I had the opportunity to visit some allotment gardens here in Victoria, B.C. They looked beautiful in the morning sun, even if a few of them were just then under water. There had been rain recently, and the little stream that winds its way through the garden was flooded. Here are a few pictures.
People who have allotments there are very lucky as the soil is a beautiful, slightly sandy loam. I had an opportunity to check it out as Lorne and I helped turn over much of one plot.
The plots are 20 x 30 feet and cost $65 to rent for one year. You can keep the same plot from year to year. You would think that is just common sense, but I know of allotment gardens in Ontario where you are not allowed to leave anything and are not guaranteed to same plot every year, because the whole area was plowed over every spring. With the allotments here in Victoria, you have to do your own tilling. A few lots have nice sitting areas with clematis over an arbour. Some have a small greenhouse, and there are a few hoop houses.
At the entrance, the municipality has piled a lot of leaves allotment owners can use. There is water laid on throughout the garden, and wheelbarrows are provided free of charge. These and the mowers used to cut the grass in the alleys are stored in sheds on the premises. Also near the entrance are small raised beds that are reserved for seniors.
The little stream that runs in the middle of the garden must make it quite nice in summer. The land slopes on each side of the stream. When I visited there was a flock of Canada geese in the flooded area, but I am told they are never there in summer.
There were some leeks and healthy-looking kale growing in some of the plots. Each plot is fenced off, and there is also a fence around the whole area. I was told, though, that they do not have many rabbits or other pests. There are about 100 allotments. There are several other community gardens in the area.
People who have allotments there are very lucky as the soil is a beautiful, slightly sandy loam. I had an opportunity to check it out as Lorne and I helped turn over much of one plot.
The plots are 20 x 30 feet and cost $65 to rent for one year. You can keep the same plot from year to year. You would think that is just common sense, but I know of allotment gardens in Ontario where you are not allowed to leave anything and are not guaranteed to same plot every year, because the whole area was plowed over every spring. With the allotments here in Victoria, you have to do your own tilling. A few lots have nice sitting areas with clematis over an arbour. Some have a small greenhouse, and there are a few hoop houses.
At the entrance, the municipality has piled a lot of leaves allotment owners can use. There is water laid on throughout the garden, and wheelbarrows are provided free of charge. These and the mowers used to cut the grass in the alleys are stored in sheds on the premises. Also near the entrance are small raised beds that are reserved for seniors.
The little stream that runs in the middle of the garden must make it quite nice in summer. The land slopes on each side of the stream. When I visited there was a flock of Canada geese in the flooded area, but I am told they are never there in summer.
There were some leeks and healthy-looking kale growing in some of the plots. Each plot is fenced off, and there is also a fence around the whole area. I was told, though, that they do not have many rabbits or other pests. There are about 100 allotments. There are several other community gardens in the area.
It must be difficult to have year round crop production if the plot is ploughed over every spring. Good job that the geese move on in the height of the growing season but don't they steal winter crops?
ReplyDeleteThese ones in Victoria are not ploughed over every spring. I would think the geese do get some of the winter crop but I was told that it was unusual to have them around. I saw some kale well covered so some people were worried about the geese.
DeleteI'm on a waiting list for an allotment here and can't wait, but the waiting lists are very long. Wouldn't like the idea of not having the same plot from one year to the next though!
ReplyDeleteThe crop of common sense seems to be the biggest of all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help turning my garden Alain. I will shoot the same pics as you show here, come summer and you can see it in full production.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a large area of gardens! And I thought Victoria was over-run by rabbits.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear the variations from one association to another. Our plots are 20'x5'. We can keep the same one from year to year, but crops over 4' tall are forbidden -- summer sunlight is a premium item in Saint John. So no corn, and definitely no wisteria arbours.
ReplyDeleteThat organization sounds like it has an amazing relationship with the city - free wheelbarrows and leaf piles! The place looks great even in winter, that's Victoria for you :)
ReplyDeleteI remember at Tofino on the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island we stayed at a B&B where the owner had a beautiful garden. For compost he used washed shrimp shells from the seafood plant.
ReplyDeleteI bet that made a wonderful compost. I have known people in interior BC where there was a large salmon run used dead salmons as fertilizers!
DeleteAllotments are called community gardens here in the US and cities that have them often have a waiting list. This program sounds incredible and well funded. It would be fun to have a vegetable garden as well as my flower garden. :o)
ReplyDeleteThere are such communities here as well, the minimum of allotment size may be 20 x 30 m and one can own it for years. You showed plots of very hard working people, Alain. I know that growing vegetable isn't easily.
ReplyDeleteThe price sure seems reasonable to be able to grow your own food. I imagine gardeners also enjoy the fellowship of their neighbours.
ReplyDeleteIt's minus 34 C here today Alain. Oh, what you're missing!
Sheri