Found a garden to rent;)

[CarolineW]

Congratulations!  I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed getting ours into some kind of order, it's the most satisfying feeling.  Make sure you do take those 'before' pictures.  We didn't think about it until it was too late, so the earliest pictures we have are of bare earth where we've already cleared, and erected a shed.

I can't wait until I'm able to get out there again, it's my favourite place to be.

When you said you'd rented a garden I thought, 'I wonder if it's got one of those garden houses?'  and then you said that it did :-)  Lucky you, I think they're brilliant.  I've never seen anything like that in the UK.  And to be able to take your TMX with you - brilliant!  I always have to rely on a BBQ or open fire and a storm kettle.  Oooh, I can't wait to get back to the allotment!

My best tip would be, don't try to clear it all at once.  Do a patch at a time and get that patch planted up.  Also, are you allowed to cover up areas on your garden?  If so, covering the bits you plan to do last with cardboard means that by the time you get to it, the lack of light will have done some of the clearing for you.  Also, if you've cleared a patch but aren't ready to plant it straight away (eg you want to dig in some manure but haven't got the manure yet) then cover that up so that you don't get new weeds in.

[vivacity]

Thanks for all the replies and enthusiasm!

I live in a part of Germany where a kind of allotment culture exists. When I told some of my colleagues about my plan to rent  a little piece of land, they rolled their eyes. Allotments tend to have a bit of a bad reputation, i. e. some of your neighbours can be a little anal exact when it comes to the selection of plants you grow, how high your lawn is, etc. etc. One colleague even told me about allotments where you have to agree to the owners spraying your plants and trees with pesticides, fungicides and herbicides annually because they are afraid that diseases could spread from wildfire from one garden to the next.

So after hearing all these scare stories my family and I decided to just have a look around and view everything with a wary eye. The allotments are set on a steep hill where the air smells really fresh. We live in the centre of a small town so the air isn't that clean and it's really strange when you can breathe in and air reaches your belly button (if you know what I mean).

Anyway, we looked at four gardens, and thought that the first and third were the best. The allotments are a 20 minute walk from where we live, so not too far away. Over a cup of cocoa afterwards we decided on the messiest (no. 4) because we think that it looks rather enchanted and that we could do a lot with it. I'm not too sure how large it is, but it must be a little under 600 sq meters. As this garden is in such a state, we would only have to pay 500 Euros to the prior owner for a toilet house and a garden house which is damp because the prior owner didn't repair the roof. Luckily,  a family friend is a master carpenter so he can help us to repair it (we hope).

For all of you who are thinking of renting a piece of land, the prices really can vary. The costs at this place are very civilised. 150 Euros to join "the gardening club", and other costs such as membership subscription, rent, insurance, etc., etc., which amount to about 20 Euros per month. Most of the gardens don't have running water and electricity, so we're really lucky that our garden does. And you have to do 10 hours of "community service" a year, which means that you help to keep the areal of allotments looking good. I see this as a positive thing because you can meet other people and perhaps learn a few things about gardening. And there's a summer party for all the gardeners which my step daughter is already looking forward to: "We could bring potato salad..."

Since I'm a bit of a novice gardener, I may just start with "square foot gardening" this year, i. e. make some wooden frames measuring - yes, you've guessed it - one square foot and divide each of these into 9 equal squares to plant different veggie plants. This gives me a crop of some sort this year while I gather gardening experience. If you'd like more information on this, you'll find some under  http://www.squarefootgardening.com. It sounds appealing because it's low maintenance.

I'll keep you posted once we start work. The board of gardeners decides next week whether we can rent the garden (very official) and then we can start work in February. The board is against spraying pesticides and other nasties, so that is VERY good news.

I've just seen that CarolineW has written a reply. Thanks for all the tips, Caroline To be honest, we are going to ask for the landloard of our flat to help us a bit with garden "machinery." He runs a business specialised in cemetery gardening (I don't know the English term for this) so he's got a lot of stuff that will be invaluable for our garden challenge.

Can't wait to get my wellies on and start working! (With a nice warm soup from the TMX in the breaks).

[CarolineW]

I am thinking of getting one of those oblong corrogated iron thingies to plant a few more vegies and herbs in.  ...  These new plant boxes range from small to quite large and mean the days of getting down on your hands and knees to plant & weed will be over as the plants would end up around thigh high. Would take a bit of soil to fill though.  The prices are great for the size of them, an instant garden bed.

Hi Judy,
Raised beds are excellent.  We built raised beds at our allotment, and we also have a series of them - more along the lines of what you're describing - at home too.  Just a thought, though.  The gardening magazines here always recommend avoiding any raised beds or planters that are made of metal, as they conduct the heat to the roots and overheat them during summer, and then the cold during winter.  So a lot of plants are killed as a result.  

It could be that the beds you're considering have some kind of insulation to prevent that, but I'd really recommend that you check that out before getting them.  It would be such a shame to plant them up and then have the roots fry because it's so hot, especially when there are plenty of other kinds available at reasonable prices if the metal ones aren't insulated.

[CarolineW]

Thanks for all the replies and enthusiasm!

I live in a part of Germany where a kind of allotment culture exists. When I told some of my colleagues about my plan to rent  a little piece of land, they rolled their eyes. Allotments tend to have a bit of a bad reputation, i. e. some of your neighbours can be a little anal exact when it comes to the selection of plants you grow, how high your lawn is, etc. etc. One colleague even told me about allotments where you have to agree to the owners spraying your plants and trees with pesticides, fungicides and herbicides annually because they are afraid that diseases could spread from wildfire from one garden to the next.

That's why I asked if you were 'allowed' to cover bits up   

So after hearing all these scare stories my family and I decided to just have a look around and view everything with a wary eye. The allotments are set on a steep hill where the air smells really fresh. We live in the centre of a small town so the air isn't that clean and it's really strange when you can breathe in and air reaches your belly button (if you know what I mean).

Anyway, we looked at four gardens, and thought that the first and third were the best. The allotments are a 20 minute walk from where we live, so not too far away. Over a cup of cocoa afterwards we decided on the messiest (no. 4) because we think that it looks rather enchanted and that we could do a lot with it. I'm not too sure how large it is, but it must be a little under 600 sq meters. As this garden is in such a state, we would only have to pay 500 Euros to the prior owner for a toilet house and a garden house which is damp because the prior owner didn't repair the roof. Luckily,  a family friend is a master carpenter so he can help us to repair it (we hope).

For all of you who are thinking of renting a piece of land, the prices really can vary. The costs at this place are very civilised. 150 Euros to join "the gardening club", and other costs such as membership subscription, rent, insurance, etc., etc., which amount to about 20 Euros per month. Most of the gardens don't have running water and electricity, so we're really lucky that our garden does. And you have to do 10 hours of "community service" a year, which means that you help to keep the areal of allotments looking good. I see this as a positive thing because you can meet other people and perhaps learn a few things about gardening. And there's a summer party for all the gardeners which my step daughter is already looking forward to: "We could bring potato salad..."

Since I'm a bit of a novice gardener, I may just start with "square foot gardening" this year, i. e. make some wooden frames measuring - yes, you've guessed it - one square foot and divide each of these into 9 equal squares to plant different veggie plants. This gives me a crop of some sort this year while I gather gardening experience. If you'd like more information on this, you'll find some under  http://www.squarefootgardening.com. It sounds appealing because it's low maintenance.

That's how we started out, too.  It still heavily influences my approach to gardening, and is an excellent place to begin.  Do you have his (Mel's) book?

[CarolineW]

i discovered recently we have a community garden just 5 mins up the road from us but not sure if they have any beds free, plus i'd be too scared to go and garden with all the experts, i know nothing, it's all luck! lol

Don't let that worry you, Brazen.  You'd find that the other gardeners are more than happy to share their knowledge and experience with you, and are very encouraging and supportive.  I didn't really know anything either when I started (not that I claim to be an expert now!  )  It's amazing the way that gardeners always enthusiastically and unselfishly support, advise and help anyone that's giving it a go and trying to learn.  There are hardly any exceptions to that, it's lovely. 

[vivacity]

Hi, Caroline!

I bought the book on square foot gardening for my sister this Christmas and I'm just surfing amazon to see if I can find a used copy. Yesterday evening, I ordered a book called "Garden Retreats: Creating an Outdoor Sanctuary" by Barbara Ashmun und Allan Mandell which looks great. Since the garden is not one open area, it has little "nooks and crannies" behind trees and bushes which would make lovely places to go and read a book, mark exam papers in May or just plain laze about. I can almost hear the wind chimes

I agree with you on the friendliness of neighbouring gardeners. Yesterday, we were greeted by a delegation of 5 members of the gardening board who wanted to "get to know us." They were all so friendly and emphasised how helpful experienced gardeners are if beginners have questions or problems.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Well done Vivacity - it sounds wonderful.

We moved to the country last summer and have enjoyed the year here so much.  The fresh air and exercise have agreed with us all and we have barely had a sick day all year.  We are loving our chooks, vegie garden, orchard and even composting.  We have just finished pickling the last of our baby-beets and making copious amounts of plum jam and are now eagerly waiting for our apples to grow and ripen. Preserving your own produce is just so satisfying. We hardly noticed the seasons when we lived in the city and now we live and eat by them.

I'm sure you won't regret your decision. 

[judydawn]

I am excited for you, just reading what Caroline said and your plans for your plot vivacity.   Thanks also Caroline for the info on the metal raised bed containers - I don't think they are insulated but will have a closer inspection of them next time I'm in the hardware store.  I have one I am using for herbs at the moment that I made from recycled sleepers which we pulled up in another part of the garden - if only that was bigger. Still, first things first and this job is last on my list in the garden this year.

[CarolineW]

I am excited for you, just reading what Caroline said and your plans for your plot vivacity.   Thanks also Caroline for the info on the metal raised bed containers - I don't think they are insulated but will have a closer inspection of them next time I'm in the hardware store.  I have one I am using for herbs at the moment that I made from recycled sleepers which we pulled up in another part of the garden - if only that was bigger. Still, first things first and this job is last on my list in the garden this year.

I was just sat here thinking about it, Judy.  If they're considerably cheaper and more convenient than the other options available to you, there's no particular reason whey you couldn't insulate them yourself, really, is there?  It's only a matter of reducing the conduction of the metal to the soil - which cardboard or straw would do as a completely easy, low tech method.  Of course, it would gradually rot over a period of years, but it could always be done again when refreshing the soil.  Or, for longer term but a bit harder, stick a piece of wood between the metal and the soil. 

[judydawn]

Check them out here Caroline
http://www.theveggiegarden.com.au/

Look great don't they?  Could quite easily line it with cardboard.

[cookie1]

The 'farm' where DH does a bit of relief teaching put in a couple of those last year.  It was mainly for the children from a special school who are in wheel chairs. He said it is very rewarding to see them weeding etc.

I wouldn't mind a couple at home out the 1 metre back yard we have that is all brick paved.

[brazen20au]

the square foot gardening does sound great!

and i'm very jealous - your garden plot is bigger than our entire land (for house, garden, play area, washing line etc) - 500m2 LOL

but you do have a lot of work ahead of you! definitely take before pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CarolineW]

Check them out here Caroline
http://www.theveggiegarden.com.au/

Look great don't they?  Could quite easily line it with cardboard.

They do - and you could 

[mama_bel]

Thanks for telling us about your enchanted garden.  I can't wait to hear how it progresses.

I think this is a great idea.  It's not very common in Australia.  We live on a farm and I have 3 gardens - 2 greenhouses with raised beds in them, and a fenced garden too.  As well as 100+ young food producing trees, hens, ducks, cow for milk etc.  I love it and would love for others to have some space here (too much grass anyway) to grow some vegies, or keep chickens even if they're willing to visit often enough.  We are 2km from one town and 12km from two other towns.  I wonder what sort of distance people would travel to visit their garden?

I have two raised beds of recycled tin (galvanised rainwater tanks) and 6 of plastic and 2 of timber and I notice no difference at all in their performance.  We have below-zero temps in winter, with frosts (not heaps, but some), and get up to around the early 30s for part of summer (live in the mountains, so not a really hot, hot place).  We have 3m+ of rain each year and the raised beds are great in the wet weather!

[vivacity]

Thanks for your post, Mama_bel I've just been looking at the price of raised beds (Hochbeete) over here on the Internet and they are really high. Plus surfing the internet has the disadvantage (especially if you're a garden novice like me) that you see all these gizmos that seem really useful, like a bin for growing potatoes, etc. Luckily, I just came across www.gardenfork.tv which is full of really nifty ideas and videos on how to make your own raised beds, tomato frames and cold frames, to name but a few of the projects. Galvanised water tanks as raised beds sound good, too! I think I'm just have to go in for budget gardening while I learn basic carpentry skills (Got two left hands, so could be a problem).