Chairman’s Chit Chat May 2023
“Now then” or should that be “Naar then?”
That wonderful two-word phrase seems the prevailing form of address on our allotment site. I am not a Yorkshireman but I think I am going native, as I am incorporating “Now then” into my everyday language. Was there ever a more versatile phrase? Depending on the timbre and inflection of the user’s voice, it can be a full-blooded, Brian Blessed style, hearty greeting – “great to see you friend, what a beautiful day,” or a menacing interrogation – “Oi! What do you think you’re up to?” or a simple, non-committal “Hello.”
On our allotment site humanity comes and goes.
Among the tenants there are a few old “sweats” like me who have tended their plot for 25 years or more, some tenants who have lasted the course for a number of years but who have not yet quite qualified for their long service medal and then there are the fresh-faced newcomers. Tenancy agreements on our site run from 1 April through to 31 March. Every year there is a little churn with some people leaving, to be replaced by those fresh-faced newcomers. There is a myriad of reasons why allotmenteers vacate their plots – they move away from the village, have demanding family commitments, the work becomes too physically hard or they just find allotment gardening is not for them.
Over the years the allotment community has changed character. When I first took on my plot all those years ago, if I remember correctly every tenant was a male. This has gradually changed over time with a number of ladies taking plots in their own right and really embracing the allotment experience. Also, we now have several young families getting involved, which is vital to the long-term future of the site. Both these groups are a very welcome addition to the allotment community.
The way people use their plots has changed; no longer the straight rows of vegetables and flowers in open ground but raised beds have become very popular of late, probably influenced by TV gardening programmes. Being very aware of the environment, many plots now are more bio-diverse with a wide range of wildflowers being sown. One of my neighbours has gone so far as to turn half of his plot into a wildflower meadow. It looks stunning in early summer and is alive with insects.
Another has created a little wildlife pond in one corner of his plot. One thing which has not changed – and I hope it never does – is the camaraderie exhibited by allotment folk. It is very rare to visit the site without being able to say a friendly “now then” to a few of your fellow soil tillers.