Must newbie allotmenteers "do their time" on tricky plots?

I am just back from two weeks in Canada and feeling somewhat jetlagged in addition to a head cold, so forgive me if this post is a little less coherent than usual.

I have lots of posts buzzing around in my head, including my thoughts on my local council's new food waste collection scheme, an update on the wormery (find out how did the worms got on while I was away!) and a couple of book reviews, plus a look at the new Wiggly Wigglers catalogue, to which I am a contributor.

But for the moment what's got my attention is a piece by Garden Organic's Mike Thurlow in the latest edition of its publication The Organic Way.

In "The Slow Allotment" Mike criticises some of the false impressions created by some (unnamed - why?) books on allotments that claim that you can maintain an allotment with just a few minutes' work. I hope Mike wouldn't count my book among those titles - I am in total agreement that allotments "cannot be an extension to the school run and other 'no time, must hurry' lifestyles", and I say as much in The Allotment Keeper's Handbook, warning readers to think carefully about the serious time commitment involved before taking on a plot. Allotmenteering can never be "easy", although there are ways of making it less physically hard and time consuming (see my earlier post entitled The post-baby allotment for details).

One comment did rankle, however.

Mike says:

As for acceptable allotment behaviour, some of the advice given in these books, articles, and broadcasts is optimistic to say the least. To insist on the plot of your choice and not the one that you are first offered is precocious ... I know that all new plot holders have to be initiated into the system. This usually includes being offered one of the least attractive plots first and , then working your way through the pecking order. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

Well sorry, Mike - that may well be true, but it should not be that way. The "doing your time" philosophy is a sure-fire way to discourage beginners and newcomers - exactly the kind of people allotment sites must attract if they are to survive the onslaught of developer land grabs and become places where communities can grow their own food. The best plots should go to the newbies - let the really experienced allotmenteers use the expertise to tame the overgrown sites. Otherwise people are discouraged and never get the chance to develop their abilities and move onto more "difficult" plots. It's also worth pointing out, though, that on a lot of sites the resurgence of interest in allotments means that there will be a long waiting list, so the issue of choosing a plot simply doesn't come up - you get what you're given when you get to the top of the list.

I have been arguing for ages that my allotment site should provide "quarter" plots (of two and a half poles) so that beginners can take on a small patch of land and get that in hand before increasing their commitment - or not, if they don't have time for more land.

While in Canada I visited a family centre in Vancouver bordered by a community garden where the locals could rent a single raised bed of a metre or two square. It wasn't enough to feed a family of course but everyone had a chance to grow something, and most of all it was manageable. The days of 10-pole plots are over, except for those lucky enough to be retired and able to spend all day working on the allotment.

Now it's over to you ... what do you think?

Comments

[Emma]

I was very unlucky with my allotment plot. Not only had it been passed through various owners for several years, but it was horribly overgrown. We just couldn't get on top of it.

Unfortunately, there was also an administrative mix-up that meant we got a very rude letter about the condition of 'our' plot (eventually it turned out they were talking about someone else's) about 6 weeks after I got it, threatening us with eviction. And I never could get anyone from the committee to confirm the boundaries of the plot.

Needless to say, we were next in the long line of people who gave up after just one season.

I've read lots of stories in the media about allotment sites which are real communities, and run along forward-thinking lines and offer more help to newbies than simply spraying the plot with weedkiller. These are obviously glowing beacons of allotment best practice, but they are more rare than perhaps I realised.

[Natalie El-Barrawi]

I really agree with your points about encouraging newbie plot owners. When I read the article in the Organic way I thought it smacked of an "I've had it hard so must you" approach. This gets us nowhere except the grumpy guide to allotments(avaliable in shops soon?) I think he was arguing that this was more of what happens in the 'real world' and not a half-hour programme when the sun shines and all the plot owners drink cups of tea together.
The phenomenon of plotters giving up after realising one weekend every month is not enough is not new, and is not the fault of the authors of allotment guides.
The thinly veiled criticism of the half-hour approach et all is a good angle to write an article but seems a rather depressing level to stoop to.(Lia's book recommends as a minimum to 2 and a half-hours a week if you read it)
Even though plots were plentiful near me, I waited for 3yrs as I knew it would take a lot of energy and time. We should be capitalising on the allotment renaissance and enjoying this moment in the media sun.
Lots of the old-boys cut their teeth helping their parents grow for victory,at least we're not waiting for a war to break out. People are genuinely interested in growing things-so what if lottys are the new fad/outdoor gym, this is a new thing for each generation and should be a positive experience even if you realise you haven't the time and give up.

Most beginners fail due to lack of knowledge and unrealistic expectation,you have to suck it and see with a lotty, its a lot easier to get up early on a sunday in your head than in practice. I think half plots or even quarter plots you try for 1 season are a fantastic idea. Books like yours give a realistic and true flavour of whats in store before you have even rung the council for the allotment officers number.

I watched my fellow virgin lotty neighbour bravely dig over the whole of her plot and then watch the weeds move in and swamp her 1st plantings. My plot is 3/4 covered in black plastic and looks messy(according to our 1 grump on the plots) but I had several harvests for my first year thanks to following my lotty books pragmatic advice. My neighbour is carrying on thankfully. I've given her some of my plastic sheeting and we have a pile of manure to share. I'm glad our 80yr old sage of the lotty Stan is open-minded and delighted with the new influx(mainly women) his advice is invaluable, non judgemental and he doesn't allocate the plots by trials of fire.

[Woody Wilbury]

Very much agree with you. New tenants need encouragement, friendly advice, help where necessary, and an open-minded welcoming approach. I'm pleased to say I've had all of that on an individual basis, altho I'm nothing like an allotment virgin having had two previous plots on different sites.

But I'm afraid some of what you said did ring true. After four years on this site I've had no contact from the committee who 'run' the site, maintain the allotment hut, run the flower show etc. Not a dicky bird. And I'm sorry to say some of them seem distinctly standoffish. I've got them to say Good Morning now but only by being relentlessly cheerful and good Morning-ish to them, and a bit in their faces. Sadly, some of the older generation (all male) are doing their best to confirm our prejudices about them.

[Jeremy]

Yes, absolutely agree.
I had a friend kindly allow me to share a quarter allotment plot which worked very well for me.
When, 3 years later, I finally got a huge half plot it was shared with an experienced allotmenteer who had impecably high standards which I found it impossible to keep to. Very, very discouraging, particularly as he didn't understand the no-dig organic approach I was using and continually gave the impression that it was his plot that I was 'allowed to share.' Our council won't officially split the plots, so such discouraging situations continue to exist.

[Patrick]

My experience with plots here in Amsterdam is that it doesn't work the way Mike says. From what I have seen, if they don't give up after the first year most people invest huge amounts of time making their plot nice and so don't want to give it up even if a better plot comes along. Every time you begin on a new plot there is a learning curve, and there are always some problems that need fixing or needed infrastructure which take time and often money.

Plots tend to come free as people give up gardening much more often than because they are offered a better plot. This means it's mostly random what kind of plot you get assigned the first time around. I personally got pretty lucky and got one of the nicest ones around.

When you think about it, what makes a good plot? If you use no-dig methods, weeds aren't really a problem. In any case this isn't a long term problem. Things like hours of sunlight, good drainage, security, privacy, level ground and size are all much more important long term issues. Quality of soil is a medium term problem, as it can take several years to build it up or clean it up if it's in a bad state. These can usually be assessed before you decide to accept the plot, and probably before you even get on the waiting list.

I do find there is not much awareness of no-dig methods like mulching, so plots are often assigned after being idle and not cared for a long time together with the expectation that you will roll up your sleeves and start digging. There is very little accommodation for people who want to cover a plot for 6 months first, before using it for plants. No management association ever invests the minimal effort of covering unused plots with some plastic so they aren't a mess of weeds for the next gardener.

[James]

I remember the first plot I was offered. 90% of it was covered in brambles. It also had a drain in the middle, which was leaking water at an alrming rate. I'm not ashamed to say I asked to see another property. There's a limit to what you can expect beginners to cope with.
Good point Patrick, about covering vacant plots, it'd certainly help the turnover (no pun intended).

[Karen]

We were given our first plot just before christmas, and every time I explain which one it is to a local allotmenteer, they nod sympathetically. Apparently it's the worst plot in town. They all wish me luck with it. Thing is, I'm not prepared to put mental and physical energy into it if I only see it as a stepping stone to a better plot. That's my plot now, and I'm sticking with it. Or giving up with a disillusioned shrug. We shall see.

[Catherine]

I think it would be a good idea to have smaller plots for beginners as a whole plot can be too much initially and lots of people will give up when they realise it is an ongoing commitment. However, once you get started a 'full size' plot is never enough. You can manage a plot with not much time. It may not be the most productive or the best looking, but it's yours to do with as you can. I have had my plot for four years, I work, study for a degree and look after two small children. If I didn't have the plot to escape to I think I would have crumbled. I admit there is never enough time to get it tip top, but I just blinker myself to the areas that aren't done and focus on those that I can manage. There are loads of way to 'cheat' i.e buy ready grown plants instead of growing seeds, plant permenant produce like rhubarb, raspberries, herbs or even shrubs and roses if you like and don't have loads of things that need lots of water as this is perhaps the most time consuming of all the tasks (after weeding) Its also helps to divide your plot into smaller sections, raised beds if you can, or sectioned out by paths (black plastic and chippings or similar) then work one bed at a time and keep the others covered until you can get to them (which may turn out to be never). If you break things into small parts you can manage a plot in half hour chunks. Ignore the perfectionists around you, they have loads of time to make everything just so. It doesn't really matter if your plot has loads of weeds, people seem to want allotments to look like something from the pages of a glossy magazine,which is crazy when you consider its a patch of dirt. Your spuds will taste just the same. As long as you are out there and taking care of what you have, just enjoy it.

[Sue]

May I first say I have book marked your blog for future reference, and your book is now on my wish list.
I agreed to take on a plot on Friday (today is Sunday), before finding your blog, and I now realise I may well have bitten off far more than I can chew, the brambles are over 7 foot high! I can't see where my plot starts or ends as it is surrounded on three sides by other plots in a similar condition. I thought all I had to do was cut down the brambles and start digging, but by reading the posts here I now realise that it isn't going to be as easy as that! DOH!

[jane]

Hi,
I have just taken on half a plot which is more than enough for me, i have spent the last eight weeks clearing all the rubbish,pots,buckets with not bottoms etc that everyone had chucked onto this overgrown plot.
I am going to garden in beds and have now put in my first raised beds, the old fella next to me complained to the site manager to say i'd dug up the path there. There was no path! He didn't like the way i was managing the plot(it used to be his). It really upset me as i had worked so hard, the site manager has now marked both old fella's plot and mine and actually it is him that is over the mythical path not myself.
Made me sad though as i had hoped to learn from old fellas like him and now i just feel he is a grumpy!
New allotment holders need a buddy to support them, i was shown my plot a hand was vaguely waved over where the boundaries were, under six foot high nettles and brambles and left to it.
It was daunting but i love it so much.
Smaller plots are so much easier as you can split them up into manageable chunks and tackle a bit at a time. Hard work still though.