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Big THANKYOU to Gunners71UK for putting me on to the allotment trail but I am really miffed at the beurocracy surrounding allotments land. I live in Killamarsh whish is a S21 (Sheffield) postcode but we pay opur rates to North East Derbyshire Council. NEDDC don't have allotment land as such it is all governed by local Parish Councils. Sheffield Council has loads of allotments available and inittially said yes to me obtaining one but after sending me all the info (Not a very good map of the area) showing all these vacant plots I was all set to go find them THEN comes the email that the powers that be have said SORRY - NO CAN DO as I don't pay my rates to Sheffield. I can understand this if there was a waiting list for all these that are not being used but was a bit miffed at getting my hopes raised and then being dashed before I even had chance to go find them.
My local Parish council has a waiting list for allotments so obviously there must be more people who could use them.
The plus side is that after checking with other parish councils I have finally been able to get hold of Half a plot (70ft by 40ft) which they have spare and has not been worked for a number of years. Grass is waste high but I've got out my trusty shears and started the clearing work. Thank goodness for a parish council who is willing to let the land be worked rather than go to waste. Once again thanks for the lead in. Anyone else had similar problems with the red tape?
Also - the local guys are rcommending roundup and chemicals to kill the grass. So far I've just hand sheared and then set fire to the dry stuff and started my first lot of digging this morning. I don't expect to get my land ready for planting until next spring but what's the verdict on steady hand weed and dig as opposed to mass chemical eradication?
Regards Libran

libran wrote:what's the verdict on steady hand weed and dig as opposed to mass chemical eradication?
Regards Libran

I think that is one for you to decide depending on how organic you want to be - but you have to judge your morals versus your time and energy and your back!

Well done anyway on the plot - that's not a bad size!!

The best organic thing for eradicating weeds that I've found Libran is to confine a few chooks on a small area and then move the area regularly. They dig up the weeds & pests and fertilize at the same time! I don't know how that fits in with the allotment ethic though.

Nev

hi, some of the guys on my allotments use roundup and it does kill everything.....but it doesn't seem to kill the roots. I have cut my couch grass down and covered the area in black poly stuff and am gradually digging out all the roots ....you might as well dig out the roots now because I think you will have to sooner rather than later

If you are not planning on planting all of your land this year (it's a bit late for that, anyway...), cover it with black plastic and leave it ideally for a year. That kills most weeds, at least as well as roundup does, and without any potential side effects!

By the way, did you know that round-up is banned in Denmark (maybe in other countries, too)?

http://www.newfarm.org/international/ne ... _ban.shtml

Ina

thanks everyone. don't think council will let me keep livestock so chicks are out, currently doing the handweed thing whilst I have the chance with the daylight hours. If I run out of time then will probably try the polythene approach. It is back breaking work but at least I see the results - slow though they be.
Libran

Good onya mate!

May n ot be pleasand in the execution, but is pleasant in the completed job!

Nev

hey libran glad you got an allotment what you having to pay for it then, it should be free to next april, mine is, i am using the back breaking approach, weed killer is ok but i like to give it s miss twere is a weed killer which is a flame thrower it scorches the plant and they die they are about 30 quid i think, then you can dig it in all the best from dave alias gunners71uk.

HI GUNNERS, Alotment is so overgrown (especially with blackberries which I am chopping down but the roots will be a so and so) that I do get first year free. After that its only £9 per year for the half alotment - can't go wrong with that can you?
Still trying the hand weed approach at the mo.
Regards Lbran (linda)