How to Jump the Allotment Waiting List?

Allotment sites are crying out for help whether to run the site cafe or for plot holders to become committee members. If you naturally want to help out and give a hand then you will be useful to an allotment site committee.

Once you’ve put your name down on the allotment waiting list, visit the site on a weekend morning and make friends with whoever is around. Find out if the site has regular ‘working party’ days where plot holders are encouraged to help maintain the site. Ask if you can become involved, it’s the best way to get to know people and you are seen as useful.

As much as we like to think that the waiting list is the final word, allotment sites are run by a team of dedicated volunteers but usually this band is very small as most people aren’t interested in getting involved. If you are a ‘worker’ and can demonstrate this, it will help you secure your allotment plot much faster. But once you have got your allotment, you must continue to lend a hand with site activities. Don’t fool yourself or anyone else.

Is it ethical or not to jump the waiting list? That’s up to you to decide but how keen are you, really, to put fresh food on your family table.