Dekk
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Help or advice pleaseHi All,
I have a small landscaping business, but, as I have a couple of large allotments and lots of experience I'm shifting my focus more towards the "green side". I'm thinking of continuing my work with schools and their on site allotments etc, but expanding and pushing on the allotment type side. By that I mean many peolpe seem very eager to have an allotment but when they realise how much work is involved or don't know what they are doing they tend to give up, what I would be doing is offering help, advice, teaching sessions etc. does anyone else have any "I wish someone could..." ideas or any advice for me??
Thank you in advance. 
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Lorrainelovesplants
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Write yourself a small article with some photos and let your local newspaper know. Self sufficiency is the new sex, so plug yourself.
Also offer yourself for talks to gardening groups etc. For a 1 hr talk/demo I charge £25.
Many primary schools can work in growing veg with the curriculum - healthy eating, science stuff. They are always looking for ideas and it looks good on the OFSTED.
many local groups such as Rotarians etc are keen to fund such work. Talk to them.
Allotmenteering sounds good to people who start keen and then give up. Offer to go with them to keep them on track - its like weight watchers - its easier in a group situation - you always have folk to chivvy you on.
Small allotment plots are easier to manage. Split a normal 10 rod plot into 2 (or 4). Offer your services to 'manage' the plot at ,say £20 per week.
Think about teaching evening classes - I make most of my money from teaching now. Growing plants is a non-commercial waste of time. People have no money to buy plants they cant eat.
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Home on the Hill
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I'm not far from you and doing a similar thing myself - but I don't make most of my money from horticulture.
We have Garden Organic on the doorstep - I do some teaching for them, but they are competitors to us independents. I've also taught at Warwickshire College but they have a block on that at the moment while they deal with the fallout from their merge with Pershore.
Another problem, I think, is that no-one really wants to pay for horticultural expertise. Or they will pay for a short lesson and expect to learn everything in an afternoon. Another problem I've encountered is that people will give up before picking up a spade if they've taken a course and been overwhelmed by how much there is to know.
So, I'm not saying don't do it. But don't expect to make lots of money this way. Don't give up the day job. Of course, it's great fun and very rewarding to teach people how to grow stuff. So do it for the love of it, not the money.
Good luck...Carrie 
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Rob R
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| Lorrainelovesplants wrote: | | Self sufficiency is the new sex, so plug yourself. |
Thankfully I wasn't drinking coffee.
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Nick
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| Rob R wrote: | | Lorrainelovesplants wrote: | | Self sufficiency is the new sex, so plug yourself. |
Thankfully I wasn't drinking coffee. |
You having visions of how Lorraine conducts her sex life?
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Lorrainelovesplants
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 I have a very full and happy sex life thanks 
There's nothing quite like plugging yourself - try it! 
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Lorrainelovesplants
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Since I got the wetsuit the salad cream has never been backin the fridge, nor has the hairdryer!!!   
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Rob R
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Stoppit! This is a serious request for information  I don't even consider why she should want the salad cream & hair dryer not to be cold
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mochyn
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Before I retired from GD I made a very helpful extra income from teaching the subject at a local college. How about offering your services to your local allotment society(s) doing workshops? Seeds, veg. varieties, pruning fruit bushes etc.
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Jamanda
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Why does this always happen when Rob turns up on a thread?
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gil
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Information pack for allotment newbies ? To sell to Allotment Associations, so they can sell on to new plotholders.
e.g how to clear a plot effectively over the first couple of years; crop rotation; common weeds and how to deal with; when to sow and plant; what's a good, balanced range of veg to grow [starting with easiest/most cost effective]
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wellington womble
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I have long thought there must be a market for 'supported allotments' A site for beginners and busy people, with a formal mentoring scheme, mid week watering/weeding, a compost bin/path maintaining/raised bed building service, tutorials on pruning, composting, planting (whatever) and really good site facilities - polytunnel, manure, woodchips, cafe, seed ordering. Of course, there would be a premium rent, but it would make allotments available to people who are very busy, or who just don't like the graft but want to choose local veg. Like having a gardener - be great for the gardener, who could effectively do garden maintenance but all in once place. You could even do totally maintained allotments, for people who just want to plan a garden, or choose varieties etc and eat the results.
Sorry, I seem to have got carried away.
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gil
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| wellington womble wrote: | | make allotments available to people who are very busy, or who just don't like the graft but want to choose local veg. Like having a gardener. |
I think that runs completely counter to the spirit of allotments. Anyone with that little time or interest in doing it themself or that much money to employ someone else to do it for them should not be given an allotment.
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alison
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on an american forum I used to go on there was a chap there who did raised beds for people on a contract basis. He would build and basically plant for them, and then he would offer a weekly maintenance too, for a price. He also offered a replanting service, for finished crops.
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wellington womble
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| gil wrote: | | wellington womble wrote: | | make allotments available to people who are very busy, or who just don't like the graft but want to choose local veg. Like having a gardener. |
I think that runs completely counter to the spirit of allotments. Anyone with that little time or interest in doing it themself or that much money to employ someone else to do it for them should not be given an allotment. |
I do agree. But I also think there are a lot of people who like the idea of home grown veg who don't have the time/inclination/attention span to make it happen. But they may have money, in which case it could provide a wonderful opportunity for a downsizer.... I'm suggesting it as well as the traditional allotment model, not instead of.
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Dekk
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Cheers for all the info and ideas ,so far there's a few of these I'll be prodding with a sharp stick to see if they bite. i might even give a few of you a shout about a couple of things you have mentioned. keep up the good work look forward to hearing any more ideas you have and helping where I can.
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