feel able to go on my own. I'm at home now so it makes sense for me to go down there during the week, I'll be able to keep on top of the weeding that way. Thank you, I'm sure this one will be much better than the other plot.

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  14. Good luck, I bet you're itching to get started. Happy New Year. xx

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    1. Thank you. I really can't wait to get started, the new growing year can't come quickly enough. Happy New Year to you and yours too.

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  15. Brilliant news, the new plot looks fantastic, you'll be able to grow lots of exciting things.

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    1. I'm really pleased about the soft fruit that the previous plot holder left behind. I haven't grown much previously so it will be very exciting when harvest time comes around.

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  16. Oh what a wonderful new adventure about to unfold. The plot seems to tick all the boxes and running water sounds wonderful. Great that you've inherited fruit bushes and rhubarb too, what a bonus.
    It awful to feel unsafe, what is our world coming too, I'm glad you'll have more company and a better sense of security. All the very best with it....I'll enjoy watching it spring into life.xxx

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    1. Thank you, I can't wait to share more news about it as the year goes along. It's such a shame that I didn't feel confident about being on the other plot alone, we'd put lots of work in over the five years we had it, but I'm really pleased with our new plot. We've been really lucky to be given such a great plot, and the site seems really friendly too.

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  17. How exciting, new plot looks good and sounds ideal. In fact a lot like the one I took over, which belonged to the same man for 45 years, and had a similar selection of fruit as well as very well cared for soil. Wishing you a very happy 2014 and a great year of allotmenting.

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    1. I think we're going to be very happy on the new plot, in all respects. It's great to take on a plot in such great shape, they're often left to stand when given up, so there's usually clearing to do, but not so here. Thank you. Happy New Year to you too, let's hope that 2014 is a great gardening year for us all.

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  18. What luck to take on a plot that's been well cared for. Hopefully that will give you a great start.
    Don't mention sheds to me - ours has been responsible for my husband deciding that we should keep the plot on, after we had agreed to give it up!

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    1. We've really fallen on our feet with our new plot, it's great that it's been so well cared for. It's our first allotment shed, Eleanor's keen to give it a lick of paint so I'm going to let her get on with it while she's willing.

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  19. Your new plot looks great Jo, I hope that you enjoy working on it and making it your own, it sounds as though it will be much safer and more sociable, which will be nice too. I look forward to following your progress through the year. xx

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    1. I'm really looking forward to getting down there now and starting some work on it. It will be nice to have some company whilst I'm there, it was very rare we saw anyone on our old site.

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  20. New year, new plot. I look forward to seeing all the developments as you make this space yours.

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    1. It's all change for 2014. I'm looking foward to putting our own stamp on the plot, we need to do a bit of digging over first though.

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  21. Wow! The new plot looks brilliant. I can understand how it must have been unnerving to be at the old plot on your own. I would have felt the same. Looks like 2014 is going to be an exciting one. Happy New Year.

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    1. It's all very exciting. It's a shame about the old plot, we were happy there, but it's no good if I won't go on my own. We've struck lucky with the new plot though.

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  22. Wonderful that you've been able to switch to a plot where you'll feel safer and have friendly neighbours. With relatives also nearby, it sounds like you've really landed on your feet and have something to get really excited about! I hope it all works out for you, Jo - I'll look forward to hearing how you get on!

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    1. We've been really lucky to get another plot nearby, one which I'll be able to go to on my own. I'm really looking forward to getting started now, a little wet at the moment so I'm hoping it'll dry out soon.

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  23. I really thought the good life was going to disappear then...just for the first few lines anyway!! So glad you have managed to get moved...not only for your own peace of mind but also for all the benefits you are going to gain on this new site. Can't wait to hear about how things go this year and see plenty of pictures!!

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    1. I think this new plot is going to be better all round, it's just a shame that we've put so much work in to one plot only to give it up, but it's very exciting having somewhere new to start all over again.

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  24. What a wonderful new plot, Jo. I'm so glad you found a safer place. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Enjoy! P. x

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    1. I'm really pleased with my new plot, there's so many advantages to being on this new site. I'm looking forward to stamping my own mark on it now.

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  25. Ooh sorry Jo, I'm a bit behind in reading your blog. That looks great, so exciting getting a new plot and its looks in great condition. Plus its seems like it has much better facilities for you and most definitely you want to feel safe. Good luck and look forward to following your progress this year

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    1. There's definitely much better facilities here and there's always someone about, much safer than the other site. I'm really happy with the plot, we were really lucky to get it.

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