Changing Times
A lot can change in 24 years, but some things never do! It’s coming up to the anniversary of when we took over our plot at Plain Pond - in April 2004, so we have been thinking back to that time and reflecting on changes since we first started out.
Our allotmenteering started much earlier, in 1992 in North-East Derbyshire, not far from Sheffield. Allotments in those days and in that area were largely held in very traditional fashion by older men. There was a rumour that one of the plots was held by a woman, but in 5 years we never met or even saw her once. The guys used to stop and stare in amazement at the way we did things. To start with, we gardened the wrong way round, as instead of rows going across the plot we had deep beds going lengthwise. And then we used to down tools, get out the flask and have a good natter to each other. I think the purpose of the allotment was to get away from the wife, so maybe they felt sorry for Edwin that he had to put up with me there as well!
The allotments were run by a committee that consisted of a bloke named Cyril, who kept an eye on things and ran a small supply of basic commodities. You could buy a stone of Growmore for about tuppence ha’penny. Some of the traditional preparations were available too, such as Derris dust and Blood, fish and bone, as well as fertiliser straights. On the whole, organic gardening was dangerously radical and we weren’t foolish or brave enough to risk that kind of notoriety. Gardening heroes such as Geoff Hamilton were starting to argue for a new approach, but at this time pesticide, fungicide and herbicide use was widespread. We certainly relied on these at times. The AGM was held in a smoky pub called The Three Pigeons.
By the early nineties modern varieties had appeared to suit British climates, so we were able to grow sweetcorn and butternut squash, which would have been very difficult in that area only a few years earlier.
Two mistakes during the first year come to mind. We took the plot on in January and dug it over, burying the weeds. When re-growth started couch grass sprouted everywhere. We learnt that the only way to get rid of couch grass is to dig out every little bit. We also learnt that you can’t sow parsnips in a seed tray, grow them on and plant them out. Not unless you want to grow corkscrews!
After five years we had just got the plot how we wanted it when we had to leave for a new job in Somerset. Initially, being busy with work, we just grew in deep beds at home, but eventually we missed allotmenteering too much and took on a plot at Plain Pond.
The site in 2004 was less well-used than it is now. Several, many even, plots were overgrown, and the mainstay gardeners each had 2 plots. Thank goodness they did, as it helped keep the site going. Splitting of plots was not allowed by the council, so newcomers had to take on a whole plot. In these circumstances plot holders had to do what they could to keep the site going, and we should all be grateful to them.
Around this time allotments suddenly became trendy. Nationally, waiting lists became longer and longer, with a waiting time in some areas of many years. Locally, there was a demand for smaller plots, which could be worked by families, and following the establishment of the Association the Council agreed to subdivide plots in half where required.
With family allotments came different incentives for growing. Organic methods became much more attractive, so that now on the site we have a whole range of different practices from organic and biodynamic to fully traditional. There is even greater variety in our reasons for growing fruit and vegetables. Some people want to save money, others want exercise, families want a source of organic produce, and there are those who grow to exhibit in shows like the Wiveliscombe Flower Show. It is also now recognised that gardening is extremely beneficial for mental health. In other words, we are a diverse group of people with different interests and motivation. It is heartening to see the site so much busier and well-tended.
Personally, we have learnt a lot over the years, and we have adapted our methods to suit our circumstances. We ignore a lot of traditional rules, stick to others, and make up our own as we see fit. But two things remain the same. You mustn’t dig couch grass into the ground, and you still can’t transplant parsnip plants from a seed tray into the ground (although you can germinate parsnips using toilet roll tubes as pots and then plant the whole tube at an early stage).
The photo is of me at our allotment in Chesterfield! We were clearly struggling with the weeds. The soil was heavy clay and as we both worked full-time we could only get to the plot at weekends. The Bulldog fork is Edwin's pride and joy. He had coveted it in the garden centres before we even had a house, and promised himself he would get it as soon as possible. He still uses it.
Our allotmenteering started much earlier, in 1992 in North-East Derbyshire, not far from Sheffield. Allotments in those days and in that area were largely held in very traditional fashion by older men. There was a rumour that one of the plots was held by a woman, but in 5 years we never met or even saw her once. The guys used to stop and stare in amazement at the way we did things. To start with, we gardened the wrong way round, as instead of rows going across the plot we had deep beds going lengthwise. And then we used to down tools, get out the flask and have a good natter to each other. I think the purpose of the allotment was to get away from the wife, so maybe they felt sorry for Edwin that he had to put up with me there as well!
The allotments were run by a committee that consisted of a bloke named Cyril, who kept an eye on things and ran a small supply of basic commodities. You could buy a stone of Growmore for about tuppence ha’penny. Some of the traditional preparations were available too, such as Derris dust and Blood, fish and bone, as well as fertiliser straights. On the whole, organic gardening was dangerously radical and we weren’t foolish or brave enough to risk that kind of notoriety. Gardening heroes such as Geoff Hamilton were starting to argue for a new approach, but at this time pesticide, fungicide and herbicide use was widespread. We certainly relied on these at times. The AGM was held in a smoky pub called The Three Pigeons.
By the early nineties modern varieties had appeared to suit British climates, so we were able to grow sweetcorn and butternut squash, which would have been very difficult in that area only a few years earlier.
Two mistakes during the first year come to mind. We took the plot on in January and dug it over, burying the weeds. When re-growth started couch grass sprouted everywhere. We learnt that the only way to get rid of couch grass is to dig out every little bit. We also learnt that you can’t sow parsnips in a seed tray, grow them on and plant them out. Not unless you want to grow corkscrews!
After five years we had just got the plot how we wanted it when we had to leave for a new job in Somerset. Initially, being busy with work, we just grew in deep beds at home, but eventually we missed allotmenteering too much and took on a plot at Plain Pond.
The site in 2004 was less well-used than it is now. Several, many even, plots were overgrown, and the mainstay gardeners each had 2 plots. Thank goodness they did, as it helped keep the site going. Splitting of plots was not allowed by the council, so newcomers had to take on a whole plot. In these circumstances plot holders had to do what they could to keep the site going, and we should all be grateful to them.
Around this time allotments suddenly became trendy. Nationally, waiting lists became longer and longer, with a waiting time in some areas of many years. Locally, there was a demand for smaller plots, which could be worked by families, and following the establishment of the Association the Council agreed to subdivide plots in half where required.
With family allotments came different incentives for growing. Organic methods became much more attractive, so that now on the site we have a whole range of different practices from organic and biodynamic to fully traditional. There is even greater variety in our reasons for growing fruit and vegetables. Some people want to save money, others want exercise, families want a source of organic produce, and there are those who grow to exhibit in shows like the Wiveliscombe Flower Show. It is also now recognised that gardening is extremely beneficial for mental health. In other words, we are a diverse group of people with different interests and motivation. It is heartening to see the site so much busier and well-tended.
Personally, we have learnt a lot over the years, and we have adapted our methods to suit our circumstances. We ignore a lot of traditional rules, stick to others, and make up our own as we see fit. But two things remain the same. You mustn’t dig couch grass into the ground, and you still can’t transplant parsnip plants from a seed tray into the ground (although you can germinate parsnips using toilet roll tubes as pots and then plant the whole tube at an early stage).
The photo is of me at our allotment in Chesterfield! We were clearly struggling with the weeds. The soil was heavy clay and as we both worked full-time we could only get to the plot at weekends. The Bulldog fork is Edwin's pride and joy. He had coveted it in the garden centres before we even had a house, and promised himself he would get it as soon as possible. He still uses it.
Submitted by Yvonne, plot 21
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