Community Allotment Scheme

So here we are. It is suddenly all seeming very real. Our little huge community allotment scheme is just about ready to open in Balbriggan.

Ah I know I’ve said it before but the gates are being programmed. As soon as they are done we will get access and start working on our plots before the start of the “season”.

The picture above is of our raised beds in our front garden in which we have been growing for the past year since we let our allotment rental lapse thinking we’d be in last year. It has been a lean year!

This weekend we’ll start by planting some fruit trees on the communal areas that we will all benefit from for many years ahead.  There are workshops to be organised, herd numbers to be sorted (for our pigs, eek), a million phone calls to make, bulk orders so as to get the best possible prices for the plotholders and my head is spinning with so much that has to be done.

Up until now the majority of the work has been done by the contractor and we have been egged on by the fantastic support of the Fingal Leader Partnership and Fingal County Council who have invested so much in this community allotment scheme.

Within the next fortnight there will be 256 community allotments let loose on us, the community and I’m excited and terrified all at once.

Myself and the hubby have been working out growing plans for months, figuring out what to grow, how to store it, what seeds we are short of etc but that’s just for our own plot. I’ve the responsibility (don’t panic Mr Mannering) of being the Chair of the Allotment Association and it’s becoming very real.

This is some pineapple sage that I bought at Bloom 2012, planted it when I got home and it has been thriving all through the rotten winter in the front garden!

I’m itching to get my boots muddy, get dirt under my nails and get growing. Here I am this evening answering mails from other allotment holders and the excitement is infectious.

So, if you’re a local business and would like to get involved, maybe offer a discount, give a workshop to the first time plotholders, have a skill you’d like to share please shout. Drop me a line!

If you have an allotment or grow your own food, what is your biggest piece of advice to first timers?