Down The Allotment

I'm kinda getting disheartened with this site everytime I log in it's like 3 days after anyone else, I'm exagerating I know but I kinda feel I'm the only one here, no-one has ever commented on my blog or forum topics lol

Hi Fromwellytobelly,

Well consider this your first comment!

Actually I've been reading your stuff with interest and I know a lot of others have too (where do you get all your energy - that's what I want to know)

Maybe no-one's responding because you are not usually asking questions that need a direct answer? Just a guess.

This is a new site that is just starting to take off and new allotmenteers are joining every day. I really hope you stick with us - we could do with a lot more like you.

That's a really kind and thoughtful thing to say and although new I like the interactiveness of this site {if that's even a word lol} so I'll be sticking around, Maybe I'll have to think of better questions to ask lol.

Hi tumbledown,
Are you invoved in the admin of this site, is this site your creation??
Well I think its great, one of the best.
( do I get extra groats for that)?

I would like to advice new comers, but do not want to keep typing the same things, I would like to see FAQ, that we could all give our expertise on.

Also who is behind the site, and its aims, an About us tab with direct access to the adminisration (and a spell checker) joking!

rodney

I think this site could be very good........if people joined in a bit more. I'm a bit surprised about the lack of replies to topics - nobody replied to mine, sob sob!

Betty
Walsall Road Allotments
Birmingham
www.growit.ik.com

I've just thought of something else - would it be possible for the dates to be shown with the day first, rather than the month? Also, is there a particular reason for comments to be 'centered' on the page?

Betty
Walsall Road Allotments
Birmingham
www.growit.ik.com

Hi Betty and thanks for your comments.

This is still a very new site and a lot of the members we do have ahev been away on holiday so per4haps that's why you got no response.

Many of the dates on the sites are listed in the english way: dd/mm/yy but I know that not all are. I've yet to work out what is causing this. It is on my list of things to do and will be sorted as soon as poss.

Also I'm not sure what you mean by the comments being centered. There are several different things that could count as comments: forum posts, comments on blogs and comments on group posts. I've had a look at them all and they all seem to be left-aligned to me.

Can you let me know what browser you use (internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) - it may be that the site isn't displaying how it should on one of these.

Thanks for your help

think the site is good and have recommended it to the council who own the site my allotments on to put in their newsletter so other holders can use it, i have always had helpful replys to my queries and have just printed of the article on broad beans to take with me when i plant mine.

I'm new here and I have to say that I have found the site pretty useful. I was looking for somewhere like this as I am totally new to this allotment lark and needed a place to ask questions and have them answered. So far I've been impressed, I asked a question and got a very useful response, so mission accomplished for me. As for suggestions, how about including the following (technology permitting)
- Calendar for users to produce their own planting/maintenance schedules
- Photo gallery for proud allotmenteers
- A "find allotmenteers near me" function that works on post codes to allow people to contact those close to them for advice etc

Keep up the good work

simon

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your suggestions.

The photo gallery is already on it's way as we're working on it now. The idea is that there will be a set of tabs at the top of everyone's 'My Plot' page leading to various functions including a photo gallery.

The calendar idea is a stroke of genius and we'll definitely aim to have a tab for that too.

We would love to have a postcodes function but it has so far proved a problem. The feedback we got was that a lot of allotment committees didn't want their allotment addresses (including postcodes) in as they had so much vandalism and thought it might invite more - unlikely, I guess, but possible.

And displaying individual members addresses and/or postcodes is, sadly, not a good idea in this day and age.

For the time being, the best way to find allotmenteers near you is to start/join a group for your allotment or your local area which could incorporate several allotments.

You can also start interest groups (as opposed to geographical groups). For example, I know from your blog that you have three daughters - why not start a group for allotmenteers with children. That way you can meet like-minded people online, swap tips for keeping the kids entertained, barter unwanted allotment-friendly toys etc....

Also you can already use the search facility on the top right of every page to find relevant stuff. I just checked by typing in "Muswell Hill" and it came up with my local group and some posts to do with that.

This site is still in very early days but more and more people are joining every day and we hope it will be a thriving and really useful resource.

Thanks again for your suggestions (especially the calendar!) and keep them coming everyone.

The "Urchin Allotmenteers" group is open for business

Simon

Great - see my post in the Urchin Allotmenteers group...

Well it took a while Betty but I've now worked out how to change the date format to the english style dd/mm/yy as opposed to the American way mm/dd/yy. Date sshould now be formatted that way throughout the site - if anyone sees any exceptions, can they post here to let me know.