What's an allotment really worth?

After suggesting something along might be potentially possible back in 2008, the owners of our the land where we have our allotment have sent out letters offering the lease holders the chance to buy their plots.

Give that my allotment is 220 sqm, it is quick to see they are asking for:

1. 750.00 € for measuring the plot, 
2. 10.00€/sqm * 220 sqm = 2,200.00 € for the land, and
3. legal fees (around150.00 €)

giving a total cost of around 3,100.00 €.  The question is, is that a bargain, a rip-off or about right?  The allotment is in a scenic rural setting on a small hill with around 30 other allotments.  There is no running water and no electricity.  The soil is very fertile and the land definitely can not be built on.  I have worked hard to get the weeds out (to a certain extent), built a shed with a lovely schleppdach (roof extension) and even put in a small raised bed and started work on a brick cold frame. 

The current annual rent is 25.00 € so it might seem better to stay as a tenant for the next 124 years.  The problem lies in the text explaining that owners will sell allotments to people not renting already if the people renting don't want to buy.  So you have to buy the allotment or hang on as a tenant until somebody else buys it instead.

It's a interesting question.  What would you pay to own your allotment?

Impressive roots on Lady Di beans

Fresh back from the sun in Thailand and into blue sky and sunshine at home - just a bit colder.  The first frosts have hit and the dahlias have almost given up.  I collected one last lot today, but I guess they'll get cut back to the ground tomorrow ready for lifting and storing in the cellar over winter.

The Lady Di runner beans were great.  Not only did they provide a plentiful harvest (they were still flowering and fruiting up until today), but they also took the "Special Prize" at the EHS Summer Show (for which I won a pathetic blue door mat.  I blame the prize committee - I wanted the little hedge saw thing).

Half the pile of dug up bean plants resting on stupid prize door mat.

 The compost bin is full of frost zapped dahlia flowers and half of the ex-Lady Di's. The rest of the Lady Di's are piled up on the blue doormat outside the shed.  Maybe I'll burn them on November 5th.

Roots of one Lady Di runner bean plant next to car keys and goji berries for scale

When you look at the size of the roots on the runner beans its no wonder they were so prolific.  The soil is pretty soft at the moment, so the come out okay, but they look a bit lie docks or parsnips.  Can you eat runner bean roots?