One large section of our allotment complex has been waterlogged for some few years now, and it was decided to correct this ever-worsening problem this year. On the 23 apr. the administrators got a phone call saying that the digger would come the following day and start removing old and re-laying new drainage pipes. We have all been waiting until the ground was dry enough to begin the work. This task was never going to be a simple one because it required the allotmentholders to remove paving tiles, hedges, plants, trees and anything else that might be in the way of the digging machine which would require a 2meter wide swath through all the plots in Section Two. Heart-breaking for some, not to mention the excessive physical requirement for the mostly aged members. Well, the man and his machine, which dug and simultaneously laid tubing, came and dug--and when he was almost finished, he somehow allowed one track of his digging machine to slip into the deep trench that he had just dug. The more he tried to get out, the deeper he sunk into the earth. (a sort of 'tar baby' debacle). Finally when the machine assumed a dangerous list, the work stopped and help was summoned. The assistance arrived and turned out to be a machine more than twice as large as original digger. So while the administrators and the diggers tried to work out how the huge help-machine would get to the place where the original digger was stuck, my partner and I helped older members with the transporting of sand to their plots for filling the trenches. She filled empty wheelbarrows as folks would come back to the sand pile for more and I walked full wheelbarrows back to the plots for some of the older ones. There were folks in their 60's, 70's and 80's. I have included some pics, but there are no fotos that can relate the degree of physical and mental stress that these allotment holders felt that day. The drainage tubing: The trench: The first digger good and stuck: Help is on the way. The sides of the bridge had to quickly be removed: Grinding-up the soil underway to the listing digger: The digger is again upright and out of it's hole: The gardens look like they will never be the same, but with a bit of work crops will be harvested from these plots this year.
Holey Moley, that is one big mess. I can just imagine how upsetting the whole thing was for the older gardeners, all those years of work being torn up.
It does look a mess. I hope you have proper weather for growing so it recovers quickly. I'd have been much upset by it all. dooley
Holy Cannolli's,, what a mess! Those poor older gardners. All that time and work put in to those plots,,, but,,, as i like to say,, Gardners never give up! I'm sure all those plots will be bursting again and looking just as beautiful as a Nederland artist would paint! That was very thoughtful of you and your partner to help like that. I'm sure a relief for alot of the older folks. Pat yourself on the back for me Sjoerd, and your partner. Well done!
Two meters doesn't sound like much, but of course it is as long as people have worked on that little strip of land for years and years. I'm glad you were able to help out.
It well and truly ruined the gardens for the time being. Luckily, it was only done in the middle (Section Two) section, and not ours, and not section 1. But that is the very reason that we wanted to help. How anyone could see the trouble those folks were having nad NOT help is beyond me. Oh well, there were a large number of folks that did indeed help and that's why so many places are almost back to normal already. Well...the trenches have been filled-in and covered, at least--now the fences and hedges back in, etc. I want to say, that the trench featured above is but one of the many trenches dug across garden plots.
Sjoerd thank goodness you and your partner were on hand to help out. What a mess those diggers made!! However, at least now there shouldn't be any more flooding. I would have hated my land to have been torn up like that though.
Wow! what a mess. Hope everything will get cleaned up so everyone can get back to planting. It'll be nice not to have the floods on the allotments.
I really hope that somehow the accidental aerating improves the lots, this is just heartbreaking to see, especially at a time when food prices are soaring, folks need to be able to grow as much as they can!
I agree with everything everyone else has said. Being an allotment holder myself, I don't know how I would cope if I had to go through that! We have sewer pipes under our allotment and it has been rumoured that in time, these are going to have to be replaced....I'm not even contemplating it! So lucky you were there to help, allotments can be places of such great camaraderie. I'm sure we will all look forward to seeing some photos of plants growing again on those damages plots soon.
Thanks to everyone for your comments. The digging company has one more trench to dig, and they will do it manually. It will be a week or two before they attempt it, though. We've been sending out updated almost nightly to the members with messages from the the chairman of the organization to keep everyone informed of the developments and projected plans. I've taken some vacation time and am trying to get the lotty in shape for the summer season. I know that EJ has a good insight to lotties and what this sort of thing really means to the effected members...with the disruption and all. It is indeed a drama of great proportions, and the effect upon the growing season for these poor people will only be known as things unfold. Ok...thanks again, all.
I'm so sorry for for the older people as I would be one of them and thank God for people like you and your partner.If it were not for my Cheyenne ,neighbors and family I wouldn't have very much going for me.Its hard getting older and trying to raise a garden by yourself.Bless you and yours.
