The Second Coming

I had the weekend at the allotment this time around, which was great. I arrived at 8am on both days, so was able to watch as the allotment gradually became populated. It was such a contrast from the first time I came on the rainy Sunday morning, when no one was around.

I managed to get around and speak to some of the people there, they were all so welcoming and happy to talk to me (I think they enjoyed the attention, which was great).

They all have their own ideas about how to grow and what they want from the plot, and they each treat it differently.

Bert - he seems to take a relaxed approach to his allotment. It's a place for him to come and spend time whether it be planting out veg or just relaxing in his greenhouse with the paper. On the other hand you have Brian who works hard tending and maintaining his award winning plot. On a different level you have people like Stan and Harry who do away with any aesthetic elements and concentrate on the traditional unofficial remit of a plot; that it is a way of life and that you 'grow for the table, and nothing else'.

One of the first things to note is the amount of stories there are. Most of the people who commit to an allotment do it as a lush afterthought to an active life, or as a way to relax during a hectic lifestyle. Either way, these people have many interesting tales to tell. And they tell them well.