The ON/OFF allotment saga

Finally (we hope) the saga comes to a conclusion, we are being given the derelict allotment site afterall....

.......But have we? Our local council says we will recieve official confirmation on 2nd March, given their track record that gives them plenty of time to back-track again?

It's so annoying, I have been trying to draw up a planting plan for this year, with and without the allotment, obviously my seed ordering is dependant upon the allotment outcome, I'll order the little I can grow in my smallish garden veg patch and play the rest by ear! :(



So maybe the good news we've been waiting for?

 

That is frustrating but possibly good news Vince.

I was in a similar position last spring, trying to finish our building project and also create a veg plot from almost nothing at the same time. I had a big hole to fill in with whatever organic/inorganic stuff that I could lay my hands on, old lime mortar,manure, saved topsoil from the underpinning etc.

What I did was sow as normal in pots & trays & any stuff I couldn't get in the ground went for sale on a roadside stall & at car boot sales.

You might want to think about doing that, then if you get the plot, you'll have the plants and if you don't you can probably sell them which should more than cover the cost of the seed. Mine did.

 

Good luck getting the plot Vince.

Today I managed to catch up with the guy that owns a small piece of land, very close to where I live. He is rarely there, has owned the land for ages but does virtually nothing with it. I asked him if he would be interested in selling it to me. Apparently my reputation preceeds me. He was more interested in hiring me to protect the plot from the travellers and other local riff raff. Last year the travellers tore the gates off the entrance and smashed the doors down on his shed just to steal a knackered tiller which had no engine. They also wrecked a small tractor because they could not steal it. The police recovered the tiller from the campsite, but it had been cut up using an oxy/acetylene torch. They were just going to weigh it in for scrap!!

Been trying to contact the farmer to see if he will sellme part of the orchard that backs onto my garden. Stillwaiting to see if he will accept my offer or not. Seems like I am chasing ghosts.

Chopper.

 

Best of luck Vince, I hope it all comes good for you!

Steve...

 

Good idea Ziggy, we have a local farmers market at Alexandra Palace, maybe I can cultivate plants in my greenhouses and sell any surplus plants if the allotment doesn't materialise there!

Hmmm, business idea, purposely cultivate more than I need and sell plants at the farmers market anyway? :D

 

Why not Vince, I am doing it. I have the facilities and the time to do so. They are all too snobby in my village to get thier hands dirty. They just want instant perfect gardens.

Had some good news today. Possibly anyway. I may be able to sub let a bit of land just across the road from my house. Part of a field that a neighbour rents of th elocal farmer. He doesn't use all of the field/paddock. Just have to wait for him to check with the farmer. Fingers crossed.

Chopper

 

Hope it all works out for you Vince. Good luck.
I would grow those plants anyway. Not much to loose. If it doesn't come to fruition you can sell them, or donate them to a bring and buy sale.

 

It's now official......Yippeeeeeee!

The site has just started to be cleared and we have been formally offered a 5 rod half plot

With 50 on the waiting list and only 15 plots available the decision was made to offer 30 half plots to accommodate as many on the waiting list as possible..

 

Well done Vince ,plenty of fresh veg this year ..
Dave