I got a phone call on Friday afternoon asking if we would still like a half plot at our local allotment. After thinking for all of half a second I replied, YES!
We have been on the allotment waiting list for years and had been offered a plot twice before. The first time was when we had to move to a different rented house outside of our town (after the owners sold the house we were originally staying in). The second time we were offered a plot was a couple of weeks after A was born and there was no way I could cope with an allotment then!
Fortunately it was third time lucky and we could definitely say yes this time.
I met the allotment committee member on Saturday morning to choose one of the two available half plots and have a look at the facilities.
We were shown around the various communal sheds, greenhouse, toilet and summer house. Although we weren’t able to enter a few of them due to the doors being frozen shut!
The allotment even has an area where some members keep chickens and although we won’t be keeping any (yet!) it’s still nice for the kids to go and have a look.
Our allotment is at the very top of the site on the hillside. We have a great view of the railway, which the boys will love on our visits! I imagine there will be many excited shouts of ‘train!’.
There are several raised beds already marked off, but full of weeds and needing attention. I think our first plan of action is to dig over the raised beds and add more soil on top. The boys sound quite enthusiastic about growing their own veg, so we will divide a large bed in half so the boys can grow their own too. O has decided he would like to grow broccoli, potatoes and strawberries!
A small area of the plot has fruit bushes growing in it and I’m very unsure of what type they are, we’ll have to wait until they start growing leaves in spring time.
I can’t wait to get started! We’ll hopefully get a chance to visit again at the weekend and show daddy the plot. It will be the perfect spot for a picnic in the spring and summer whilst we are working on our little plot too.
Do you have an allotment too? Or a large area of the garden set aside for fruit and veg?
J x
Mud Cakes and Wine says
Wow looks amazing and lots to do but very exciting. Be interesting to see how good the soil is under the weeds, and what amazing fruit you have growing xx
Elizabeth says
Oh how utterly fantastic! I would love a sheltered place to grow my own. I did spend years trying to build a willow wall but the builders tore it all up last year so this spring I have to start from scratch again!
wendy says
Looks like you are going to have a lot of fun digging and planting. I have always like the idea of growing my own veg in the garden. Look forward to seeing your allotment updates 🙂 xx #whatevertheweather
Kelly Robinson says
I literally saw a notice just yesterday about an allotment available near me. I took down the details. But am worried about my daughters age. She is only 9 months old. Do you think it’s doable with a small baby? I would love to grow my own veg and doing with other people around me would be amazing. Such a good thing for children to experience. #Whatevertheweather
RainbowsR2beautiful (@rainbowsaretoo) says
How exciting. I’ve got some friends who are in love with their allotments. Doesn’t work for us, but then Grandma’s garden is basically a huge veg patch! Happy for you out in #whatevertheweather
Sarah - Craft Invaders says
The plot looks amazing, and like it’s been well looked after – our raised beds have far more weeds in them than yours! What a fun project – cant wait to follow it xx
Me, You and Magoo says
Oh wow, that looks like an amazing plot! You are so lucky to have some raised beds in place. I think it’s nice that it’s on a hill with a view, you will have some great times looking out from your vantage point.
Also, I can’t believe your allotment has a toilet…there’s no ‘facilities’ on our site so we have to limit our fluid intake! Not easy when you’re digging soil or weeding in the hot sun (if we get any hot sun that is).
Looking forward to seeing what you do with your plot over the coming months.
#whatevertheweather
Melody says
Wow! How exciting! I would love to have an allotment, even just a little one and have my daughter get involved with planting and harvesting. 🙂 xx
Baby Isabella says
Sounds like a great allotment patch! With good views! Can’t wait to see all your veggies! #Whatevertheweather x
Airmaxmum says
How much fun! I’d love a go at growing veg
Let kids be kids says
Wonderful. It looks like it’s going to be great. It must be fantastic to have a little plot like this for you to grow your own fruit and veg, get outdoors with the children and teach them about nature etc. I hope you have fun.
susankmann says
Ooh how exciting. I have thought about this for a long time. Not something I feel we have time for right now, but this looks fab. I look forward to following along to see how it’s going x
Kierna says
Your plot looks amazing & that’s in Winter – can’t wait to see how it develops over the year. Such a great chance for your little ones to learn all about planting & growing & eating! Thanks for hosting a great link up.
Lucy says
What a lovely hobby for you all to take up as a family. I’m completely not green fingered, but am going to try to grow something this spring anyway – it’s so important for kids to get involved in that process. #whatevertheweather
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) says
Wow that looks like a lovely space and I look forward to reading about your adventures there and what you decide to grow. I love the idea of growing my own fruit and veg… But haven’t got the motivation to actually do it at the moment! Xx
Sarah says
That’s awesome! We don’t have a garden or an allotment. We were also on a waiting list for years, and when one finally became available we didn’t have a car to get us up there (it’s a bit f a steep long walk away) so we had to refuse. I would love one some day though! Sarah #whatevertheweather
Gina Caro says
We’ve had an allotment for a few years now and we love it! Although last year we neglected it a bit due to time restraints. I love the fact that you could keep chickens on yours if you want to. Don’t think we are allowed to do that on ours. Exciting times for you ahead. #WhateverTheWeather
Mini Travellers says
Allotments aren’t for me but I know loads of people who do love them, you must be really excited to get cracking on you. #whatevertheweather
Something Crunchy Mummy says
How exciting!! Thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather xx
lizzie ( firstooth ) says
How exciting! It looks like it needs plenty of work and I feel a bit cold thinking about you weeding in this weather but that’ll be so much fun once the weather warms up. Every year we plant a salad garden and every year only the tomatoes survive, but we won’t give up, one year our crops will come in. I hope yours do too! #whatevertheweather
Annette says
That looks like loads of fun and will definitely have you out and about whatever the weather 😉 I would love to have a little patch in our garden to grow fruit and veg – but our little dog would snuffle up anything he could get his paws on. We did grow some lovely strawberries in a basket last year though.
Have fun! #whatevertheweather
Emma Chanagasubbay says
Oh wow that’s great! I’ve always fancied an allotment myself but don’t know if I would have the time to keep it up.
I will look forward to the progress posts #whatevertheweather
Chloe says
Oh wow this is brilliant!!! I am so jealous. It looks perfect. Especially with the views of the trains. You’re right, it’s the best picnic spot for Spring. It’s so good that they’re raised beds too. I hope O gets his brocolli, potatoes and strawberries! I wish Evie would eat brocolli. It was her favourite when we were weaning her and she won’t touch it now. I can’t wait to see what you grow! xx