If you've seen my allotment video from last week, you'll know that my poor plot has been really badly neglected this year. Obviously moving house at the point where it needed work wasn't great timing. But I've also not been going because Luna is a nightmare on the plot, eating everything and trying to get out over the gate. To be fair Emma used to eat everything too but at least she didn't try to escape!!!
I keep asking myself if I should just give it up as it needs a lot of hard physical work or just try to start over and rethink what/how I grow. I could move over to growing more perennials and more botanicals (like calendula/roses/lavender/herbs) that I could use in making lotions/potions and herbal teas.
Or I could move my stuff on the plot (like the raised beds and plastic compost bins) to my back (and front) garden and turn them into allotment gardens. They're certainly big enough but I'd still have the Luna issue!!
I have around £150 left on my Dobbies gift voucher that I need to use in the next 6 months so I could get the plants and seeds I'd need but I'd have to commit to either plot or garden.
Any thoughts, wise ones??
I think a gardener needs to garden. Personally, i’d plant more flowers with a few veg thrown in.
ReplyDeleteAt least the wildlife wouldn't eat the flowers as much!! :-) xxx
DeleteIf you have room at home then that would be easier.
ReplyDeleteSurely Luna will get past the crazy toddler/teenager stage sometime?
Emma didn't settle down until she was about 6 or 7!! So I don't have high hopes that Luna will settle any quicker! LOL!!! :-) xxx
DeleteWe've spent out a lot of money on allotments over the years and have never kept them on for long. Possibly you'd be better to move what you can to your home garden thus making it more convenient. In my experience quite a bit of allotment produce ends up being given away.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It would be much more convenient and easier to keep on top of it at home. I honestly haven't missed allotment produce this year as I've been lucky with Lidl veg boxes :-) xxx
DeleteCould you grow some veg and flowers in your front garden, using your raised beds? This is common in Alpine areas and would resolve the issue of Luna eating stuff.
ReplyDeleteAbout a decade ago I bought two of your lovely tartan dog brooches - I’d vote for spending time on the garden and crafting for sale rather than the allotment.
Yes I have scope for at least 4, maybe 5 of the raised beds from the plot in my front garden. And it's Luna proof!! I definitely want to get back into more crafting to sell :-) xxx
DeleteWe found that allotment growing wasn’t at all economically viable for a family of two, let alone a single person. Far better to grow a few veg in your own backyard. Allotment gardening is the physical embodiment of the phrase ‘out of sight, out of mind’. Impossible not to neglect it when life gets in the way.
ReplyDeleteThat's true! I think I've spent a lot more that I've actually produced although it has other benefits too. The allotment site is on the opposite side of the city to me so it's a planned car journey each time I go :-) xxx
DeletePersonally I'd give up the allotment and concentrate on what you can grow in your garden. If there is only really you to feed you don't need to grow masses of veg and as you say can concentrate on herbs and flowers to make your lotions/potions. Plus if you are at home you can contain Luna in the house. Hugs Xx
ReplyDeleteThat's true, it's just me (and Luna) so don't need a big area to grow masses of stuff :-) xxx
DeleteHusband has always had allotments but a few years ago decided to give his up and dug a vegetable plot in the back garden the soil is not as good as the allotments was but he still grows plenty of what we need for the two of us and he's on the spot for watering and harvesting so doesn't miss the allotment.
ReplyDeleteBeing on the spot to water etc would be a lot better than driving across town every time :-) xxx
DeleteWe have a long plot which was FILs and another half plot and its a lot of commitment. FIL still likes to potter around there, even at 90. Will Luna have to do to day care when you want to garden at the allotment? I think some raised beds in your front garden is a really good idea. Saves petrol and you are on hand to water and weed.
ReplyDeleteRealistically Luna would need to be in daycare if I wanted to spend a decent amount of time on the plot so that adds to the cost! :-) xxx
DeletePersonally if I were you, I would give up the allotment, use the part of your garden that is Luna proof to grow veggies. You can make sure that your flower beds are filled with the plants that you need for your lotions and potions in amongst the other flowers. You will save on both the fuel and time needed to travel to the allotment AND the yearly cost of keeping it on. And if Luna is having a really mad day she can either be in doggy day-care or confined to the house for a couple of hours while you garden in (relative) peace.
ReplyDeleteThat is my recommendation as 'a wise one'. ;-)
And a very wise recommendation it is!! I went outside for a wee while and moved some stuff around. I think it would be doable at home :-) xxx
DeleteI would think the convenience of home would be the better options, even with Luna (hopefully will outgrow the puppy stage). If you see if everyday you would be more able to address any issues with your the garden. I the end it's what would work best for you. Enjoy either way.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to work out how I could make it work in my back garden even with Luna. I think I would enjoy growing again if it was more handy :-) xxx
DeleteGrowing at home would be easier as you could potter, relax and enjoy even the small times the garden needed attention, also it would seem like less hard work than an allotment by cutting out costs, travel and the worry about going to wild abandon - naughty allotment!! Jan in Castle Gresley
ReplyDeleteYes! My allotment used to be the place I'd wind down from work and I'd potter about. Now it feels like a huge commitment when I'm working hard to simplify my life in retirement!! :-) xxx
DeleteI have never had an allotment, but I do know life gets in the way of the best intentions. If I were you I would give it up and let someone living closer to the site get the benefit of it. You could go with the plan of having raised beds in the front garden and create a potager in the back garden.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a potager garden at the back! :-) xxx
DeleteYou would have to measure the gain of the produce against the cost of running your car. The allotment would require frequent trips to keep it up.
ReplyDeleteYep, it would take more effort and fuel to go to the plot :-) xxx
DeleteI wondered whether you’d be keeping it up now that you have moved and have more garden space. Imagine how nice it would be just to say hello to your flowers and veg by just stepping out of your front or back door and not driving across the city!
ReplyDeleteYou're right! It would be really nice to be closer. I could crete a lovely wee haven right here :-)
DeleteI'm getting a majority of votes for giving it up. I think I'd enjoy pottering more in my own garden than going to the plot :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteI was of two minds, now that the move is done you would have more time to spend at the allotment, but bringing all your raised beds and netting is going to require a lot of work but the end result in finding a spot at your new place would be worth the effort knowing it will only be until everything is back at your new place. Then i thought once everything is at your new place, I'm not sure of the layout of the front yard or how private it is you could use your gift card to get some of the pretty things like bird or bee houses and the decorative elements to make it special to you. There may also be a way of laying out your beds in the back that could cordon off the area from Luna while you work out there. It all sounds very exciting and am looking forward to see what you make of your space. Tory
ReplyDeleteSo far I've brought 7 raised beds home from the plot and found places for them! I think it's going to work nicely :-) xxx
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