What a truly excellent idea! B&Q have said that for the second year
running, their sale of veg seeds has gone up. I think this time 27% was
mentioned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ear...ust-to-give-la
nd-for-allotments.html

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

On 19/2/09 12:04, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:50:22 +0000, Sacha wrote:

What a truly excellent idea! B&Q have said that for the second year
running, their sale of veg seeds has gone up. I think this time 27% was
mentioned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ear...st-to-give-lan
d-for-allotments.html

"He pointed out that the vast proportion of land in Britain is owned by one
per
cent of the population, meaning few ordinary people have access to land to
grow
their own fruit and vegetables."

iffy statistics, many houses have a garden big enough to do both. One doesn't
need acres. Most can't cope with 50 sq/metres, although units of 100sq/metres
are provided as standard in the gardening club my wife runs. She is
considering
offering units of 25sq/metres in future.

People constantly tell us they want to downsize their gardens. One chap
actually wrote asking us for ideas on making his large garden more
manageable. Prescient as I am ;-), I suggested that he might ask a younger
person to look after it in exchange for the opportunity to grow food and
flowers on it for his own family.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 19/2/09 12:04, in article ,
"Martin" wrote:

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:50:22 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

What a truly excellent idea! B&Q have said that for the second year
running, their sale of veg seeds has gone up. I think this time 27% was
mentioned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ear...st-to-give-lan
d-for-allotments.html

"He pointed out that the vast proportion of land in Britain is owned by
one
per
cent of the population, meaning few ordinary people have access to land
to
grow
their own fruit and vegetables."

iffy statistics, many houses have a garden big enough to do both. One
doesn't
need acres. Most can't cope with 50 sq/metres, although units of
100sq/metres
are provided as standard in the gardening club my wife runs. She is
considering
offering units of 25sq/metres in future.

People constantly tell us they want to downsize their gardens. One chap
actually wrote asking us for ideas on making his large garden more
manageable. Prescient as I am ;-), I suggested that he might ask a
younger
person to look after it in exchange for the opportunity to grow food and
flowers on it for his own family.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online


An elderly neighbour of mine was keen to do this with part of her garden,
and she asked my advice. I said that, in principle, it was a great idea but
that she would have to allow access to this gardener almost at will. The
local gardener she had in mind is a very close friend of mine who works.
This friend would need access to the garden before leaving for work, after
work or after cooking dinner; in other words, all sorts of odd hours. In
effect, the elderly neighbour would need to leave her side gate unlocked for
long periods or all day. This worried her, as it should. It worried me,
knowing that she had already succumbed to a bogus electricity caller (she
ran from the house screaming and the caller decamped). There were other
issues, too, as there are bound to be with this kind of arrangement. If
the proffered plot were a front or side garden, then it may work very well
because access is so much easier, but a back garden plot is fraught with
problems and dangers.

Spider

On 19/2/09 13:23, in article , "Spider"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
snip

People constantly tell us they want to downsize their gardens. One chap
actually wrote asking us for ideas on making his large garden more
manageable. Prescient as I am ;-), I suggested that he might ask a
younger
person to look after it in exchange for the opportunity to grow food and
flowers on it for his own family.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online


An elderly neighbour of mine was keen to do this with part of her garden,
and she asked my advice. I said that, in principle, it was a great idea but
that she would have to allow access to this gardener almost at will. The
local gardener she had in mind is a very close friend of mine who works.
This friend would need access to the garden before leaving for work, after
work or after cooking dinner; in other words, all sorts of odd hours. In
effect, the elderly neighbour would need to leave her side gate unlocked for
long periods or all day. This worried her, as it should. It worried me,
knowing that she had already succumbed to a bogus electricity caller (she
ran from the house screaming and the caller decamped). There were other
issues, too, as there are bound to be with this kind of arrangement. If
the proffered plot were a front or side garden, then it may work very well
because access is so much easier, but a back garden plot is fraught with
problems and dangers.

Spider

All good points. It would depend on where and how the plot is located and
how well they know the gardener person, too.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

"Spider" wrote ...

"Sacha" wrote
"Martin" wrote:
What a truly excellent idea! B&Q have said that for the second year
running, their sale of veg seeds has gone up. I think this time 27%
was
mentioned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ear...st-to-give-lan
d-for-allotments.html

"He pointed out that the vast proportion of land in Britain is owned by
one
per
cent of the population, meaning few ordinary people have access to land
to
grow
their own fruit and vegetables."

iffy statistics, many houses have a garden big enough to do both. One
doesn't
need acres. Most can't cope with 50 sq/metres, although units of
100sq/metres
are provided as standard in the gardening club my wife runs. She is
considering
offering units of 25sq/metres in future.

People constantly tell us they want to downsize their gardens. One chap
actually wrote asking us for ideas on making his large garden more
manageable. Prescient as I am ;-), I suggested that he might ask a
younger
person to look after it in exchange for the opportunity to grow food and
flowers on it for his own family.


An elderly neighbour of mine was keen to do this with part of her garden,
and she asked my advice. I said that, in principle, it was a great idea
but that she would have to allow access to this gardener almost at will.
The local gardener she had in mind is a very close friend of mine who
works. This friend would need access to the garden before leaving for
work, after work or after cooking dinner; in other words, all sorts of odd
hours. In effect, the elderly neighbour would need to leave her side gate
unlocked for long periods or all day. This worried her, as it should.
It worried me, knowing that she had already succumbed to a bogus
electricity caller (she ran from the house screaming and the caller
decamped). There were other issues, too, as there are bound to be with
this kind of arrangement. If the proffered plot were a front or side
garden, then it may work very well because access is so much easier, but a
back garden plot is fraught with problems and dangers.


I would have thought the fitting of a Yale lock with keys to both parties
would have sorted out that problem.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

"Mike" wrote
when I took up my allotment there was only a couple old blokes still
there along with a wonderful lady who from her name and little things
she said I'm pretty sure survived escaping the holocaust to grow veg
into her nineties, (she passed away during the last winter without her
allotment ever becoming overgrown).
I thought it would all soon close. But now the demand is so great the
lady's plot is divided in two halves for two off the waiting list,
which nationally is in 6 figures now.
Now I look around and see I'm the old bloke, if I look at anybodies
plot, you cam see they think I'm tut tutting at their skills, little
do they know I'm clueless beyond one gardening book and advice from
here.

Our last allotment site ended up in 2004 with five plots taken between three
gardeners (two were couples) and there were 150+ plots. How times change and
in such a short time too.
It's now a Park although they say they will put back a small allotment site
of about a dozen plots if/when they get the money. Yet they are saying they
have a huge waiting list now.

One problem I see is that a lot of the older sites don't have toilets and
with more women than men, and young women mainly, taking up plots, it
becomes imperative to have a toilet provided. (if only so I don't get
arrested!)

I am one of the "old farts" on our site but try to keep my own counsel
unless asked specifically.
One thing I have noticed is that the new gardeners don't seem to understand
the importance of manure (and lots of it), I don't know if they use lots of
fertilizer instead but if not then they are storing up trouble in the shape
of decreasing yields and mucking up the soil for future gardeners.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On 19/2/09 18:30, in article ,
"Mike" wrote:

"Bob Hobden" wrote:

One thing I have noticed is that the new gardeners don't seem to understand
the importance of manure (and lots of it), I don't know if they use lots of
fertilizer instead but if not then they are storing up trouble in the shape
of decreasing yields and mucking up the soil for future gardeners.

the chap who runs it has that sorted, he get truck loads in from the
stables opposite and everybody uses it to cover the weed growth in
winter.

Yes. Well. Bob and the others will certainly advise you better than I can
but contaminated manure has caused a LOT of problems for veg growers. Ask
your supplier and the stable owner if their horses have grazed on land
treated by the weed killer that doesn't affect the animals but certainly
affects the manure.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"Spider" wrote ...

"Sacha" wrote
"Martin" wrote:
What a truly excellent idea! B&Q have said that for the second year
running, their sale of veg seeds has gone up. I think this time 27%
was
mentioned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/ear...st-to-give-lan
d-for-allotments.html

"He pointed out that the vast proportion of land in Britain is owned by
one
per
cent of the population, meaning few ordinary people have access to land
to
grow
their own fruit and vegetables."

iffy statistics, many houses have a garden big enough to do both. One
doesn't
need acres. Most can't cope with 50 sq/metres, although units of
100sq/metres
are provided as standard in the gardening club my wife runs. She is
considering
offering units of 25sq/metres in future.

People constantly tell us they want to downsize their gardens. One chap
actually wrote asking us for ideas on making his large garden more
manageable. Prescient as I am ;-), I suggested that he might ask a
younger
person to look after it in exchange for the opportunity to grow food and
flowers on it for his own family.


An elderly neighbour of mine was keen to do this with part of her garden,
and she asked my advice. I said that, in principle, it was a great idea
but that she would have to allow access to this gardener almost at will.
The local gardener she had in mind is a very close friend of mine who
works. This friend would need access to the garden before leaving for
work, after work or after cooking dinner; in other words, all sorts of
odd hours. In effect, the elderly neighbour would need to leave her side
gate unlocked for long periods or all day. This worried her, as it
should. It worried me, knowing that she had already succumbed to a bogus
electricity caller (she ran from the house screaming and the caller
decamped). There were other issues, too, as there are bound to be with
this kind of arrangement. If the proffered plot were a front or side
garden, then it may work very well because access is so much easier, but
a back garden plot is fraught with problems and dangers.


I would have thought the fitting of a Yale lock with keys to both parties
would have sorted out that problem.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden


Indeed, it probably would solve the problem for some. However, add a touch
of paranoia and a generous pinch of selfishness (one of the "other issues" I
hinted at), and a simple problem becomes a complicated one :~(. Suffice it
to say, the younger in-coming gardener (and my best friend, incidentally)
was truly relieved to be rescued from a difficult partnership.

Access is a huge part of this sort of arrangement but, because of the very
reasons that such a deal is struck, the partnership itself can become very
flawed and unbalanced, and a problem in its own right. It takes some wisdom
to see all the problems and negotiate a fair trade. For those who can
manage it well, it's a great idea.

Spider

"Sacha" wrote ,
"Mike" wrote:
"Bob Hobden" wrote:

One thing I have noticed is that the new gardeners don't seem to
understand
the importance of manure (and lots of it), I don't know if they use lots
of
fertilizer instead but if not then they are storing up trouble in the
shape
of decreasing yields and mucking up the soil for future gardeners.

the chap who runs it has that sorted, he get truck loads in from the
stables opposite and everybody uses it to cover the weed growth in
winter.

Yes. Well. Bob and the others will certainly advise you better than I
can
but contaminated manure has caused a LOT of problems for veg growers. Ask
your supplier and the stable owner if their horses have grazed on land
treated by the weed killer that doesn't affect the animals but certainly
affects the manure.

A simple test of growing a couple on young tomato plant in some is all that
is needed. They are very sensitive to the chemical.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On 19/2/09 22:53, in article , "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote ,
"Mike" wrote:
"Bob Hobden" wrote:

One thing I have noticed is that the new gardeners don't seem to
understand
the importance of manure (and lots of it), I don't know if they use lots
of
fertilizer instead but if not then they are storing up trouble in the
shape
of decreasing yields and mucking up the soil for future gardeners.

the chap who runs it has that sorted, he get truck loads in from the
stables opposite and everybody uses it to cover the weed growth in
winter.

Yes. Well. Bob and the others will certainly advise you better than I
can
but contaminated manure has caused a LOT of problems for veg growers. Ask
your supplier and the stable owner if their horses have grazed on land
treated by the weed killer that doesn't affect the animals but certainly
affects the manure.

A simple test of growing a couple on young tomato plant in some is all that
is needed. They are very sensitive to the chemical.

Now that really is a handy tip for those beginning to grow their own food.
And how's that Furcraea, Bob? ;-))
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

"Sacha" wrote...
after "Bob Hobden" went on....

One thing I have noticed is that the new gardeners don't seem to
understand
the importance of manure (and lots of it), I don't know if they use
lots
of
fertilizer instead but if not then they are storing up trouble in the
shape
of decreasing yields and mucking up the soil for future gardeners.

the chap who runs it has that sorted, he get truck loads in from the
stables opposite and everybody uses it to cover the weed growth in
winter.

Yes. Well. Bob and the others will certainly advise you better than I
can
but contaminated manure has caused a LOT of problems for veg growers.
Ask
your supplier and the stable owner if their horses have grazed on land
treated by the weed killer that doesn't affect the animals but certainly
affects the manure.

A simple test of growing a couple on young tomato plant in some is all
that
is needed. They are very sensitive to the chemical.

Now that really is a handy tip for those beginning to grow their own food.
And how's that Furcraea, Bob? ;-))

The one in the big pot that I move next to the house every winter is fine,
the one I planted out in the garden last year couldn't have had a worse
first winter...probably it's last from the look of it!

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On 20/2/09 17:22, in article , "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote...
snip
And how's that Furcraea, Bob? ;-))

The one in the big pot that I move next to the house every winter is fine,
the one I planted out in the garden last year couldn't have had a worse
first winter...probably it's last from the look of it!

Oh dear, that IS bad luck. I'm still amazed you get away with one out in
the garden at all, though. I hope the one in the pot keeps going!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

In article , Spider
writes

the elderly neighbour would need to leave her side gate unlocked for
long periods or all day. This worried her, as it should.

Not if she had a really strong padlock and the gardener had the
combination number or key surely? Maybe someone around at odd hours
would dissuade the potential criminal caller?

Janet

--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk