My Allotment Goals

When taking on an allotment, it is very easy to get carried away in ripping everything up, growing all of the things and not take a moment to step back and have a good solid think about what you want from your allotment and why you took it on in the first place. I am incredibly guilty of this and have already spent many an hour scribbling away plans and ideas, drawing diagrams and making to do lists. I've only had the allotment a week and I am already seeing myself getting carried away. So, here I am, taking some time to sit, reflect and share with you my allotment goals.

1. Enjoy the process

One of the reasons, if not the main reason, I have taken on a plot is because I really wanted to have my own little project. Getting out in the fresh air, soaking up vitamin D and growing your own plants is such a great mental health booster. And for me this is even better being paired up with an overgrown allotment which will take time and effort to get into a good working order. Since closing my Etsy shop, I was feeling rather low and felt I didn't have much to do other than go to work. Now I feel I have a new lease of life where I can get some exercise, boost my mood and grow some yummy veggies along the way.

2. Grow a pumpkin

Ideally, I will be growing a few veggies this year and get at least one of each crop but at the end of the day, I would be more than happy if I end the 2022 growing season with one singular pumpkin. I planted a packet of Wilko's Big Max seeds last year and got some beautiful pumpkin plants but unfortunately I did not get any female pumpkin flowers that actually opened. I'll be trying a few varieties this year including Jack Be Littles and Baby Boos. I am currently trying to think of ways I can fit a pumpkin archway into my plot so watch this space.

3. Keep it frugal

One thing I love about vloggers such as Emma's Allotment Diaries is making do with what you've got and the fact you don't need to spend a fortune to get growing. If you're lucky, you'll take on a plot with just the right kind of junk: the junk you can build structures out of and re-use. I have a section in my allotment planning diary (an old notebook I already owned) where I am tracking all of my allotment spending. I want to keep the number I spend as low as possible, not only to be nicer on my pocket but also to force myself to think outside of the box and do my best with what nature has to offer.

4. Become one with the spiders

Now, I doubt this one will happen anytime soon. If you've seen my recent vlog, you will know I encountered hundreds of spiders when digging over my first bed. And to make it even better, I also found a lot of spider egg sacks. One thing about having an allotment is that although you may rent the plot, it always belongs to nature. You are invading nature's home and you have to learn to become one with it. So, this year I am hoping I will become ever so slightly less afraid of spiders and will learn to appreciate them more for eating all of the bugs and creatures which may damage my crops.

If I ever feel myself getting carried away, I know I will have this post to come back to and remember why I began my plot and what I initially wanted to get from it. No doubt I will get distracted along the way and there is nothing wrong with that but it is always good to centre yourself and rebalance at the end of a long day. What are your allotment goals?