Badger Phobic Gnomes Lose the Plot.

It's great to have new members to the site and last year saw between 8 and 10 new plots taken up and we welcome all of the new "allotmenteers". It can be quite daunting starting out especially if the plot is not in the best of shape. It's been really good to see the amazing progress which has been made on site by most. In the first of two articles from new plot holders, sisters Sally and Dawn give us an insight into their activity on plot 10F, the sign at the front - Lost the Plot - and confirm gnomes are not the right security measure against Badgers.

What prompted, or what was your motivation for taking on a plot?

I have always enjoyed gardening and have tried to grow vegetables in my garden, with mixed results. So I wondered if giving an allotment a go, would be a bit more successful. Having always fancied having an allotment plot, I discovered that, half plots available for first timers at the Melbourne Park allotment which is conveniently right next door to where my sister Dawn's flat is. So I convinced Dawn that we would share the plot with a promise that she would have a small area where she can have a garden chair and a few flowers as she does not have a garden of her own.

What where your thoughts when you rocked up for the first time? Does this have anything to do with the sign at the front of your patch?

There was a long time between the last owner and us taking the plot over and the weeds took advantage. We had waist high nettles, couch grass and the dreaded bind weed. Our Mum and Dad thought that we were both joking and a bit mad for taking on the patch, telling us they weren't going to help us, especially when they saw how over grown it was. So the sign was born and hand made by Dad, who loves a pun.



Obviously there was a lot of clearing up to do - how did you tackle, and then what did you decide about growing? did you or do you have a plan.

Despite Mum, Dad and younger sister, telling us both, that they were definately not coming over, they were over by day two, helping us to clear the plot and it has now become a bit of a family effort. There has not ever been a grand plan, we just started with the least overgrown area and cleared this first so we could get some vegetables going. As we got the plot in mid May and it took a few weeks to clear we brought some easy grow vegetable plugs - we like courgettes, runner beans, tomato's, leeks, also the classic carrots and beetroots seeds, so we could get some instant results and to make all the hard work worth while.



Then we slowly worked our way around the plot, bagging up all the weeds. There was so much of it we had to slowly sneak them to Dawn's flats rubbish bins to get rid of it, some of it we let rot in the bags so it would die and we could put it on the compost. Then covering over areas, when cleared with old ground sheets to try and suppress the weeds from coming up again until we could get back to that area again.

We have had some very kind friends and family help us out by giving us some stone paving, wooden collars and pallets, fencing, water butt, in exchange for vegetables, beer or a meal. Also great friend Ade who's a gardener by trade came over with his ladders and gave us a tree pruning lesson in exchange for Dawn cooking dinner. He is also always there on hand with the aid of what's app and face book with lots of encouragement and advice, as all our friends have been, as we have been documenting our progress light heartily on Facebook.

How would you assess almost your first year and what are your growing plans for this year - what are the ‘plotters’ plotting! - any specific aims?

We are really pleased with our progress with the plot, although it's been slow and has taken us almost a year to get it really ship shape. We aren't great planners more just giving a go, if it works, great, if it doesn't, oh well, but it will be good to grow across all of the plot this year. We recently brought a poly tunnel, so this year we are going to try and grow from seed. We already have some garlic and onions in, also are going to try a few brassicas, cabbages, red brussel sprouts, sprouting broccoli, and more salad crops, a bit more fruit, as well as your normal basic crops, onions, potato's, runner beans, French beans, sweetcorn, courgettes etc. Also that small garden area for Dawn to sit in.

Any advice you would offer up to fellow newbies?

Lots! We have made some classic rookie errors. Read the plant labels carefully, our sister Laura was not impressed that her bamboo wigwam structures weren't really needed as Dwarf runner beans aren't small runner beans, they are patio plants, not climbing! She did see the funny side of it eventually. Some crops need planting in stages otherwise you end up with a glut all at once - we had a lot of leeks. Two courgette plants feed a family of 5 and their friends and work colleagues and so do 12 runner bean plants. The badgers like carrots and munched happy through our first crop and they dug up every thing so we need to put in more badger proofing.

Also Rome wasn't built in a day so don't get disheartened. Work in sections, you get there eventually, little and often so it doesn't become a chore. Look around the site to see what other plot holders are growing which gives you a good idea on what crops are successful on the site, also how to construct stuff. What you can do with wooden pallets is endless.

Anything you would in particular like to know - there is a lot of expertise on the site to take advantage of - how have you found the allotment community on site?

Everybody has been really friendly. It's lovely to come over to the site and not only do some gardening, bu also have a chat and lots of people have given us some great advice. We have been surprised at how many people we already know and never knew they had an allotment. Our neighbouring plot holders have been very kind - we have been given plants, some beautiful dahlia's from Albert (Bertie) and tomato plants by Dave. Ray gave us some new veg to try, some Patty Pan and the Tromboncino fed all five of us for serval meals. The Trading hut is always a great help, there is a wide range of stock which is really useful, especially for us when we first started as didn't have a lot of equipment, and were able to ask questions. Being part of the Melbourne park allotment association has also been useful - the annual review committee meeting was light hearted and informative and we really enjoyed coming along to the annual mulled wine and mince pie event.

What’s the story with the gnomes?



Controversial I know, but you've got to love a gnome! Even if they only make some people smile. Although they have not proved to be very good night security guards against the badgers, they just fall over in fear!

A huge thank you to the "lost the plotters' for sharing their experiences with us and hopefully they won't mind too much if we check in for a catch up later in the year to see if Dawn has secured her viewing patch, and the Gnomes have become a little more robust against those marauding badgers!