~ WORLDWIDE Vegetable Allotments ~ REVIVAL of last years thread ~

[Hattie the Hen]

boggybranch

In the first thread you were asking about growing potatoes in bags & just a minute or two ago I was doing some research on Medwyn Williams when I came across this site -- so I'm passing it on to you.

http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/medwyn-williams-vegetable-grow-show-213.html

Medwyn Williams is a hero of the vegetable world in the UK. A champion grower & shower of vegetables & now the National Chairman of the National Vegetable Society here. For years he put on amazing displays of veggies at the Chelsea Flower Show every May ( he has retired from those now).I will try to track down some photos of his work.


******* Edited to add a link to Medwyn Williams own site with photos of his displays, his blog, seeds to buy etc!

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[Hattie the Hen]

beavis

Here is a link on the National VegetableSociety site on growing long exhibition carrots.

http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/growing-long-carrot-show.php

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

Hi, Hattie,
I have seen several photos on alottment sites where mustard greens are grown as a green maure and then turned in.
Are not mustard greens grown for eating, there? Here in the southern U.S., it is a VERY popular vegetable.....prepared in much the same was as collard greens.

 

[beavis]

Mmmmmmm.

Collard greens..

I fell in love with them on a business trip to Macon, Georgia....

 

[boggybranch]

Mmmmmmm.

Collard greens..

I fell in love with them on a business trip to Macon, Georgia....

So.........do you grow them, now?
They'd taste just as good cooked in CA as the do in GA. LOL

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi boggybranch

I think most people use them as a green manure but an increasing number are learning to eat them.

http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planning/green-manure/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/aug/16/dan-pearson-grow-winter-veg


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[digitS']

I'm a long way from Macon Georgia (and the UK ) but I've grown collards and mustard in my garden and enjoy them both! Mustard greens and other Asian greens are an important part of my gardening and diet.

Back to the allotments: if I understand correctly, there is a national law or was a law in the UK that local governments are supposed to provide gardening land for local residents. This is probably restrained by an "if such land is available" caveat.

Think of this folks, everyone who wants to garden, can. I'm sure it isn't necessarily easy to find a plot . . . not necessarily easy to arrange transportation . . . but policy is set for community gardens and gardeners. Hence, "allotments!"

Steve

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi Steve

You are right about the laws in the past but that seems to have gone out of the window lately as the local councils have been selling the land off for house building. This has upset a lot of the community of course. Now, due to the terrible state of the economy, fewer new houses are being built & more people are desperate to grow their own fruit & veg. There is also ,of course, the growing concern about the use of chemicals on store bought goods & the number of miles they travel to get into the supermarkets etc. People are digging up their manicured lawns & planting veg etc. It is almost like it was in World War II when we dug for victory (yes, I can just remember helping my father do that)!!!! Allotments are in huge demand & there are long lists of people who are waiting for them.

There are a few other schemes, run by other organisations, which are trying to help:

http://www.culture24.org.uk/science+%26+nature/environment/art66161

http://landshare.channel4.com/

http://www.landscapejuice.com/2009/02/landshare-linking-growers-with-spare-vegetable-plots-.html

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mai...sex-news/w-news-wessex-kingston-lacy-pigs.htm

While checking up on a few things I came across this article which gives a short history of how & why allotments came about in the UK.

http://www.howies.co.uk/content.php?xSecId=56&viewblog=2191

Also Wickipedia has a very interesting entry which lists a lot of other countries which have similar set-ups, I have visited some in Germany & Holland when I worked in those countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotment_(gardening)

A very happy New Year to everyone & may our gardens flourish in this coming growing season. I have had a great time logging into the forum for the last year. I have learnt tons & made some good friends! :rainbow-sun


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

The article where they are using saddle back pigs to completely clean up a site for allotments (Kingston Lacy site) prior to dividing and renting sounds like the 'ticket'. Gonna be some luck gardeners that get those plots. A whole lotta work is gonna be eliminated. Would imagine that the competition for these plots will be fierce.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi there again!
I have spent a lot more time than usually do trawling around my laptop -- due to the freezing weather here in the UK.
I came across this blog which is interesting so I thought you might be entertained by it.

http://gardening-tools-direct.co.uk/blog/

Keep warm & happy: roll on Spring!

:rose Hattie :rose