craft club allotment?

[Rohen]

Just a thought but theres a 1/3 of an acre behind my garden which I cant clear by myself and its ripe for being planted and used as an allotment if people dont mind sharing and its never going to be built on

Im in North London so if anyone is feeling the need to chop slash and burn and have a bit of ground for themselves please let me know I dont feel like doing it all myself though I may...

 

[alien nation]

Oh what happened here - posted twice

 

[alien nation]

Only just seen this thread - I'm well up for this

Han - there is a way - all we need is a tractor and a maybe a little shop

 

[innit]

When I looked into the Windmill plots in the summer, they seemed to have some kind of thing going on whereby people who volunteer to clear their scrub land get higher priority for a plot of their own - could be worthwhile if a pack of us turned up and got stuck in?

 

[mr steev]

they seemed to have some kind of thing going on whereby people who volunteer to clear their scrub land get higher priority for a plot of their own - could be worthwhile if a pack of us turned up and got stuck in?

That's similar to what happened at ours. We got a half-plot a couple of months ago that was overgrown but not too bad. All the other plots left were really overgrown. The woman who manages it put notices on the gates asking if anyone wanted to downsize as the only plots left were the 'wilderness ones'. I rang her and asked if we could take on the overgrown plot next to ours and she was only too happy (though I think the work we have put in so far was noticed ) Since then the council have come and cleared all the remaining plots (including our new half), so we now have a full plot

If you can, I'd go and see someone at the plot (or get their direct phone number, usually on the gates somewhere). Even though there may be a waiting list, showing you're really keen will help. The main problem allotments have is people taking on the plots then not keeping them up. If you explain that there is a group of you then they may look on you more favourably than just one person... it seemed to work for us. Good luck

 

[gaijingirl]

If you can, I'd go and see someone at the plot (or get their direct phone number, usually on the gates somewhere). Even though there may be a waiting list, showing you're really keen will help. The main problem allotments have is people taking on the plots then not keeping them up. If you explain that there is a group of you then they may look on you more favourably than just one person... it seemed to work for us. Good luck

that's a good idea. Maybe if a bunch of us went to Rosendale and to the Windmill (we could take our magazine with us!) and spoke to people and had a look around they might be impressed enough to bump us up a bit!

 

[Pieface]

The list must move so slowly that anything to promote our cause would be a help. I haven't seen the Windmill ones in the flesh as it were so I don't know if there is any plot clearing we could do to become ingratiated with them. Am around at the weekend if anyone wants to go for a wander down there and see if we can meet anyone or get a contact number??

 

[gaijingirl]

That's a really good idea. Sadly, I don't know if I'll be around myself. I will probably go on the Otford walk on the Saturday (if the weather is ok and I'm not too shattered) and I'm out all day Sunday (taking dance classes.... yes really!). But if Saturday's walk doesn't happen I could go then.

 

[Pieface]

play it by ear - I'll be getting totally wankered (no two ways about it!) at a gig on friday so give me a shout if you're around on saturday. I shall be in pain....

 

[innit]

I've just looked at the Windmill allotments site and found a newsletter from this spring which says

Land that has been allowed to become overgrown
created a useful buffer zone to curious and maybe
naughty children or intruders, but now with the well
designed fence Thames Water has constructed the
buffer is just so much wasted land. This land
needs reclaiming. In the 1950s there were many
more plots on the allotment site and there could be
more today and of a variety of sizes to meet
differing needs and time available but we have to
lead the way.
To begin with the land clearance is hard manual
work, but eventually it settles to a soothing land
cleaning process where time slips away and more
meditative feelings encompasses all involved.
We need volunteers to engage in this reclamation
and maybe while the land condition is being
restored we should try growbags, a polytunnel or
even containers to get some produce from the
space.
If you want to get those muscles toned and want to
grow something this year come along and
volunteer.

I don't know if the offer still stands but it sounds like it might be like a good way to get noticed and increase the number of allotments at the same time. I'm away this weekend but good luck if you do go down on Saturday

 

[gaijingirl]

I will probably pop by there tomorrow and see if there is someone to talk to. I need to go get my Crimbo tree from New Park Road anyway, so will call by en-route.

 

[gaijingirl]

I called by the Windmill allotments this afternoon but couldn't get in. You need a key. I did try knocking and shouting "hello" but no one heard me. I'm just about to write to them and try and make them an offer that they can't refuse.....

(don't worry Innit, I'm not pimping you out!)

 

[han]

I called by the Windmill allotments this afternoon but couldn't get in. You need a key. I did try knocking and shouting "hello" but no one heard me. I'm just about to write to them and try and make them an offer that they can't refuse.....

(don't worry Innit, I'm not pimping you out!)

Alien Nation - our tractor could tow us all to the allotment where we'd work the land and then finish up the day with some nice homebrew that we'd brewed in our little shed....aaah

 

[guinnessdrinker]

I called by the Windmill allotments this afternoon but couldn't get in. You need a key. I did try knocking and shouting "hello" but no one heard me. I'm just about to write to them and try and make them an offer that they can't refuse.....

(don't worry Innit, I'm not pimping you out!)

I don't know about them, but I would suggest weekends in the morning rather than afternoons, before they go to sunday lunch or the pub (or both).