Is anyone on an allotment without water to the site?
How do you manage? Is it possible to collect enough rainwater? (I
suspect not...)

--
http://www.bra-and-pants.com
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

"mogga" wrote in message
...
Is anyone on an allotment without water to the site?
How do you manage? Is it possible to collect enough rainwater? (I
suspect not...)

--
http://www.bra-and-pants.com
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

Ours has no water provided. We have fixed up guttering and downpipes from
both sides
of the shed, and collect from both sides of the greenhouse. Also one of the
neighbouring houses did this -
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...t152008005.jpg

for us, which was good of him, but was done primarily because it was easier
for his guttering contractors due to lack of space that side of his garage.
We scrounge water tanks off the plumbers whenever we see the telltale signs
of boiler replacement going on. We will have 9 tanks minimum next year. But
we still had to take water with us(in yet another scrounged tank in the back
of the truck) in the hot spell in June, and still our
spuds have dry scab, despite my pouring water into these -

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...f/P1010016.jpg

perforated pipes which I bury with the seed potatoes. All the pipes came
from skips/Freecycle etc, I never buy anything other than seeds and seed
potatoes etc for the allotment.

But you're right, even with all this, it's still difficult to get enough
water to the crops.

Steve

On Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:48:38 -0000, "shazzbat"
wrote:



Ours has no water provided. We have fixed up guttering and downpipes from
both sides
of the shed, and collect from both sides of the greenhouse. Also one of the
neighbouring houses did this -
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...t152008005.jpg

for us, which was good of him, but was done primarily because it was easier
for his guttering contractors due to lack of space that side of his garage.
We scrounge water tanks off the plumbers whenever we see the telltale signs
of boiler replacement going on. We will have 9 tanks minimum next year. But
we still had to take water with us(in yet another scrounged tank in the back
of the truck) in the hot spell in June, and still our
spuds have dry scab, despite my pouring water into these -

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...f/P1010016.jpg

perforated pipes which I bury with the seed potatoes. All the pipes came
from skips/Freecycle etc, I never buy anything other than seeds and seed
potatoes etc for the allotment.

But you're right, even with all this, it's still difficult to get enough
water to the crops.

Steve

ta! Will be looking out for tanks as our huge garage is right next to
the site and could be used to fill tanks.
I will keep my eyes and ears open ... I wonder if they're pulling any
tower blocks down that have giant water tanks in ...

Those big sort of 1m cubed containers - plastic inside a cage - they
might be handy if we can scrounge some of them... but until we get
sheds/greenhouses on it's just our garage with the collection point
really...

I suspect taking water from the canal next to the site will also be a
no no!
--
http://www.bra-and-pants.com
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

"mogga" wrote ... (SNIP)


I suspect taking water from the canal next to the site will also be a
no no!

Don't bet against it, one of our allotment holders has an agreement with the
Environment Agency that he can take up to 50,000 litres of water a day from
the stream that flows past our site. He uses a diesel pump which is very
frustrating for the rest of us carrying cans. :-(
I suggest you all get together and ask as one group.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...


"mogga" wrote ... (SNIP)


I suspect taking water from the canal next to the site will also be a
no no!

Don't bet against it, one of our allotment holders has an agreement with
the Environment Agency that he can take up to 50,000 litres of water a day
from the stream that flows past our site. He uses a diesel pump which is
very frustrating for the rest of us carrying cans. :-(
I suggest you all get together and ask as one group.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK


Bob beware. There is a difference between a stream and a canal :-((

My daughter and Son in Law have a stream running through their gardens and
into a pond and then the overflow goes into the Village Pond. A couple of
years ago there was a distinctive prolonged dry period and their stream and
pond dried up. Complaints were made about the Village Pond drying up and a
visitation was made as to whether D & SiL were stopping the water reaching
Village Pond for 'their own advantage'. We happened to be looking after
their house, grounds and business when the 'Official Gentleman' came and
when he saw the dried up stream and pond he was happy :-)) It also helped
that he was 'one of those people' who we always say, 'It's not what you know
but who you know' :-))

Watch where you take water from ......................... ;-(

I have a wonderful story about rain water and water rates on my first
business premises, but I won't bore you now :-(( There is enough Off Topic
stuff on here at the present time :-((((((((( .................... (Can
anyone answer my medical problems?) ................ ;-))))

Mike

--

....................................
Today, is the tomorrow, you were worrying about, yesterday.
....................................

On Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:02:35 -0000, "'Mike'"
wrote:



Bob beware. There is a difference between a stream and a canal :-((

My daughter and Son in Law have a stream running through their gardens and
into a pond and then the overflow goes into the Village Pond. A couple of
years ago there was a distinctive prolonged dry period and their stream and
pond dried up. Complaints were made about the Village Pond drying up and a
visitation was made as to whether D & SiL were stopping the water reaching
Village Pond for 'their own advantage'. We happened to be looking after
their house, grounds and business when the 'Official Gentleman' came and
when he saw the dried up stream and pond he was happy :-)) It also helped
that he was 'one of those people' who we always say, 'It's not what you know
but who you know' :-))

Watch where you take water from ......................... ;-(


They shut some north west canals during the drought - not ours though.
I've been told there are underground streams in the area but have
never seen proof ..

I have a wonderful story about rain water and water rates on my first
business premises, but I won't bore you now :-(( There is enough Off Topic
stuff on here at the present time :-((((((((( .................... (Can
anyone answer my medical problems?) ................ ;-))))

Only if you have a go at mine!
--
http://www.bra-and-pants.com
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

On Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:39:04 -0000, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:


As I said, get together and ask the canal owner, British Waterways or the
Environment Agency or whoever, if you can abstract water. They can only say
no and they may say yes if they have a good supply to that part of the
canal. (are there any streams that come off the canal?)

There's a weir overflow just across from the corner of the field which
then goes into a local brook.

It goes without saying, get it in writing!
Then you need to all get together and buy a diesel pump (which are not
cheap) together with the correct sprinklers etc.
For example... http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/page...hwaterpump.htm ,
but if others are not prepared for the expense it's all off anyway.

Alternatively get together and get a bore hole drilled but they are very
expensive although the allotment site owners may be prepared to foot some of
the bill as it would improve their site.

Thanks!
We will have to look at this ... at the moment we've only just set up
the group ... and the council are getting all allotment groups to be
self-managed so we have lots of stuff to look at.

--
http://www.bra-and-pants.com
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

mogga wrote in
:

Is anyone on an allotment without water to the site?
How do you manage? Is it possible to collect enough rainwater? (I
suspect not...)


How do others on the site manage?

No point in having an allotment otherwise.

There must be a way! Surely?

In N/Lincs here we have drains(which are similar to canals) which flow into
canals because our land is pan flat, and of course the excess water flows
into the canal via the drains. Then into the River Humber, and all over
again.
We are lucky in this way.
Our summer in Sunny Scunny can be very unpredictable and sometimes we have
a hosepipe ban, with all that water hanging around!

My garden is always watered with either the hose or water we collect, but
it will be illegal.
The water I collect does not belong to me! Nor God.
It belongs to Severn Trent and Anglian Water companies.

Baz

"mogga" wrote

We will have to look at this ... at the moment we've only just set up
the group ... and the council are getting all allotment groups to be
self-managed so we have lots of stuff to look at.


Self managed often means a few do all the work, you need to ensure it is in
everyone's contract that they attend so many work days a year or you and the
other few "workers" will be lumbered, and be strict on it. Also ensure your
Council will hand over a site in good condition , good paths, good fences,
trees lopped, and with tidy access roads and that any rubbish on the site is
cleared before you take over. I say that as once self managed you will have
to do all those things yourselves at your expense.
We have one site near here where the villains have cut through the metal
fence twice to rob the sheds and it's proved expensive to get mended.

Will some of you be going on courses to obtain a certificate to be able to
use powered equipment like Brush cutters and strimmers? I ask as your
insurance co will probably insist on it.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

"Baz" wrote in message
...
mogga wrote in
:

Is anyone on an allotment without water to the site?
How do you manage? Is it possible to collect enough rainwater? (I
suspect not...)


How do others on the site manage?

No point in having an allotment otherwise.

There must be a way! Surely?

In N/Lincs here we have drains(which are similar to canals) which flow
into
canals because our land is pan flat, and of course the excess water flows
into the canal via the drains. Then into the River Humber, and all over
again.
We are lucky in this way.
Our summer in Sunny Scunny can be very unpredictable and sometimes we have
a hosepipe ban, with all that water hanging around!

My garden is always watered with either the hose or water we collect, but
it will be illegal.
The water I collect does not belong to me! Nor God.
It belongs to Severn Trent and Anglian Water companies.

Baz

Sorry Baz. wrong

Rain water landing on your land is yours.

Rain water landing on the public highway belongs to the Highway Authority

HOWEVER, once the water is in the drain, it belongs to the Water Authority
and they have the right to say 'No you are not putting that rainwater down
our drains'. It has taken a very long battle with the Council and the Water
Authority to get some drains in to get rid of the flooding in the road
outside my garage and hardstanding. (Mustn't call it a drive it upsets
people on this newsgroup;-)

I won because of the ownership of the water and the possible damage which
could be caused. About 10 years it took, but I won :-))))))

Mike


--

....................................
Today, is the tomorrow, you were worrying about, yesterday.
....................................

On Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:25:36 -0000, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:



"mogga" wrote

We will have to look at this ... at the moment we've only just set up
the group ... and the council are getting all allotment groups to be
self-managed so we have lots of stuff to look at.


Self managed often means a few do all the work, you need to ensure it is in
everyone's contract that they attend so many work days a year or you and the
other few "workers" will be lumbered, and be strict on it. Also ensure your

Good point! Noted!

Council will hand over a site in good condition , good paths, good fences,
trees lopped, and with tidy access roads and that any rubbish on the site is
cleared before you take over. I say that as once self managed you will have

It's going to be all shiny and new (not done yet! but expecting gates
to go on in next week or so and then fencing, and then work)


to do all those things yourselves at your expense.
We have one site near here where the villains have cut through the metal
fence twice to rob the sheds and it's proved expensive to get mended.

Will some of you be going on courses to obtain a certificate to be able to
use powered equipment like Brush cutters and strimmers? I ask as your
insurance co will probably insist on it.


Hadn't thought of that! Have made a note of points for next meeting.
I like the idea of getting everyone to contribute to "work" ... on my
previous site we had a cleaning rota for the club house ... but you're
right communal pathways need to be kept tidy too.

Thanks!
--
http://www.bra-and-pants.com
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

On Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:18:55 GMT, Baz wrote:

mogga wrote in
:

Is anyone on an allotment without water to the site?
How do you manage? Is it possible to collect enough rainwater? (I
suspect not...)


How do others on the site manage?

It's a site in the making - and won't initally have water.


No point in having an allotment otherwise.

There must be a way! Surely?

In N/Lincs here we have drains(which are similar to canals) which flow into
canals because our land is pan flat, and of course the excess water flows
into the canal via the drains. Then into the River Humber, and all over
again.
We are lucky in this way.
Our summer in Sunny Scunny can be very unpredictable and sometimes we have
a hosepipe ban, with all that water hanging around!

My garden is always watered with either the hose or water we collect, but
it will be illegal.
The water I collect does not belong to me! Nor God.
It belongs to Severn Trent and Anglian Water companies.

Baz
--
http://www.bra-and-pants.com
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk