Taking on an allotment when pregnant - Should I go for it?

[gardeninggirl]

Hi,
Would love some advice, I live in SE london in an 8th floor flat. I have been desperate for an allotment, or some patch of earth to work for years, and have been on the local council waiting list for a plot for 3 yrs - with no joy - until now. I came home to a letter today saying there is a vacant plot free if I am still interested!
My only worry is that I am 19 weeks pregnant with our first. My DH is clueless about gardening - likes cooking the produce but has no real interest in growing anything. I learnt all my gardening from my mum (who had now died) - so am not an absolute novice, but am not experienced either. I would of been jumping for joy and grabbing the seed catalogues if I was not getting rounder and more and more pregnant.
So - is it possible to garden when you get more heavily pregnant? Am I being totally mad to think of taking more on when I might have a baby in tow? Should I ask to take on less than a full plot - because I learnt in a garden I am a bit hazy on how large allotment plots are. I work full time at the moment, am due at the end of july and plan not to return to work until jan 08, if all goes well.
Any advice from gardeners with kids, or allotment gardeners would be really appreciated!

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

Honestly, I wouldn't take it on. We had a plot with another couple. We all worked but had a plot between the 4 of us. DH and I had a DS. It worked for a year, the second year was harder, we had another child, the third year we gave it up (or might have been 4th year). We just didn't have the time anymore, weekends spent with DS and DD or other things. The other couple couldn't keep up the work either. Now we've passed it on to another young enthusiastic couple without kids. At least we'll feel all that work will benefit someone we know. And we get to pick some strawberries this summer.

[fishie]

how far is the allotment from your flat? same thing happened to me and i didn't take it, but allotment was about 1.5miles away and i don't drive. i do have a garden though and did absolutely nothing in it for a whole year lots of things died. back to normal now though, seed orders in and raring to go. you could always take altmt and not do much with it for a while.

[NorksBride]

I'd take it. Especially if it's within walking distance. You could just dig it over as soon as you can and then just plant potatoes this year. They'll pretty much take care of themselves, the foliage will help keep the weeds down and they'll also help break the soil up. And you'll get a decent crop of useful veg.

I didn't like being indoors with a new baby and as I'm in the countryside was able to carry on gardening, walking the dog etc, everyday, rain or shine. And I gardened all through all my pregnancies. It'll be good for your baby/toddler/child to have somewhere of their own to go and help to grow the food and eat it. My DCs now aged 2, 3 & 5 all have their own wheelbarrows & tools!

[toomanyprojects]

I haven't got an allotment but have a big garden which needs loads doing to it (moved in last year). I'm 32 weeks pregnant and was digging a veg plot yesterday - I remember buying a hoe for when I was pregnant with DD1 as I was enormous and bending was tricky. As I'm due start of May I'm trying to get everything in before LO (my third) arrives. I can remember being out in the garden at weekends and even during lunchtime nap when the they were very little- it was a bit of "me time".

On the other side of things, I'm now a Parish clerk in charge of letting out our village allotments and I'm sure if you explained the situation they would not expect too much of the plot for the year after baby is born. It'll be more tricky next spring once you're back at work and the baby isn't sleeping as much but also isn't mobile.

Anyway good luck whichever way you decide.

[breadandroses]

Hi,
i'd take it if it's within walking distance as norksbride said you can shove in some potatoes and forget about them. Also lettuce, beans etc very easy to grow for no effort. It will be a godsend when you have a toddler if you have no garden. As my dad says when I complain about being pregnant "well, if you lived in Russia you'd still be digging spuds".

[Fonk]

really depends how close, tbh

gardening with a young toddler will actually be the killer, I think. both mine are ok ish now (like as of last week!) . dd is 18 mo.

of course, if you have only one and love it, its rather diffrernt.

gardening when pg isn't an issue ime. probably avoid heavy digging. but everything else, fine.

here's what I'd do. spuds def. but also-bushes and fruit trees. you don't have to do anyting to them really and they'll be happily establuhing themselves when you're not there.

[breadandroses]

Agree. Mine are 3 and 5 so easier now but I look after a toddler and tbh I do avoid taking him if I have "proper" work to do. But it's not a long gap between baby in a pram and slightly more sensible older toddler...

[allmytimeonmumsnet]

Well you won't be pg forever! I would take it on. ITs something you've always wanted to do and you might not got another chance for ages. Take it but don't set your sights to high at first. Do something easy and low maintenance to start off with. It doesn't matter if yours isn't the best kept allotment for the next few years but at least you can make a start.

You can always rope your DH in to help with the heavy stuff for now. Might even get him interested. But you never know what the allotment you get will be like anyway. Not necessarily going to be a mess needing loads of work to prepare it.

Gardening with little ones can be hard but it can also be great fun. Little ones always love it and want to help - you've just got to have slightly different standards. Once the baby is toddling you can always make a small play patch for him/her and at least it is somewhere you can both get outside.

I think you will really regret it if you don't give it a go. If it doesn't work out then at leat you tried.