~ WORLDWIDE Vegetable Allotments ~ REVIVAL of last years thread ~

[ducks4you]

No pictures until they start digging, Hattie!! I'll try to remember to take/post some in the Spring.

 

[wifezilla]

Earwigs are a big problem here too. Hummmm....
Right now my 2 liter bottles are slated for a redneck wall-o-water, but I may have to get some 1 liter bottles too.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

wifezilla, youcan use plastic flower-pots stuffed with straw on top of the bamboo poles. the nasties will crawl into it . then you can chuck them to your ducks /chickens.

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[wifezilla]

Ducks/quail in my case. Yes, they LOVE those evil little beasties.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

So it is Good Morning from the UK again (very early, 3.20am. in fact) I can't sleep.........

I found these articles from my favourite newspaper, "The Guardian" (which I've been reading for 55+ years now).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/04/grow-your-own-unused-land-2030

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/05/uk-farming-2030-food-report

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/12/pick-your-own-vegetables-street

Do read the comments at the bottom of the pages as they show the many & varied opinions of "The Guardian's" readership.

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

I do believe that is easy to tell which comments are made by those with allotment experience and those who just think about growing veggies. The term, "temporary", made me, almost, laugh. To work a garden is a labor of love and desire and to think that someone would be willing to take a plot, never knowing when it will be snatched away.....is insane. Seems to me that the only ones that would do it, would be the ones that would never, properly, see a plot to the end of the first season....once they found out just how much work is involved.
You can coat a dirt clod in chocolet....but it's still a dirt clod.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

boggy b,

I know exactly what you mean but here in the UK many speculators buy up parcels of land that have no planning permission (in the hopes the local councils will change their minds, eventually). These are left neglected & unloved & usually become something of a health hazard etc when people start dumping stuff on them. This becomes a huge problem & causes a lot of bad feeling in the neighbourhood as it devalues the surrounding properties.

Also there has been such a cut back in large scale housing schemes that this land is not being used. I think if they can guarantee 5 year usage of the land they would still get a lot of takers as gardeners here are desperate. Especially those who live in towns & cities. After all many of them are likely to move elsewhere (to follow the job market) within that time.

** Meanwhile, to amuse you, here is an article by an English woman who rented the German equivalent of an allotment (ein kliengarten):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/4204545/Gardening-by-the-German-rule-book.html

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

Hi, Hattie

Unlike the US, it sounds like the councils take land developement very seriously before issuing permits..which is a good thing.
In a city 10 miles from here, developers are building a new shopping mall, when the shopping malls that are already there, are not "full" and are struggling to keep tenants.

I agree that it would make things a little better, concerning the temporary allotments, if there was at least a 5 year "lease".

Enjoyed the German "piece".......sure sounds like it COULD be more 'headache' than it would be worth.....if you joined the wrong one. While I think some rules are certainly needed, it seems that, in the German version of allotments, the rules are more regimented, than forgiving. Seems some of the rules would "bridle" individuality, somewhat......but, maybe that sort of "thing" is expected and commonplace, in German life.

The more I read, the more I am amazed at the differences in which things are "done", abroad, as opposed to here. VERY interesting.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Good morning boggy b,

Yes, the local councils are quite tough -- they have to be as a lot of people are just out for grabbing as much money as they can for terrible buildings in beautiful areas. Mind you the local planners are often overuled by the government authorities.......!!

I'm planning on giving you some links to other allotment-type gardens around the world as I find them fascinating. Also they make a great resource for us all. There is always so much more to learn out there.....!

Here's another UK one:

http://tonythehoe.blogs.allotments-uk.com/

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

As usual, Hattie...I really enjoyed "my fix". Can't imagine having to 'raise' a garden area on an allotment by 18 inches.....talk about a lot of work, but it looked like he got it done.....no pictures of flooding, even with the on-site spring.

Yesterday, I put an advert on a local on-line newspaper asking for old windows (to build an allotment "style" greenhouse). EARLY this a.m., got a reply, by email, and hope to make the arrangements to pick them up, today.....so, even, not knowing "how many or "what kind" of windows, I am excited to be getting, at least, a start.