Starter Plots
Starter plots - the experience of one site.
"A couple of years ago we decided to offer starter plots on our site - small growing spaces for beginner gardeners who are at the top of the waiting list. The idea of the plots was:
• To move the waiting list on more quickly.
• To filter out new gardeners who weren't aware of the time and energy commitment required to manage an allotment.
• To help new gardeners get started and learn some skills before moving on to a half plot.
We provide help with clearing the plot, and we give encouragement and support by email and phone and provide a mentoring scheme with 26 weekly tutorials through the winter months and 6, monthly practical sessions through the growing season. We are very lucky that our mentor is a qualified horticulturalist who has provided his time and skills on a voluntary basis. We offer a reference library in our store hut for members to look up any issues or problems they are experiencing - encouraging them to learn this way as well as through the mentor.
After the first year or growing season starter plot tenants:
• stay on a starter plot because they have realised they could not manage a bigger space,
• move on to a half plot,
• or leave with a mutual understanding that if they cant manage a starter plot, then allotments aren't for them (we encourage them to join a community plot in this case - so they still get the fun of gardening without the regular commitment).
Of course not everyone needs to start on a learner plot. If people have the experience and/or time and clearly know what a bigger space entails it makes sense for them to go straight on to a half plot. But when people are beginners, a quarter plot is enough for many people to cope with (when it is used fully rather than in a bed system). In fact some people who have full plots are growing less due to poor use of space. The small size forces them to use all the space rather than having massive paths, small beds and lots of wasted space.
Our site has found this a really positive experience, and we've had great feedback from our beginners".
Other sites should think about creating similar schemes. If you have any skills to offer why not get in touch with your site secretary and see if you can work together on it. For instance could you help clear some plots with new gardeners? Are you experienced enough to offer your time as a mentor to beginners? Could you help administer a scheme like this? Do you have some gardening books which could be used to start a reference library on your site?