No Cults - Follow Up Inspection.

It's in excess of 28 days of the non-cult letters and Jane Hardy the idverde allotment officer is meeting me this morning to re-inspect the site. There are a number of plot holders on the plot today as they have issues they wish to bring to Janes attention.

Two of the three plot holders who have been issued with non cults have at least cut back all the weeds and are in the process of digging and cultivating the land. One has even sown something in one corner of their plot!.  It's only taken her two years, but finally.  

The third on the other hand did nothing because he was waiting for the non-cult letter, then stated that it never arrived and after it was received, still decided to do nothing. I did ask all three of them if they don't have the time to spend on the plots to please give them up as there are 36 people on the waiting list. 

There are a number of issues which I can't really blog about, until hopefully they are resolved in some way.

As I had not been down this weekend the levels in the Smart Reservoirs of the Quadgrows were on the low side and I used all the made up bottles that were in the greenhouse and when I left the bottles were on the potting bench but I didn't have chance to add the Nutrients A + B to the bottles. 

It's OK being a site rep but I hate it when it steals precious allotment time, dealing with complaints and site inspections. These days I refuse to undertake the inspections as you set yourself up as a target. I accompany Jane and tell her the plot number and give her some background i.e. letting her know that a plot holder is currently in hospital and that's why their plot is a little overgrown etc. and they will be back on it as soon as they recover.  

We have been known the help keep plot clear and water for plot holders who are sick, but we have learnt over time that even God only helps those that help themselves.

Plot Inspections

 

It's that time of the year again when plot inspections take place. 

I gave up undertaking the plot inspections and submitting them a few years ago after conflict with a fellow plot holder who got a non cultivation improvement notice and became somewhat aggressive and confrontational. Since then I have managed to get the council park department, another rep from another site or idverde to undertake the inspections. There is no point me putting myself up as a target. 

I met Jane the idverde allotment administrator on site at around 8am and we spent nearly two hours looking at plots. I basically identified the plot numbers as not all have up identification numbers on them. And also explained that, this tenant was currently in hospital and until 4 weeks ago was on top of the weeds. Another tenant had just lost her husband and is normally on top of things, and yes there are one or two that we have not seen or have only visited once or twice since last October.  

As we came out of wet May and into Sunny June the weeds have gone mad over a two to three week period. 

Those that came and cleared weeds during the first May bank holiday and have not been back since have a new crop of weeds to deal with. They will be receiving a  28 day notice to turn things around and if they don't, following a second inspection they will get a termination notices, especially as we have 14 plots and 36 people on the waiting list.

It is such a shame that some plot holders will pay for a plot and do nothing with it and just let it go to weeds that then flower and seed.  Those plot holders who do clear their plots then have to contend with seeds and blowing onto their cleared ground.  

Bottom line if you can't get down and keep your plot in order, give it up so that one of the many on the waiting list can come and take it over and actually keep the weeds under control and grow vegetables on it.