tips on sharing

[SparkyUK]

We have just gotten an allotement and have some friends interested in sharing with us. I'm more than happy to do it as, certainly while the kids are young, it would be a struggle to manage the whole plot on our own. I was just wondering if anyone else shares a plot and had tips. Do you split the number of beds and each tend your own plots or just go full on communal? Do you have a rota of chores? How do you split costs/chores? I'm not sure if I'm over complicating things but I also don't want to go in totally naively.

[SparkyUK]

Anyone? We're heading to the allotment this weekend and don't know how to approach it - can I still call it my allotment?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

We don't share our allotment, but I suspect things might be more harmonious if you split the allotment in half rather than do averything communally!

[dreamingofsun]

do you know what the rules are at your site? In theory you may not be allowed to do this....but maybe they turn a blind eye if you don't make it too obvious? I think some sites discourage it in case it messes the waiting list up and people try and use it as a way of jumping it.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Yes, I don't think our site welcomes it, but they probably don't mind friends 'helping', as they are very fussy about maintaining standards.

[SparkyUK]

Our allotment are okay with what they call "unofficial sharers". Someone else asked during orientation...
I'm thinking of sharing the perrenials and divying up the remaining beds...