Comments on: Skirmishing in the trenches

By: Mr Rotovator!

Mr Rotovator! — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:55:50 +0000

Slightly off the subject perhaps, and we all know that keen gardeners can be lectured by lots of people to be green, but it’s also crucial to consider on people ethics. For example, a few brands of rotovator are made with child labor in Asia. So PLEASE think about the source of new rotovator is coming from if you make a purchase. A rotovator manufactured in the US might not be the cheapest, but it is a very fundamental choice.

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:56:44 +0000

That is fine Andy. Sorry to have taken so long to reply.

By: Andy Kenworthy

Andy Kenworthy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:26:25 +0000

Hi there!

I am the editor of the GreenHome section of HOME NZ magazine in New Zealand!

We are doing a story on allotments in the UK, and I wondered if I could use the photo of your allotment to illustrate it?

There’s no money available I am afraid, but could add your name.

If you could let me know as soon as possible, that would be ace!

many thanks

Andy

By: Joanne

Joanne — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:18:43 +0000

Hi Good that you are sticking to your guns with the raised beds.

It is some years now since we gave up the allotment and decided to use some of garden for growing vegetables.

I don’t have raised beds but have box edging round beds so they never get walked on. Over the years with plebty compost the beds have naturally raised a little but they are so much easier to manage than the system of digging the whole plot each autumn.

By: Rhiannon

Rhiannon — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:49:27 +0000

I think it is our waiting list length that has led me to get my first letter about lack of cultivation. My plot is in a better state than last year at this time ( I didn’t get a letter then) and is much more cultivated than some other plots. I think that april and may are when things come together on the allotment so they will just have to wait and see as I won’t be giving up

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:14:05 +0000

Jolly unfair, I think. So long as people are cultivating their plots, who cares what they grow and how they grow it? What really annoys me (number 285 on the Wandsworth allotment waiting list) are the people who take over the allotment, don’t do anything and get chucked off again at the end of the year, having wasted an opportunity someone else would make the most of. I want to grow hybrid teas on part of mine, if I ever get it, though I suspect it’s technically against the Wandsworth regulations.

By: VP

VP — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:02:58 +0000

Helen – this is an issue fast overtaking most plots I fear. Here in Chippenham we now have a waiting list of 100 whereas I could have a pick of the plots a mere 5 years ago. We have a number of ex-farmers and farm labourers on our site, who just cannot fathom my approach of having lots of small beds with pathways inbetween. They see those pathways as lost opportunities and conveniently forget they tread on half of their crops when hoeing their totally planted plots!

By: Sylvia (England)

Sylvia (England) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:54:24 +0000

Helen, I have a small raised bed in my back garden and though I have read that seed can be planted closer but no guidelines as to how much. Any thoughts?

Read your article on the Telegraph web site (link from Anna, Green Tapestry) about morning glories. I can’t understand why some colder areas of the US find these self-seed to such an extent that they will not grow them! I will try your ideas and with a warm summer I may yet see these flower.

I love writers that give their opinion not the current trend in gardening. I haven’t got to your article in The Garden yet but look forward to reading it. Thank you for giving a balanced view and your view.

Best wishes Sylvia