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Allotment for beginners course.

• Message 1. 

  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Thursday, 3rd March 2011

  Our site is running a course 'Allotments for Beginners' which has been written by us. We're fed up with people who rent a plot for a year, think they can scatter seeds and come back six months later to harvest. It's difficult, (it takes months in one case YEARS!) to get them off and meanwhile others want a plot.
  
  Do you think that £50 towards the site association, is too much? The course is fairly full. There are four Saturdays where we're going to cover soil management, cultivation methods, rotation, sowing and growing crops, pests and diseases. The course is basically practical. and 'students' get a miniplot for the year to grow what they like (within rotovation considerations). If they survive the year and complete the course the association has voted that they should get priority on th list.
  
  It seems to men that people are getting a good deal. Do you think we're charging too much?
  
  Thanks, Lottie

  Link to this forum: Allotment for beginners course.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by cooperbean (U13920738) on Thursday, 3rd March 2011

  I read this message with some degree of wariness and some degree of thinking it was a fair idea but i do not agree with the priority on the list system - itsit should be a first come first served basis (unless they have changed there mind about having the plot).
  
  I think (personally) £50.00 is far too much (half a plot on my allotment is only £21.00 for the year with water included. It has taken me about 3 years to truly understand the workings myself. Would not a buddying up system work better - wherby on member of the current association is buddied up with a new member for the first year (under a provisional one year contract) to seek information from and guidance from to see how they get along?
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by ageing_hippie (U6742113) on Thursday, 3rd March 2011

  I agree with cooperbean. This scheme makes me very uncomfortable. I think £50 is extortionate and contrary to the spirit of the allotment movement. Allotments were first set up for the benefit of people on low incomes and this remains central to their ethos today. Allotment societies should not be profit making organisations.
  
  I'm all in favour of sharing knowledge and experience, but there are other ways of delivering it. This can be done informally, voluntarily, in a spirit of generosity and co-operation. To me this scheme feels excessively officious. I like to feel I'm leaving a lot of that behind at the allotment gate. I'm also dead against selected people having priority on the waiting-list.
  
  Why does it take so long to recover uncultivated plots? Most allotment societies have rules providing for termination of tenancy for non-cultivation. This works perfectly well for our society.
  
  I do sympathise with your society's problem but personally I'm not comfortable with this as a solution.
  
  
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by cufcskim (U14483815) on Thursday, 3rd March 2011

  Ah, the committee, the bane of the allotment.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by novicedippychick (U9694696) on Friday, 4th March 2011

  Hello Lottie
  
  I can understand you frustrations about plot holders not cultivating their plots but it happens, but this is what our allotment society does.
  
  There is a plot that is reserved fro new plot holders. They are taken through the topics that you want to teach, soil management etc. They follow the whole season from digging over the plot to sowing and plant the crops, through to reaping, they share the veg that they grow.
  
  We keep the numbers low, yes this means that we only rent a limited amount of plots per year, but what it also means we know that those who eventually complete the season are going to stay.
  
  We have tried this method for three years now and it is proving quite successful.
  
  During the year we contact those who do not cultivate their plots on no more than 2 occasions if they get a third letter it is to quit the plot with immediate effect. The numbers have reduces drastically in the last few years and we now have a vibrant allotment site.
  
  There is no charge for this and is conducting at the weekends. There are a large number of college lecturers and teachers on our site and we rotate these duties between us.
  
  I hope this has been some help to you.
  
  NDC
  
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Calendula (U2331338) on Friday, 4th March 2011

  Allotments were first set up for the benefit of people on low incomes and this remains central to their ethos today 
  
  I don't think this is true. I have an allotment and I'm very grateful for it, but our Parish Council didn't means test me before I got it! However they are very ineffectual at getting people off who don't work their plots, and I think that's the key here. You need a "three strikes and you're out" policy taking no longer than one season.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Friday, 4th March 2011

  Well Lottie I think it's an excellent idea! I love all of it, that you get help, that you are made to understand the commitment but most importantly that you start small and they are not overwhelmed. I got my own allotment last year and was completely unprepared and "swamped" and it's been a tough year of trial and error. I think lots of allotments sites would find that with these entry levels their waiting lists would go down faster and people could find out on a lighter basis with less stress if allotmenteering is really for them.
  
  An excellent idea. I also would like to point out that nothing in this life is free and yes allotments are pretty close but if you went to learn photography, piano lessons etc you'd pay a darned sight more that 50 quid. A good cooking lesson would cost you that and you certainly wouldn't get anything to use for a year so is £50 really that much? I've been on nights out that I've easily spent that.
  
  Also I think we've become so accustomed to cheap allotments that we take them for granted. I read the other day about a private allotment site where plots are £300 a year and all are filled. I think we are really lucky to have councils who subsidise costs. We are in a time that private allotments are a better option than the "If you sign up now you'll get one when you retire" (I was 27!) that we are getting now. My allotment is now a private one but worth every penny (combining the gym membership, food savings and joy that it gives me) and I have to say I would have been more than happy for a preview for £50 and get some education and support into the bargain!
  
  Perhaps if it's not worth £50 then they don't want it that badly? Also I would like to point out that I only earn around £15k a year which does not make me a millionaire or even wealthy. Life is all about choices and if someone wants something badly abough, they will find a way to fund it.
  
  Lottie I say you and your crew keep up the good work!

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