Allotment: Woo Hoooo!!! :) :) :)

[jennyjj01]

Sounds like you.ve got things sussed.

I'm literally buzzing with excitement. LOL. It's like inheriting a farm. I know where the site is and will have a nosey tomorrow.
Pathetic isn't it?

thats very restrained of you. I'd have been there with a torch in the dark

That had crossed my mind! There's a big perimeter fence. I might have looked just a touch conspicuous.
Official viewing deferred to next week, so I'll definitely be having a covert scouting trip, today. Just need to borrow a dog.
There's an urgent need to start weeding before the ground thaws out and before the rental term starts

[Arzosah]

Not pathetic at all, and what a great size. I'm so glad you're willing to share your plans and progress on here, it's lovely. And I love that cartoon, downloaded it, thanks!

[GillyBee]

You could wander along on Saturday or Sunday and see if any fellow plotholders are around and will let you in to take a gander at the site in general even if you dont know which plot will be yours.

[jennyjj01]

You could wander along on Saturday or Sunday and see if any fellow plotholders are around and will let you in to take a gander at the site in general even if you dont know which plot will be yours.

I've done my recce at about 2pm. It was deserted and fenced off. So I gazed longingly through the fence.

Yes. 75 sq m Perfect size for me at the moment. Loos and standpipes on-site. If i get a choice of plot, then proximity might clinche it.

Looks like a (mostly) no-shed, no greenhouse zone. Poly tunnels need approval and I saw none.

Obviously, it looked quite dead and frozen solid. Even the most neglected plot looked ok and not weed covered.

So excited

There's a little copse nearby, currently deep in shed leaves.... Or as I call it next years compost I don't think there's a law against stealing shed leaves.

[steptoe]

You could wander along on Saturday or Sunday and see if any fellow plotholders are around and will let you in to take a gander at the site in general even if you dont know which plot will be yours.

I've done my recce at about 2pm. It was deserted and fenced off. So I gazed longingly through the fence.

Yes. 75 sq m Perfect size for me at the moment. Loos and standpipes on-site. If i get a choice of plot, then proximity might clinche it.

Looks like a (mostly) no-shed, no greenhouse zone. Poly tunnels need approval and I saw none.

Obviously, it looked quite dead and frozen solid. Even the most neglected plot looked ok and not weed covered.

So excited

There's a little copse nearby, currently deep in shed leaves.... Or as I call it next years compost I don't think there's a law against stealing shed leaves.

You enjoy it jen , like isaid get a pad and start drawing up where stuff will go lol , you have fun , peo;le use to think the wife and i were mad christmas day off to the allotment get brussels and parsnip and some carrots well a few other bits , but i use to love it and i will say as i suffer a over heating problem many a time people saw me up there snow falling and me in just joggers and a t shirt them all wrapped in everthing they coudl fit on lol .
Just go slow and if you do dig do little and often to get your body and back use to it make sure you get some good trousers with knee protection , but as i have said ENJOY it

[ForgeCorvus]

How many pallets to build a shed )

Ten to fifteen, depending on sizes (pallet and shed) and how good you are at out-planking


There will be site rules (and probably someone with nothing better to do then enforce them), try to follow them even if they don't make sense.

Talk to the fellow Lotters, they'll know if theres anything you can't grow there.


I've never had one myself, but I've had friends who did

[jennyjj01]

How many pallets to build a shed )

Ten to fifteen, depending on sizes (pallet and shed) and how good you are at out-planking

There will be site rules (and probably someone with nothing better to do then enforce them), try to follow them even if they don't make sense.

Talk to the fellow Lotters, they'll know if theres anything you can't grow there.

The way we bust pallets, badly, better call it 20 to 30.

Yes. I have the 7 pages of rules. No guests, only one named 'helper' who must be a member of the allotment club. Which I have to join too. I'll have to seek clarity on a few things. No doors on shelters or sheds ??? Etc.

The biggie seems to be a use it or lose it policy. I'm supposed to start 'cultivating' within 7 days with monthly targets. Quite how they reconcile that with this weather, god only knows. Maybe it's the strict rules that helps keep the waiting list down.

Counting my chickens, I'm super hopeful that other 'Lotters' will be helpful and do swapsies with me. That way I can grow stuff we don't eat in exchange for stuff we do. I wonder if I'll meet any preppers? There's a seed shed but it doesn't open till March!

I'm Buzzing with broad brush plans. A square metre just for herbs. Masses of peas and carrots and onions. Enough spud space to make us self sufficient? And fruit. I want some fruit. And I want it ALL NOW.

75 sq metres!!!!! That's 15x what I have now!.... Plus I still have those beds in my garden!

My home beds, here, are going to become cloches for starting seedlings, rather than risk having a greenhouse on 'the farm'

Bottle cloches popped into my head. Started collecting 2L bottles. Collecting cardboard.

Can I plant seeds yet

Glad I kept the petrol Generator. I also have a spare inverter.

[Yorkshire Andy]

You could wander along on Saturday or Sunday and see if any fellow plotholders are around and will let you in to take a gander at the site in general even if you dont know which plot will be yours.

I've done my recce at about 2pm. It was deserted and fenced off. So I gazed longingly through the fence.

Yes. 75 sq m Perfect size for me at the moment. Loos and standpipes on-site. If i get a choice of plot, then proximity might clinche it.

Looks like a (mostly) no-shed, no greenhouse zone. Poly tunnels need approval and I saw none.

Obviously, it looked quite dead and frozen solid. Even the most neglected plot looked ok and not weed covered.

So excited

There's a little copse nearby, currently deep in shed leaves.... Or as I call it next years compost I don't think there's a law against stealing shed leaves.

Proximity in what sense you want to be in the middle if possible as Any scrotes do t like been penned in likewise scrumpers are likely to take off the easier to access plots..


Any trees or neighbours sheds in relation to your plot anything on the south side is going to cut down on useable area due to shading ,

Proximity to the tap isn't a massive issue as long as you can use a hose to either fill butts or use for direct watering...

Vehicular access is a issue on mine for heavy stuff in I've a 60m slog to my gate from the main gate

Be polite but not overly friendly until you learn the rabble they can be a very fickle cliquey bunch and tend to gang up on those they don't get on with (hogging the tap on a evening) or just not fitting in ... I watched a war erupt on face book over a racing pigeon FFS I stayed out of it but plot #1 has a chip on her shoulder so can get knotted

[jennyjj01]

You could wander along on Saturday or Sunday and see if any fellow plotholders are around and will let you in to take a gander at the site in general even if you dont know which plot will be yours.

I've done my recce at about 2pm. It was deserted and fenced off. So I gazed longingly through the fence.

Proximity in what sense you want to be in the middle if possible as Any scrotes do t like been penned in likewise scrumpers are likely to take off the easier to access plots..


Any trees or neighbours sheds in relation to your plot anything on the south side is going to cut down on useable area due to shading ,

Proximity to the tap isn't a massive issue as long as you can use a hose to either fill butts or use for direct watering...

Vehicular access is a issue on mine for heavy stuff in I've a 60m slog to my gate from the main gate

Good points. Especially the south facing bit.
This site is pretty well fortified with a big spikey fence. It would keep triffids or zombies out. BUT. individual plots are open plan?!? I'll need to ask about the risk of crime and about soil quality etc.
It's also got good vehicle access. The furthest 1/4 plot from the access drive is under 30m.

[jennyjj01]

Can I plant some seeds , please. Can I. Can I?
Onions from seed in the window sill? Just how long do those beggars take from seed to pan?
Garlic in plant pots.
Peas for potential manure crop?
Anything?

And if you say no. I say Mung beans!

Just like this year, I want to hit the ground running.