Welcome to Inverleith Allotments
We’ve compiled this to get you started on the right foot. There’s a lot to know but we want you to feel ‘at home’ and to enjoy yourself on your plot.
If you are a new plot holder do make contact with the Inverleith new plot holder contact who is Clare Campbell who will happily show you around and answer any questions you may have. She can be contacted on plot 112 or at [email protected].
If you are a new plot holder do make contact with the Inverleith new plot holder contact who is Clare Campbell who will happily show you around and answer any questions you may have. She can be contacted on plot 112 or at [email protected].
If you haven‘t had much chance to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs etc. elsewhere, do ask your neighbouring plot holders or committee members, as listed on our noticeboards ( two, each beside the gates into the site). We are all very happy to share advice.
There are many years of knowledge and expertise to be shared with you. They will know the soil and what will grow well, sources of manure, seaweed etc. to feed the soil and the best times of the year to sow. They also may have spare plants to give you.
A seed swap box is attached to the West notice board, you’ll find spare packets of seed but please try to leave something in return.
There are many years of knowledge and expertise to be shared with you. They will know the soil and what will grow well, sources of manure, seaweed etc. to feed the soil and the best times of the year to sow. They also may have spare plants to give you.
A seed swap box is attached to the West notice board, you’ll find spare packets of seed but please try to leave something in return.
KEEPING UP TO DATE
You’ll want the latest news about what's going on, we have a newsletter, subscribe by emailing [email protected].
A thriving WhatsApp group is also set up. Join ‘Inverleith Allotmenteers’ using https://chat.whatsapp.com/DxjwYjIILrEGxgGsOW47Wo
A thriving WhatsApp group is also set up. Join ‘Inverleith Allotmenteers’ using https://chat.whatsapp.com/DxjwYjIILrEGxgGsOW47Wo
We recommend you join FEDAGA; our allotment Federation. You'll find details of cost on your allotment bill from the Council. They are our representatives with the Council, help set allotment strategy and supply discounted seeds and seed potatoes, onions etc. They email a newsletter each month to all members with useful information, upcoming events and advice. Their website is www.fedaga.org.uk.
THE ENTRY GATES
For everyone’s security you must lock the gate after you’ve used it. Be careful to lock it correctly. Shut the gate and slide the bar across, lock using the padlock in the hole in the bar nearest the hinge. If you use the other one people can’t get into the site The gate key is NOT copyable. If you need a replacement or extra key then contact the Allotment Officer who will have allocated you your plot.
SOIL
We encourage all plot holders to cherish their soil as this is your most precious resource. Compost is a very useful additive but is no substitute. You may have inherited an overgrown, and weedy site. A lot of woody material can be chipped and added to a compost bin or buried where it will rot down. There are two ways of approaching large areas of couch grass (the common stuff) and most weeds. Dig it up taking care to remove all the white roots of the grass and compost these.
Lifting sods of grass and piling them upside down in a corner will result in wonderful compost in 6 months to a year. This can be laborious and slow but worth it. The other method is to cover discrete areas with lots of cardboard topped with a layer of compost. Excluded from light the grass and most weeds will die and in the first year you could plant salads into the compost layer. The cardboard eventually rots down and adds to the compost. Don’t try to work the whole site in one season. Concentrate on one or two achievable areas and strim the rest to keep it under control.
We encourage all plot holders to cherish their soil as this is your most precious resource. Compost is a very useful additive but is no substitute. You may have inherited an overgrown, and weedy site. A lot of woody material can be chipped and added to a compost bin or buried where it will rot down. There are two ways of approaching large areas of couch grass (the common stuff) and most weeds. Dig it up taking care to remove all the white roots of the grass and compost these.
Lifting sods of grass and piling them upside down in a corner will result in wonderful compost in 6 months to a year. This can be laborious and slow but worth it. The other method is to cover discrete areas with lots of cardboard topped with a layer of compost. Excluded from light the grass and most weeds will die and in the first year you could plant salads into the compost layer. The cardboard eventually rots down and adds to the compost. Don’t try to work the whole site in one season. Concentrate on one or two achievable areas and strim the rest to keep it under control.
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COMMUNAL COMPOST BINS
We encourage everyone to compost on their plot. It’s a magical process. However there also communal compost bins to which can be added compostable material chopped up into reasonable pieces. (not roots or uncompostable green waste). When full the bins are closed in order to slowly compost and when ready they are opened and anyone can help themselves to ‘Inverleith Gold. The date is advertised on the What’s app group. |
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SHED and TOOLS
You will have inherited the shed and anything left in it or on site. ( unless the previous tenant has expressed a wish to keep these. However they should remove anything prior to relinquishing the plot or should have indicated the earliest date of removal. If you can use any tools /equipment left behind ….enjoy but if surplus to requirements either leave by the swopping table at the West entrance gate or advertise on the What’s app group. There are some communal tools /push mowers which can be borrowed along with a communal strimmer service.
You will have inherited the shed and anything left in it or on site. ( unless the previous tenant has expressed a wish to keep these. However they should remove anything prior to relinquishing the plot or should have indicated the earliest date of removal. If you can use any tools /equipment left behind ….enjoy but if surplus to requirements either leave by the swopping table at the West entrance gate or advertise on the What’s app group. There are some communal tools /push mowers which can be borrowed along with a communal strimmer service.
WASTE BINS
At the west gate there are 4 green bins. These are for waste/ junk eg plastic and metal. Absolutely no wood, soil or green waste. Unfortunately these bins fill quickly and are only emptied every couple of weeks.
There is also an annual skip hire usually in the Spring /Summer when junk can be disposed of.
At the west gate there are 4 green bins. These are for waste/ junk eg plastic and metal. Absolutely no wood, soil or green waste. Unfortunately these bins fill quickly and are only emptied every couple of weeks.
There is also an annual skip hire usually in the Spring /Summer when junk can be disposed of.
CHIPPER
The site has a mechanical chipper which is operated monthly, Spring through to Autumn. All pruning and branches up to 2” in diameter can be chipped.
The site has a mechanical chipper which is operated monthly, Spring through to Autumn. All pruning and branches up to 2” in diameter can be chipped.
WOOD CHIPPINGS
From time to time a load of free wood chippings are dumped outside the West gate by a local landscaper. This is a great free resource for making paths and adding to compost bins.
From time to time a load of free wood chippings are dumped outside the West gate by a local landscaper. This is a great free resource for making paths and adding to compost bins.
Green waste makes excellent compost and returns goodness to your soil. We encourage everyone to compost on their plots. If you have surplus then you can use the communal compost bins close to the West gate. However, you must follow the guidelines written HUGE on the side of the bins. We produce very good compost, please don’t spoil it.
The Communal Bins were initially created after problems with green waste being put in the Trade Waste bins. IMPORTANT to note that the black bins by the West Gate are for Glass, Wood and Plastic only.
The Communal Bins were initially created after problems with green waste being put in the Trade Waste bins. IMPORTANT to note that the black bins by the West Gate are for Glass, Wood and Plastic only.
WATER
We are fortunate to have mains water on site but please be aware it is metered and charged back to the Allotment Service who pay from the city’s allotment budget. The more we waste, the less is left for site maintenance and other essentials. You’ll find plants prefer rain water anyway, collect water from your shed gutter in a covered water butt. The cover stops green algae forming.
TOILETS
Sadly, we don’t have a toilet,it’s a long story! Fortunately, one has just been opened in the adjoining park.
DOGS and CHILDREN
Dogs must be on leads, always. Children are welcome but they must be kept on your plot whilst you are on site. Bear in mind allotments are actually quite dangerous places. Look around at child level and you’ll see bamboo sticks at eye level, paths can have a drop into plots, broken glass is quite common too. Please stay safe.
PATHS AND SAFETY
We have grass paths throughout the site and you'll notice the site is sloping. This presents significant Health and Satety risks of people falling off and into plots causing injury as described above. You are responsible for maintaining the paths surrounding your plot, if an accident does occur you could be held liable as your negligence could invalidate the site insurance. Our rules state -
Paths are to be kept trimmed throughout the growing season. Path edges should be straight and paths should be at least 450mm (18") wide. Soil levels should be maintained at no more than 225mm (9") below path levels. Do not allow anything on your plot to overhang or obstruct a path.
Paths are to be kept trimmed throughout the growing season. Path edges should be straight and paths should be at least 450mm (18") wide. Soil levels should be maintained at no more than 225mm (9") below path levels. Do not allow anything on your plot to overhang or obstruct a path.
FIRES
Bonfires are not allowed from the beginning of May to the end of September. Outside that time you can only burn material arising from your plot that cannot be composted. Bonfires must never be left unattended. You must also give due consideration to other people within the Allotment Site. Better still use an incinerator which reduces smoke and is much safer.
THE SOCIAL SIDE
The Allotment ‘Conference Centre’ is the northern one of the two sheds at the West Gate. It has edging clippers and a couple of lawnmowers for keeping paths cut. Ask a key holding committee member for access. We also keep a small library of books and magazines with lots of growing information. These days, the Internet has a huge amount of good articles and videos on growing.
In the summer we have our Annual General Meeting, a ‘Tattie Boiling’ social and our own site Flower and Vegetable Show.
There is great Biodiversity on site. Most is quite harmless but some will try to eat your crops. You'll soon get the idea to net cabbages and use mesh coverings. Just ask! Most of us are careful not to use herbicides and pesticides.
In the summer we have our Annual General Meeting, a ‘Tattie Boiling’ social and our own site Flower and Vegetable Show.
There is great Biodiversity on site. Most is quite harmless but some will try to eat your crops. You'll soon get the idea to net cabbages and use mesh coverings. Just ask! Most of us are careful not to use herbicides and pesticides.
Welcome, have fun with lots of exercise, good company and food you will enjoy growing and eating.
A site map is available here which may help you navigate around.
There are rules of course. Please read and understand –
Edinburgh Council
Our own site rules
FURTHER RESOURCES
Lauriston community Agroecology runs vegetable growing courses from time to time.
Charles Dowding the ‘No dig” guru has many useful videos on YouTube especially for starting with a grassy/weedy patch
Allotment Garden is a good starter site and has a comprehensive growing calendar advising on when to plant which vegetable and can be be modified for Scotland’s slight lag in the seasons.
Charles Dowding the ‘No dig” guru has many useful videos on YouTube especially for starting with a grassy/weedy patch
Allotment Garden is a good starter site and has a comprehensive growing calendar advising on when to plant which vegetable and can be be modified for Scotland’s slight lag in the seasons.