Woot! I have an allotment!

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gregorach

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 15, 2005
3,723
28
50
Edinburgh
After something like 3 years on the waiting list, I finally got offered an allotment today (on the Saughton Mains site, for those who know Edinburgh allotments). Popped round to have a look at it earlier on, and I've decided to take it. Gonna be a fair bit of work to get it sorted out though... (Thumbnails link to larger images)

North west corner, facing south-east:


That greenhouse is going to take a bit of sorting out!

North east corner, facing south-west:


It's not actually as bad as it looks - nothing a couple of days with a strimmer and a big roll of landscape fabric won't fix (except the greenhouse... ;)). The soil is great, the perennial weeds aren't too well established, and there's already a pond in there somewhere. :)

I haven't actually got the keys yet, but it's just a matter of paperwork now. It's mine!
 

gregorach

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 15, 2005
3,723
28
50
Edinburgh
Good question, I didn't take a tape measure. Probably somewhere in the region of 8 x 16 metres, but I'm rubbish at estimating distance... ;) Plenty big enough for me!
 

spiritofold

Banned
May 7, 2004
701
1
52
Winchester
www.spiritofold.co.uk
Actually, as allotments go, thats not bad. It'll be well easy to sort that out :)
I bet your allotment neighbours will be gratefull for someone working it.

Make sure you take plenty of pix, then you can look back and see all the hard work you done. Lots of autumn onion sets for sale that are ready to plant out, as well as garlic,
purple sprouting brocolli and cabbages.

Dont forget to net stuff, bloody pigeons!

Andy >>>>>-----------------------------<>
 
May 12, 2007
1,663
1
68
Derby, UK
www.berax.co.uk
Good on you Dunc its well worth the time and effort,my Sunday dinner yesterday was roast venison from my mate's stalking rights at Newton Stewert,cauli,carrots,french beans and peas all from my allotment,not posted any pics for a bit,but over there first thing in the morning and will post some pics.

Bernie
 

gregorach

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 15, 2005
3,723
28
50
Edinburgh
Yeah, the plot next door is gorgeous... It'll be a few years before mine gets anywhere near as nice. Still, a journey of a thousand miles and all that...

I'm probably not going to plant much before the winter - some garlic and some autumn onions, maybe some over-wintering broad beans and winter greens. The first priority is just going to be clearing it out, getting it laid out properly, sorting out the paths, and putting down a proper exclusion mulch over maybe as much three-quarters of it. Half of it will probably stay covered for a full 12 months, partly to knock out the weeds, partly just to make the job more manageable. I hope to be able to get the greenhouse back into service by early spring, and the shed is going to need some remedial work before the worst of the winter. I just need to get it sorted out so that it's not getting any worse first, and then take my time about getting it right.

Should get the keys by the weekend...
 

spiritofold

Banned
May 7, 2004
701
1
52
Winchester
www.spiritofold.co.uk
Good on you Dunc its well worth the time and effort,my Sunday dinner yesterday was roast venison from my mate's stalking rights at Newton Stewert,cauli,carrots,french beans and peas all from my allotment,not posted any pics for a bit,but over there first thing in the morning and will post some pics.

Bernie

Love see'ing other peoples allotments, a great British tradition and passtime! :)
 
Sep 27, 2007
293
0
essex
Great news, and very rewarding! I have been waiting and waiting, and hope to hear news on one soon. I will stick with wild food until I, fingers crossed get one.

Congrats by the way!

Kris
 

locum76

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 9, 2005
2,772
9
47
Kirkliston
nice one dunc. i'll give you hand with it once my move i sorted out. I will undoubtedly be able to donate lost of cast off plants and kit from the farm too.

when's the shed for the zone 2 brewery going in?
 

xylaria

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
It's not actually as bad as it looks - nothing a couple of days with a strimmer and a big roll of landscape fabric won't fix (except the greenhouse... ;)). The soil is great, the perennial weeds aren't too well established, and there's already a pond in there somewhere. :)

!

I thought that with mine i got it in july. I haven't had time for anything else, I know the work will get easier but at the moment it is really hard going. Himself and two friends started taking the shanty style shed down two weeks ago, three men went in, and one got his first asthma attack in 20 years, and the others got bronchitis. Everytime we dig we find more asbestos, metal sheeting and plastic waste. I feels like a never ending trip to the rubbish dump a moment.

We have got a some tomatos some very tiny spuds, and handful of green beans which i think is good considering we have had it three months. It is lovely seeing the same little robin waiting for me to dig over the soil so he get the grubs.

Good luck dunc.
 

gregorach

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 15, 2005
3,723
28
50
Edinburgh
Brewery can't go there - no power, insufficient cleanliness (don't say anything ;)), can't control temperature, etc, etc... Besides, I'm not hauling full kegs of beer back and forth in a rucksack. :) The location of the tobacco patch and curing shed might be a different matter...

I will definitely need to tap you for the loan of a strimmer, and a bit of expertise for planning the rotation. If you've got any spare landscape fabric going to waste, that'd be really handy too.

It's a bit far out for zone 2 proper, but I guess we'll just have to make do. Should be able to produce a significant surplus, so if you want to come in on a collaborative effort, it should be able to more than replace the output of your garden. I'm probably going to need all the help I can get. :)
 

gregorach

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 15, 2005
3,723
28
50
Edinburgh
I thought that with mine i got it in july. I haven't had time for anything else, I know the work will get easier but at the moment it is really hard going. Himself and two friends started taking the shanty style shed down two weeks ago, three men went in, and one got his first asthma attack in 20 years, and the others got bronchitis. Everytime we dig we find more asbestos, metal sheeting and plastic waste. I feels like a never ending trip to the rubbish dump a moment.

We have got a some tomatos some very tiny spuds, and handful of green beans which i think is good considering we have had it three months. It is lovely seeing the same little robin waiting for me to dig over the soil so he get the grubs.

Good luck dunc.

July is a bad time to get a plot - if it's not already well maintained, then it's a jungle. And if it is well-maintained, why are you getting it? ;)

I'm hoping that there's no nasties lurking in the shed... I can be pretty confident that the ground is more-or-less clean, as this is in the middle of a very well-established allotment site. Sure, there's the usual collection of old water butts, plant pots and plastic containers lying around, but nothing really major. It's still being worked, just not very effectively. I'm guessing that the previous holder is getting on a bit and can no longer keep up with it.
 

xylaria

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
The thing is when we first looked at it was like been hit with cupids stupid stick. There was wild grasses and the bushes looked over grown, but looked clear. Then we cut back the bushes found and metal and asbestos sheets has been used to divide the hedges from the plot. They were dug in to a depth of about metre. We even found marked pet grave with area big enough to put a pony or a rottweiler in. We have been congratulated for doing more work our first three weeks than the guy before did in 3 years.

Saying that is it a lovely place, and allotments are fab, the people there are lovely. i hope you all the best.
 

locum76

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 9, 2005
2,772
9
47
Kirkliston
Brewery can't go there - no power, insufficient cleanliness (don't say anything ;)), can't control temperature, etc, etc... Besides, I'm not hauling full kegs of beer back and forth in a rucksack. :) The location of the tobacco patch and curing shed might be a different matter...

I will definitely need to tap you for the loan of a strimmer, and a bit of expertise for planning the rotation. If you've got any spare landscape fabric going to waste, that'd be really handy too.

It's a bit far out for zone 2 proper, but I guess we'll just have to make do. Should be able to produce a significant surplus, so if you want to come in on a collaborative effort, it should be able to more than replace the output of your garden. I'm probably going to need all the help I can get. :)

no sweat, in the mean time you might want to order yer garlic NOW. i usually use tamar organics...

where are you going to stash your tools?
 

locum76

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 9, 2005
2,772
9
47
Kirkliston
i'll need to come and see it. i'm free all this week except saturday. gimme a call.
 

gregorach

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 15, 2005
3,723
28
50
Edinburgh
Nah, it's not going to need that sort of heavy artillery. Thanks for the offer though. :)
 

Grooveski

Native
Aug 9, 2005
1,707
10
53
Glasgow
Looks nice Dunc. In the 80s my folks had a plot up in queens park about the same size, many a happy day was spent there.

You could have a meet. A bring-a-spade party. :)
(I keep toying with a bring-your-own-billhook party out at loch fyne. Camping dues paid in dead rhodies).:deal:
 

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