Seasonal Stereotypes

There is a rose hip bush in my workplace. Its dangling with fat pink hued globe shaped bulbs, almost like Christmas baubles teasing me to be picked now, and indeed I was tempted. Yesterday, I picked one that went straight to mush in between my fingers, others were already off brown in colour and shrivelled. Many of the foraging and gardening books I’ve read say to wait after the first frost, when they are ripe and soft. This one was too soft. I hope I have not left them too late.

On picking another rose hip that was much firmer, a passing worker gave me that strange look as if to say what you doing wierdo. I’ve decided, I am not going to pick these rose hips during working hours. Couple of reasons: first one, I remembered this experience from my childhood that left a mark on my psyche; and secondly, being the only visible minority ethnic, female employee in position I stand out. The last thing I want to do is draw further attention that would negate to a racial stereotype in some people minds. You may wonder what on earth am I on about? So to give you an insight into some 'seasonal stereotypes' let me share with you some that have become popularised by the media in recent times. Let us start with the seasonal holidays, when the tabloids will start covering stories around missing koi carp from some of the lakes, rivers and fisheries. The ‘perception’ that is perpetuated is that the Polish migrant workers are taking them to feast on. Another seasonal stereotype shrouds stories of the missing mushrooms. During the autumnal season when wild mushrooms are hard to find, those greedy immigrants are blamed, in this case, the French and the Italian are blamed; and one of the worst was the rumour that Eastern Europeans were eating the Queens’ white Swans – complete and utter nonsense.

Similar kind of stereotypes used to be perpetuated at some level in my workplace too (and maybe yours too), but things have positively changed. Those that used to accuse the Chinese or South Asian employees for stinking out the staff kitchen (when they were re-heating their rice and curry dishes) were told to self-reflect on the smells of their own foodstuffs. Such as the smell created on heating smoked haddock under the toaster; and then there is the frying of pig flesh aka bacon, not a pleasant smell to my nose, but I am not going to denigrate people because of this.

The smell of food has a tendency to either 'excite' ones senses or be a ‘put off’. We are all different, this is a fact we should all accept.

Anyway all this is way of saying, I didn’t want to start of another racial stereotype that the South Asian women were raiding all the lovely rose hips and there was nothing left for the birds when the winter came. Oh no how could I?! Instead I’m hoping to go in early in the hours and pick them when its relatively quite, when there are not too many peering eyes. I have grand designs. I want to make rose hip jelly, rose hip syrup and rose hip jam, and if I’m not getting too greedy (and have enough), maybe even some rose hip schnapps.

R.I.P Plot 45

I was umming and erring whether to go to the plot this morning,
Then the decision was made for us, when we got a phone call from one of the committee members to tell us that she had some bad news. Our plot had been burned down.

You may remember, early in the year two other plot holders plots had been targeted. This time it was ours. About an hour or so later, after preparing ourselves for the worst, we drove over. As we entered the site, we could see smoke from the distant, as we got closer, it was certainly our plot - all the buildings: the greenhouse, the shed, the hut and the tool shed had all been been torched, set alight, burnt to the ground. There is no doubt about it we have been targeted for some reason, both the plots on our sides belonging to the Allotment president and the other to the allotment treasurer were not damaged at all, which is really ironic as they are pretty close.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know a little background and history of this private allotment site. If your interested you can read a bit about the thieving at the plot here and here; and the committee attitudes and behaviours here and here. Maybe our caring for the place, showing consideration to others and speaking up now and again, has made us some enemies.

We have to think a bit more about our participation and future at this allotment site, and will do so over the next few days. Right now, we are both completely heart-broken.

Allotment Scrabble

This time last year I was flicking though numerous seed catalogues, going through my seed packets and planning my crop rotation. I have done nothing of the sort yet and am starting to feel a tad guilty. The good thing about this year, in comparison to the last is that I have plenty of seeds left over from last year, plus I still have winter vegetables growing at the plot such as Jerusalem artichokes, sprouts, cabbages, kale, chard, beetroot, parsnips, maybe some PSB and white broccoli. Yet because of the unusual cold snap I cannot harvest or dig up any of these, instead I have been buying some out of season vegetables.

I’ve been to the allotment once this year and it was a swift visit which was a shame really. The truth is this darn’ cold and snowy weather is a hindrance. I am also getting too comfortable in my homely warm surroundings. Plus I am lacking the ‘get up and go’ motivation. I am hoping February will kick start my growing plans. For now, my weekends seem to consist of staying indoors: some cooking, a little bit of baking, watching DVDs, reading various blogs, as well as those of fellow veg growers showcasing their seed orders and sowing seeds, making me feel even more guilty. Ah I’m turning into one of those potatoes I grow…
Oh and I’ve been playing some scrabble too. Yes, deep down the allotment and growing are still on my mind. Mmm am I allowed to have lima?

BBBrrrritain

This is what Britain looks like from space.
This is what it looks like in my garden plot.

Even the waterboy feature looks cold and miserable. Every day since Christmas eve D. has gone out to smash a small hole in the water that has iced over by the plummeting cold temperatures, so that the little birdies can wet their beaks.

I haven’t written very much about the allotment since harvesting a Brussels sprout tree on Christmas eve. The truth is with work and the lingering cold weather I just haven’t had much opportunity to go over and do you blame me.

Saying that though, D and me did stop by briefly after visiting one of the local supermarkets nearby, and I wished we hadn't gone as it made my heart sink. At the gate there was a sign. ‘To the heartless B#r*%&$! who burned down huts ** and **. Have a Happy New Year’. We entered the site, and went to check out these two particular huts. They had been burned down professionally, and by professional I mean it wasn’t random, these were specifically targeted. I don’t want to speculate or dwell on it, so will change the subject now.

We wandered over to our plot, where the gate was still frozen, so we couldn’t get in. We just looked a the ice-lolly sprouts and leeks, droopy chard and cabbages all still and cold like an art installation.

Anyway, here is what the ruby chard and cavolo nero looks like in the garden plot.

Even the garden ornaments are getting a hiding from the snow.

It's the birds I feel for, no berries, no apples, no water. Please do try and make an effort to feed the birds. Ds. been ever so good. We've been buying apples from the local supermarket and he's been patiently threading the apples with some jute string and then throwing them up in the tree (poorly) but they are there, so that at the fieldfair can feed off them, until the blackbird comes of course!

A2K Fellow plotholder huts

On Sunday, after D had completed temporarily patching up the leaky hut, he disappeared on for me for about an hour, whilst I got on with the weeding. When he got back to the plot, I asked him where he had been he smiled and says ‘doing a little project for your blog’. Then he proceeds to show me digital photographs he had just taken.

He had taken a photograph of nearly every hut on the plot. Now there must be about 55 plots on the site, but not every one has a building. I think he managed to get 32 photos.
I know they would have been more interesting in colour, but to reserve anonymity we decided to go for black and white. The majority of the huts, sheds and greenhouses are made from recycled material, and each plot holder has put his/her individual mark on it in relation to decor. See what you think. Click on the image if you want to take a closer look.

Giving up Plot 11

As you may know I transferred to plot 45 over a year ago, and D decided to keep on Plot 11. But now two years on, some things have changed and we have to be realistic. We work full-time jobs, and it has been proving a bit difficult and overwhelming to maintain two plots. We never seem to be on top of the work, and this year especially we have really neglected to stay on top of plot 11 in relation to maintenance, weeding, planting and harvesting. We are overwhelmed with what to do with the produce from two plots. There are also times when we want to go over to the allotment and just sit down and enjoy the plot for what it is. This has not happened with us yet. We always seem to be working the plots, rather than sitting back and enjoying the sight of it.

In the summer the plot is: infested with midgies that make it hard to work, neds throwing stones over and shouting abuse, and in the winter: or even at the slight sign of rain the plot becomes both slippy and boggy that you cannot dig the earth. Also although the allotment site has got a feral cat really called Beryl, there still seems to be a lot of vermin about (coming from both the graveyard and the illegal dumping behind the site). It is perhaps the most neglected part of the allotment site as well.

Anyway, even greed cannot justify us hogging Plot 11 for another year. So we have jointly and reluctantly decided to give up plot 11. It will be sad time for us both, but it must be done. Plot 11 was our first ever plot, a real labour of love. The above A2K header image is what we started with. The plot has rewarded us well, especially with juicy raspberries that even the birds stayed away from them. Much of what we have at Plot 11 is recycled. We will only be taking a few things and plants from there such as the stacked shelves in the shed and some rhubarb crowns. We have some vegetables still growing: Scarlet runner beans and King Edward potatoes which we may be able to harvest before we vacate the plot, but the cabbages and autumn raspberries will be there for the next occupant (hopefully).

We will be notifying the committee of our decision at the next meeting.

Yesterday gone

Yesterday, D and myself spent about 5 hours at the allotment. D dug up the two blackcurrant bushes from Fitzy’s new plot and has reallocated them to ours in the border. I also pruned the gooseberry bush and did a bit of hoeing and harvesting.
This is our harvest from yesterday: strawberries, tomatoes, radishes, courgettes, fennel, some baby carrots and herbs. There are no longer any green peas to pod, in its place we have climbing beans. I have harvested the last of our blackcurrants, enough to make some muffins I think. We dug up the second early potato bed in Plot 11, it was disappointing, for about 18 plants we yeilded just under 5lb.

As you know there was supposed to be a committee meeting, we got told that because the Treasurer and Secretary were not around that it was going to be cancelled. I shrieked well that is unacceptable, there has been thieving on the plots, and I know a number of people said they were going to attend, so who is going to listen to them, so one of the lay committee members persuaded the President to go ahead with it. What was disappointing was not one of the new or old plot holders who had something stolen recently attended. I was actually very annoyed. I understand that people have commitments and the day and time may not have suit them, but not one of them attended. One of them could have written a note or something about their disgust at the thieving, but no, instead they give others including my ear a chew of their annoyance. Well I refuse to listen anymore. If they cannot attend or write about things stolen from their plot, I refuse to 'spout up' on their behalf afterall these are adults who can stand up for themselves.
One thing that was agreed by those who attended, that it was definitely a plotholder, someone who has access to the allotment. So the thieving will just continue because we all allow it too.

Prize Tomato

Look at the stalk, as if it is made out of green felt.
Over the past two weeks, we have only been able to harvest half a dozen cherry tomatoes here and there, but next week, they will be
literally ripening before our eyes.

Ooh I better start thinking of those tomato recipes.

For those of you who have been following me from the start, you will know of Fitzy, my neighbour at plot 11. Fitzy is slowly moving to a new plot, there are two blackcurrant bushes on this new plot, that he does not want. I was talking to him earlier about the delights of blackcurrant cakes. He said that he didn’t have the patience to harvest the tiny berries, plus the bushes were overshadowing his onions, which have been a poor harvest. So he was going to dig up the blackcurrant bushes and throw away, that’s when I said Ooh if you don’t mind, we’ll take them off you. 'Your very welcome to them' says Fitzy. We agreed to dig them out this weekend. I know exactly where they are going.

Stolen Tools

I didn’t want to dwell over it this weekend, but there has been more thieving on the allotment site. Big time in fact, a number of plots holders, especially some of the new plot holders have had a lot of their tools stolen: spades, drill, hammer, shears, hose and so on. Surprisingly this theft coincides with the return of one particular man and his family, but maybe I am reading too much into this coincidence.

What was a surprise to both D and me was that our plot had not been touched this time. I’ve written about this before, but the next time we have something stolen from our plot, I am doing two things: informing the police and getting in touch with the press to do an article around ‘real thieving on allotment sites’, a change from the nice stories you read about allotments. That would raise some eyebrows. I am sure the committee members would be quick react to this, rather than to the constant thieving.

Some of the plot holders expressed their anger at the thieving and their thoughts and suspicions that it was someone on the plot. I did not share my views about this, as it would be hearsay, but I did tell them of my own personal experiences of on-going thieving on the plot and the lack of action by the longstanding committee members. Nevertheless, I advised them to speak to the ‘committee members’, otherwise to go along to the next committee meeting which is this Sunday.

On another note, I was surprised to learn that the thieves hadn’t stolen anything from the Treasurers plot, where she hoards things like tools from ex-plot holders. Very, very interesting I think.

Missing strawberries

Ida approached me today to let me know that someone had stolen her ripe strawberries. Surprise, surprise. Its not the first time she has had stuff stolen, someone had taken her compost bin, but this was the first time someone had taken her produce. Normally, people walk by Ida’s plot as it looks messy and haphazard to the eye. I have heard people laughing as they pass by her plot, saying 'oh my rabbit would eat that', simply because they are unfamiliar with what she is growing such as broccoli di raab.

Anyway, two people came to mind immediately, but I advised Ida to notify the Committee even though they would not do anything, it was better to let people know, than keep quiet about it.

When we got home D told me he had been approached by a new plot holders Dad who had come in watering, as the family was away on holiday. He pointed and asked D who these two individuals were, as he had witnessed them trespassing on the neighbours plot and harvesting berries. Those two individuals happened to be the treasurer and the president. Hallelujah, someone else is witnessing and disgusted at this behaviour too. I am not alone.

Not all allotments sites are havens

I am always amused when I read articles in the paper about allotments and how they are supposed to be a little haven, idyllic places of therapy and neighbourliness. You occasionally read about the occasional fire or break in caused by external bodies, but never a negative word about what really goes on inside some of the plot sites. But this is so far from the truth. For example, take the allotment site where I am: There is not much love between any of the plot holders. There have been attempts to gather volunteers once a week for communal work, and even then the committee which is really made up of three individuals: the president, the secretary and the treasurer always pick on the same people to do it. It is a thankless task.

When fruit and vegetables grow people who no longer have plots there, (but still have friends or keys to the gate) come in and help them selves. Then there are those that only use their plot as an extension of their backyard, don’t grow their own fruit or vegetables, but will steal other peoples crops. Then you have the committee who are just as bad, they will occasionally trespass and harvest other peoples crops. Then there are the experienced thieves who steal not just the growing fruit and vegetables, but everything and anything if it is not nailed down, as I and a number of others have experienced on numerous occasions. Complaining to the committee has resulted in a shrug, afterall what are they going to do, some of them are setting a 'certain' precedence for others to follow.

If a fellow plot holder dies or has to leave for ill health or personal reasons, the committee, namely the President and the Treasurer will pillage that persons plot, not just of items in the huts, but plants growing in the ground. The treasurers plot I made up of items ‘taken’ from other peoples plots, not just spades, trowels, canes and pots, but berry fruit bushes, pots of flowers and even paving slabs. I witnessed this disgusting behaviour when I was given plot 45 and she and the so called president was taking everything from it. I challenged her and let her know it was appauling. Since then we have disliked each other immensely, me disliking her for this unsavoury behaviour, her dislike for me knowing what she is like. She will often give new plot holders some of this stuff as if it has come out of her own pocket, as if she is doing them a favour, as a goodwill gesture. But little do they know that she has stolen it from others, some of whom are dead. The new plot holders are sadly in the belief that she is a wonderful samaritan. Sadly D and me fell for this tactic when we got our first plot, as she was offering us this, that and the other and a fellow plot holder (ex committee member) raised his eyebrows as he knew what we now know about her.

At properly managed allotment sites, when a plot holder leaves or dies, the new plot holder inherits what was left on the plot, as a gift from the previous occupier, not here. The greedy president and treasurer get it. I am convinced it is the only reason some of them joined the committee, to have licence to 'walk freely' on peoples plot as well as take things from there, not to manage or challenge inappropriate behaviour.

Onto another matter, there are two plots on the allotment site that have been deemed problematic by the committee. I cannot disagree with them here. These two plots are surely an eyesore. The committee has been afraid to evict these two individuals because they have apparently verbally threatened to use their machetes and burn down their huts should anyone touch their plots. So basically they have been untouchable for years, as the committee has been afraid to challenge them. But why are the committee then not involving the police? Perhaps there is something else underlying in this matter. On one of these plots, the family had begun to construct a permanent building, now anyone who has an allotment plot is aware that you are not permitted to build a ‘permanent structure’, but here construction has started. The rumours are because this family deals in weed and had plans to grow some here.

I’ve seen the treasurer smoking and swaying on her hammock for relaxation, then griping and groaning at the African-Scot kids playing football in the path, but never when the white-Scot kids play and scream. Subtle racism, perhaps or maybe they are easier to pick on which is something else the committee are good at.

I like dogs, I really do, but what I don't like are their irresponsible owners who let their dogs poop anywhere and then don’t clean it up. Actually this is a U.K wide problem, streets are covered with dog poop, but you don’t expect an allotment site to have that problem, not where people grow food and kids run around playing. There is also the issue of health and safety with lots of rubbish including smashed glass and sharp metal objects being dumped here there and everywhere.

I think I am a gregarious person, I don’t mind people enjoying themselves, having a get together with their friends and family now and again, but what I do dislike is when music is turned up and it becomes rowdy high energy party site, not an allotment plot. And then people behave irresponsibly, throwing their litter empty cans and bottles any old where, none of this recycling awareness. Even the residents nearby have complained of the late nights/early hours drunken behaviour of some of the plot holders. But I think they need to complain louder, perhaps to the Police. Seriously, as the long term committee will not take action, what do they care?!

Here you will also find some of the most foul mouthed plot holders who use f@$k or c**£ in every sentence. This may have been acceptable when the allotment site was predominantly a male domain, but times have changes, such places are now supposed to be family friendly.

Some of you may remember, I mentioned that these young women were being harassed in the evening by this 'jack the lad' sometimes drunk. One of the women had mentioned it to me out of their disgust at this mans behaviour and concern that I may have been experiencing it too. Well I have just learned that these women gave up their plot about a month ago. I am not saying that this is the reason they left, but it may have contributed to it. I am disappointed that they left without mentioning anything to the committee as advised by my good self. So this behaviour is possibly continuing.

Most of the time I stand back and observe in disgust these 'going ons', but other times I am a little amused at the new plot holders reactions wondering what they have got themselves into, as I did. They thought like me that they were coming into a little haven, no welcome to the dark side of some allotment sites.

Maybe these problems occur because it is a private allotment site, maybe not, but either way - you don’t read or hear about this kind of stuff in the papers.

Meow....kittens under the shed

Today D and me spent five hours at plot 11. I am rapidly losing love for plot 11. It is getting so tiresome, the grass is already up to my knees and all the beds need weeding. Staying on top of two plots sometimes takes up most of our weekends. I am seriously thinking of giving it up. We have paid up until October, so will have to give it some real consideration then.

Today we weeded two of the beds. In one of the beds I planted the tangled scarlet runner beans. Whilst doing this we started hearing meowing. That silly cat, no not Beryl the allotment cat, a different cat started meowing. Previous to today, this black cat had meowed and we thought it was trapped in the yellow submarine shed. So I opened the door, hoping the cat would walk out. It was not in the shed at all, just beside it. So again, today it was meowing, I ignored it as I could see it was sunbathing in the sun. Then from the corner of my eye, whilst weeding I saw a little kitten head poke out from the bottom of the shed, I yelled out loud to let D know what I had just seen. He hurried over just as excited as me. Upon investigation further, we realised why this cat was meowing a lot more than usual and why she had become so territorial around the plot, she had three kittens under the shed.

I was tempted to take one of the kittens home, but hesitated. Is it right to take a kitten from its mother in these circumstances?

Low lights at the allotment

because of the low lives nearby ...

Since September 2007 when things started being stolen from our and other fellow holders plots, we decided to put a lock on our plot gates, but the one we had on Plot 11 had become weather damaged and we have not had the opportunity to replace it. Over the weekend, we noticed that someone had trespassed on plot 11 (above), there is nothing to steal there now, only fruit and vegetables when they grow.

Mind you the lock on the gates hasn’t really stopped the trespassers, they’ve managed to jump over the fence, or even break the locks as I have experienced more than once. Everyone here who has had something stolen know who the culprit is: a jack the lad and his family who live nearby. The family have a plot on the site which is treated as an extension of their house. He comes into the site with friends and family either early hours of the morning or late in the evening, when noone is around. Not to toil or tend to the land, but to 'feast their greedy eyes' on other peoples plots. How do I know, I have witnessed aspects of this unsavoury behaviour, not just from the individual concerned, but by the committee members too. Hence the reason why the committee is not interested in addressing this 'real issue'. They are more interested in victimising those that do not agree with them; or stealing from the dead, literally.

One way to catch the thieves in action is to put up CCTV cameras, but that is not going to happen in a million years, so this chapter will continue for years on end.

I have just read fellow Drooling Vegetable blog who has had all his ripe gooseberries 'taken'. It's a shame what some allotment sites have become. It's times like these when I wish my allotment was in my backyard.

You don’t just worry about trespassers from outside, it the ones on the inside that you have to worry about, as they cause the most damage: emotionally.

Can't wait to start eating my own

and I think this weekend maybe the start.

These blackcurrants are teasing me.
As usual after work, I went over to the allotment to feed and water the plant, no need to water anything outside its been raining all -day, thank goodness. The strawberries are starting to redden beautifully, I have covered them with netting. I don't want the birds getting to them before me. There were even some ripening raspberries. The allium family are all beginning to bulge, I had to cut off the some of the leafy greens, as some of the plants were starting to bolt.

The lettuces in their many varieties are starting to look leafy and crisp. Some are ready for picking I think, but I will give it a few more days to bulk up even more.

Most of the potato plants at Plot 45 are starting to flower also, D suggested to start lifting the potatoes this week, as we have so many to through but I am not too sure.

The tomatoes in the greenhouse are looking really good too, some of the tigerella's are beginning to fruit.

To hose or not to hose

D and me made the decision of purchasing a hose for our allotment plot. I was especially getting rather tired of lugging the watering can back and fro to the plot; and my three barrels of recycled rainwater are now all dry and empty.

I know many fellow plot-holders up and down the country are not permitted to use a hose on their allotment site, and according to our allotment association rules nor are we, but we have ‘witnessed’ the secretary, the treasurer, the President/Chairman and a number of other plot-holders using their hoses from time to time, so we have decided to go ahead too.

This purchase will be a standby for really, really hot days, when lugging of the watering can becomes too time consuming and tiring for little legs like mine. We have thought as long as we get the watering done first thing in the morning when no-one is around and we are not hogging the water stanchion, what harm is there. However, we are expecting to be challenged by a committee or two at some point and we are ready with our honest response. If the committee cannot abide by its rules, I think it is wrong and unfair they expect other plot-holders to do so.

Umbrella weather

It has been raining non stop since Monday, and there were even hail stones early on. Are you sure it's May, not February? It is so reminisce of winter.

Even though we are not enjoying the weather, I am sure the potato seeds and weeds are loving it. Early this morning, I did go down to the plot for a very quick and I mean a very quick visit to water the plants in the greenhouse, as I was leaving Polytunnel Alan was coming in. I thought he was crazy to be coming in to work on his plot on such a wet, miserable and cold day, but he has a Polytunnel, shelter from the persistent water drops falling from the sky.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring the sunshine and I will be able to spend time at the plot, as today this weather has kept me home.

The above image is called "Different" by Lucian Enasoni from Facultatea de Arte Timisoara, Romania from http://www.stop-discrimination.info/ Very appropriate for this week I think.

West African Green Leaf vegetables

Ida is a West African woman, her plot is opposite mine and next to her plot was Pear Tree Wullies (RIP) plot. Ida has two plots which she works with her husband and young children. She tends to grow a lot of spinach and kale type leaves; many of which I was unfamiliar with. Ida told me some of them were called 'rape' a green leafy vegetable. We exchanged some produce last year, I gave her some potatoes and herbs, and she gave me some green leaves amongst it ‘rape’ leaves, which I cooked simply in olive oil with garlic. They were absolutely delicious.

During this period, my mother came up from Wales to see me and my plot for the first time. My mother had instructed me to ask Ida for some seeds, but I don’t often see Ida as she usually comes in on days whilst I am at work. However, I did briefly see her this Wednesday evening when I went over after work to water the plants in the greenhouse, and she came up to me asking for a cutting of my lemon balm plant, as the previous one I had given her had died. I assured her I would do this over the weekend and leave it by her gate.

As I left my plot, I noted that someone had stripped all of Pear Tree Wullies rhubarb stems. I am not too sure what to think about this. Whether this was a good thing: that someone was making the most of it as it would have just rotted and gone to waste; or a bad thing: did someone ‘take it without permission’ as is a common theme at this site.

On my way out, I also bumped into the new dynamic committee member who I think is bringing some positive changes to the allotment site. He shared with me his recent experience of attending the last Committee meeting. He briefly mentioned that the secretary was getting all obnoxious with him as he did not support her viewpoint of ‘verbally evicting’ an older couple just because they had an unkempt plot.

Now I am not overly friendly with this vaguely hippy couple, but their plots in comparison to the secretarys own and the presidents plots are far better managed. Also there are a number of other plot holders whose plots are in a terrible condition: overgrown weed jungles and some of these people literally live a stones throw away, come over most evenings especially when the sun shines to ‘case’ other peoples plots, yet the committee are not forewarning or verbally threatening to evict them. Yet they have taken a dislike to this couple (probably over some minor disagreement or personality clash). The new member stated that a verbal warning was not permitted as it was not part of Plot Associations rules or regulations, and that it had to be a written warning, but the secretary was adamant, if she was unhappy with someone, it was her prerogative to evict them. The new committee member said he was shunned by the established committee members because he has not supported the secretary’s viewpoint, but he was simply abiding by rules that they had written.

It’s a shame that committee members, grown adults are acting immaturely, ‘we will like you if you take our side and dislike you if you don’t’. He also told me that he had suggested that they display their names and plot numbers on the Allotment sites notice board, so that all plot holders (old and new) knew exactly who was on the committee, which they all resented. Ridiculous. Seems to me they all want the so called authority and glory, but not the responsibility of being on the committee.

Allotment helpers

Oh I woke up with a really sore back today, all that digging and weeding from yesterday has taken its toll on me. I could have stayed in bed all morning, but had work get up and earn some pounds to pay the bills.
D had spent most of the afternoon at the allotment. The factory owner who had the break in had told us that the police may be interested in speaking to us about our busted door as it was a certainty to be linked. As D was off work for the Easter holidays, he decided to make himself available for the afternoon.

While D was at the allotment site, he had single handedly cleared the entrance pathway of dumped window panes and broken glass and rubbish. He said he was fed up with it, not only was it contributing further to the ugliness of the allotment site, it was also a safety hazard, especially as we now have a number of plot holders with young families. This is something that the committee should be addressing, they ought to be putting their foot down and halting this dumping, but unfortunately no one here takes responsibility for setting standards and maintaining the allotment site.

However, saying that there are a handful of people like D who will go the extra mile to make the place a little bit better for everyone. There is wee John and Wullie, both whom you will find mowing the pathways, and Polytunnel Alan who will cut down overgrown weeds, and Big George who will secure the outer parameters so that vandals don’t get in.

But the rest of us including me (I am sorry to say) are only interested in what is happening on our plot or directly outside of it. I used to help out when I first got my plot there, but then I noted the volunteers helping out were always the same 6 people, I got fed up of being exploited to weed this area and move this and that from here to there, while others were never ever approached to help out. The last time I helped out both with contribution of vegetables and support with my labour power was at the Open day in September. D has continued to be supportive non stop.

A little disheartened

I had worked the early shift today, so decided to go to the allotment and plant some seeds and do some digging as the weather was not too bad.

When I got to my plot, I realised that someone had broken into my hut. This is the third time this has happened to me. The first time was about two years ago, some young boys who were being chased by the police had jumped over into the allotment site and were trying to hide their drugs. They decided to hide them in my hut, fortunately other plot holders were on the site so they were arrested there and then. The second time, someone on the plot 'helped' themselves to some of my stuff, including outdoor chairs, garden table and umbrella. I was not the only victim, this also happened to a number of other plot holders, including the mother and daughter who have their plot behind me. They had their water butts stolen, these were no ordinary water butts, these were those expensive ones designed to look like barrels. They had their suspicions about a certain individual, but had no hard proof.

Today, my hut was broken into again but nothing was taken. Strange. As the afternoon unfolded, I noted that a large piece of wood had been taken from my plot. I then found out that the factory that backs onto the allotment site had its emergency exit door broken into. It was alleged by the factory owner who was waiting for CIA to arrive that the thief had access to the allotment site, as they had broken entry into the factory via the allotment, and had used wood from my plot to barge and break through the factory door.

I don't know who it is that has broken into my hut, and do not really want to speculate, but it is tied to the break in of the factory. I am just a little bit disheartened today.

Stereotype of an allotment holder

I often get wide eyed looks from colleagues at work when I tell them I have an allotment, they respond in bewilderment, ‘but you don’t loot like an allotment holder’. And I think to myself what does a allotment holder look like? Apparently the stereotype is either of a retired working class old man or middle aged man in a flat cap, braces and pipe with a healthy appetite for producing the largest root vegetable and using 'industrial' language now and again. Although this is a stereotypical and clichéd image of the past, it does to some extent still exist at some allotment sites.
However, things have definitely changed over the past few years. The profile of the allotment holder nowadays includes women, young families and schools who want to introduce children to both the seasonality of fruit and vegetables, as well as the provenance of food. Community groups highlight the therapeutic values of outdoor spaces and horticulture, as well as the social aspect of it. Allotments also allow people to be a bit more creative, get some exercise that they perhaps would not otherwise get. Some people want to simply grown their own vegetables as it tends to be much cheaper and tastier than shop bought ones. Others have eco green credentials and concern over environmental damage done by food miles. These are some of the reasons that allotments are enjoying a renaissance, but it is also a lifestyle choice as well. For people like myself who work five days a week, travelling to and from an office, and not doing much by way of creativity on weekdays, the allotment is my way of escaping the manic of a busy workplace, and getting some exercise, breathing fresh air and producing good food. However, my career demands mean I have to settle for being “a weekend allotmenteering woman” but the hours I do spend there, I thoroughly enjoy. I also get to dress down and get dirty, a good change from the smart office suit.

When I was a kid growing up in Wales, both my parents were keen vegetable growers. As gender roles would dictate, my father would always do the digging and my mother the planting and harvesting in our small back garden. My mother would grow simple food like green beans, peas, spinach, mustard leaves, mooli, radishes, tomatoes, herbs such as coriander and parsley, nothing too ambitious as she had limited space. It never occurred to her to get her own allotment plot I think because she never knew how to go about acquiring one.

I remember my Dad composting food waste; this was before compost bins appeared on the market. He would instruct us to throw any kitchen waste and cardboard in a corner of the garden and then throw an old carpet over it to exclude the light. I used to cringe, thinking my Dad was embarrassing us with his backward farmyard ways. But now on reflection, I know this was old fashioned method composting, a few months later, when he pulled up the carpet to reveal lovely rich soil converted from waste to lush rich soil. My father would get us all to take turns to dig the soil and my mother would encourage us to plant the seedlings into the ground and do the watering, but we’re we interested? Did we want to get our mitts dirty with grubby soil? Heck we did, I just wanted to get lost in adventure books and brothers wanted to play fight each other.

Now many years later, I finally caught the growing bug, I knew about allotments, I knew how to put my name on a list, and finally I got my own plot. My mother comes and visits me at least once a year, and she times it to coincide with the growing season usually between July and September. So she gets to relish in what I am growing. It makes me glow and so happy inside.
So what does this allotmenteer look like? Well she is female, petite and working full-time. I am of South Asian heritage. I do not follow any particular religion or belief. My diet is primarily vegetable and fruit based, complimented with wholefood ingredients such as grains, beans and pulses. I care about our environment and animal welfare. Yes, I am one of the many people whose face has changed allotment sites in the U.K, bringing much more than exotic vegetables, and ethnic cuisines; I also bring with me change.

Many allotments in England, especially places like London, Birmingham and Manchester are very culturally and ethnically diverse, but Scotlands allotments are still very reflective of its past, though some changes are being seen with community integration projects.

To end, last year I gave Pear Tree Wullie who must be in his eighties a courgette, but this was no ordinary green courgette, it wasn’t even a yellow courgette. It was a Ronda di nizza (a beautiful round courgette). He looked at it scratching his head and then said ‘I’ve been growing vegetables for over 40 years and I have never seen anything like this. What do you do with it?’ Ah the joys to come!