Allotment!

Looking for some advice.  The wait list for an allotment in my area is very long, so I put my name on it a while back to have the opportunity if one arose.

Well, yesterday I got an email that my name is at the top of the list and an allotment is available.

Having an allotment is something I would really like to try, but I am wondering about the timing.  I'm currently expecting my first child in April and I'll have six months off (during the spring and summer).  I'm wondering if it would be great timing or horrible timing.... thoughts?  How much time does it take to maintain a plot?  I'd love to use it to grow fresh salad ingredients.

My husband thinks I'll go down there and plant things and then loose interest and it'll be him doing the maintaining and "hard work".... and honestly, I think there's some truth to that!

Should I jump on the opportunity or ask to be put back at the bottom of the list and re-evaluate in a year or two?

Phatbeetle should jump on this one! 

When I first was coming to visit DH here in the UK (before marriage) 11 years ago, we walked over to nearby allotments here & were dreaming of getting one... Then when I moved over, we had so many other things to be getting on with, we decided we didn't have time to maintain one at that time. Back then, plots were nearly always available, lol!

Now there's a waiting list. However, we've both come to understand that we are both most likely too lazy to give it the care & attention it would need. We do some container gardening in our paved back garden, and plant a few things in our tiny front garden - sometimes we can hardly be a*sed dealing with those, lol! I'm sure we would struggle with motivation on keeping up an allotment. But you never know - we may try it someday. 

I <3 my allotment!

Honestly, the hard work is in the beginning of the season - Spring! - in the digging and planting.  

Once everything is planted, it's just maintaining - weeding and watering and enjoying the fruits of your labours.  

Come autumn though, you should dig over and put in composts and other rotting matter ready for spring (though you still end up digging over in the spring anyways)    

What kind of plot are you taking over? Is it pretty ready to go or is it needing a fair bit of work?   I know in our allotment, the plots that become available are usually overgrown and untidy, as folks have just given up.  I started my allotment from scratch and I reckon it took about 50 hours of work to get it into workable condition. (mine is small, only about 90 square metres). Each spring it probably takes about 30-40 hours of work to get it into workable condition (digging over beds, turning compost piles, digging in organic composts that have overwintered, etc)  -this is before planting!  Planting adds in another 20 or so hours, then in the summer, I spend about 5-10 hours/week weeding/watering.  Little and often is better than big chunks of work at a time.  I am a hugely busy individual and I can maintain my plot OK.  

The real question is, will you be in physical condition to dig over the plot in March/April or will your hubby be willing to do so?    Will you be wanting to to move your body so close post-pregnancy?  What is your husband willing to do baby-wise to let you work on the plot? How close is the plot to your house?  WIll you be able to get there easily?  Then there is no prediction on how your baby will be. Will baby sleep easily and allow you to actually work on it or will baby be clingy-colicy-never sleep?  Do you have any friends who may be willing to share the load with you?  (check your allotment rules on this as they vary)
 
That said, raised beds will make life easier. Also, if the plot is yours (depends on the rules your allotment has for keeping it tidy -you will still probably have to cut down the weeds) - you can work it as much as or as little as you want and therefore, I would be tempted to take it, even if it means you just do a tiny wee bit this year to keep it- and then next year and subsequent years take on more and more.  

Exciting!! There is NOTHING better than growing your own veg!!

Phatbeetle should jump on this one! 

Hahah, I started a reply and had to go to a meeting! I'm in!


I should also say that we've had our allotment community now for the 4th season coming up - and the attrition rate is pretty high -we lose about 20-30% of our plot holders each year.  I will not kid you. Just adding to your thoughts - It is HARD work (that is, backbreaking, sometimes) and that folks think it's as easy as plucking in a few seeds and letting it go away with itself.   In order to be successful, you really do have to get the ground in good condition, you have to water, you have to weed, you have to get rid of pests, you have to put up netting and fencing and watch out for rabbits, cats, rats, etc - You have to watch for vandalism, pick up your shed after high winds have knocked 'em over.   
It is worth it though!

Also, just if you're curious, here is our Allotment Community Website (I'm the web designer/webmaster) which goes through our journey and just how much we can/do achieve. 
The community is wonderful and I meet the most interesting people that I would have never met anywhere else.    We have get-to-gethers and summer BBQs and it's wonderful fun!