I’ve just been interviewed by Gaby and Paul on BBC London Radio this morning about having a very expensive allotment plot. This is true. Plots in Islington now cost £70, and mine is a petite 20 sq metres. However, after 10 years on the waiting list, I’m delighted to have a space in London (in zone 2) to grow my favourite fruit and veg, plus some flowers too, and with waiting lists now closed in many boroughs (including Islington), I feel lucky to have a plot at all.
However, I do think it’s time to think creatively about growing spaces in London. A comment made by Scott on my blog yesterday, about his frustration at not having a garden, prompted me to think that Londoners (and others living in dense urban areas) need to seize the initiative.
We have organised our own community veg growing scheme (above), where over 100 neighbours grow veg in their front gardens, and others, such as Mark at Vertical Veg , growing food in very limited spaces, and Richard Reynolds, godfather of guerilla gardening in London (and now worldwide), have paved the way for would-like to-be gardeners to follow.
Our community growing project and subsequent ‘Cake’ events (where we all meet up over home-made cakes and tea in a front garden), have been amazing at introducing residents to one another as well as producing lots of veg. Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall has been a real mover and a shaker in starting up his Landshare scheme which connects growers with people with land to share, and maybe it’s time for neighbours to knock on doors and ask if they can bring back into use unloved front gardens and plant up forgotten corners that they see when regularly passing by. Sharing growing spaces with neighbours matched with some guerilla gardening can only help to beautify neighbourhoods, satisfy our desire to cultivate the land and bring communities closer together.
Having seen the effects of your project first hand, all I can say is, I want to move to your street! The atmosphere and camaraderie, involving people of all backgrounds and ages, is simply awe-inspiring. How nice to live in a street where you actually *know* and speak to your neighbours, and that’s green too
Wonderful News about your allotment and very well done on the community garden project. I love the photo and the work you’re doing with your neighbors.
I am on my way out to rework my front bed this morning and your post will have a big impact on how I feel about that prime space by the front door. Great read and thanks for making me feel absloutely RICH, Even through most of garden is wooded, I do have lots of lovely space and the greatest luxury–room to grow in the North Carolina woods. Christine
Yes, go Naomi! As you have shown us in our area, there is space in front gardens and neglected corners that can be both beautiful and productive. All we have to do is speak to our neighbours and think creatively about our own outdoor space, however small, to make the most of the potential. Think of all those concrete forecourts, too, that could be vegetable plots …
Yes to more front garden plots. Beans take up relatively little space at ground level and look lovely with their red flowers climbing up a tripod. A couple of courgette plants will sprawl a bit with their dramatic leaves but are prolific croppers.. Swiss and Ruby chard can be dotted into any spare ground and produce leaves for months on end. So that’s three low maintenance edible plants as a start for a 2 metre by 2 metre space in the front garden in the sun.
Roll on Spring- I can’t wait to get growing again..
Hi Veronica, really do like knowing my neighbours. Was just out swapping seeds this morning and chatting about what we’re going to grow in our gardens this year-very enriching!
Christine-Glad to have such an effect! Feel rich indeed!
Nicolette-funnily enough, have plans for turning some concrete paving into veg plots this spring using donated Marshalls four seasons growbags (wide and low level). Very exciting!
Sue-Runner and French beans have been fab and some neighbours have been growing courgettes too. Swiss Chard ( ‘Bright Lights’?) is a great idea-think we’ll add this to the seed order. Yes, like you, I’m chomping at the bit to get growing again. Think I’ll be sowing lettuces in mini greenhouse soon…..
Hi Naomi, My neighbourhood has just formed a “Transition Town” and the project on everyone’s agenda is to get food growing in unlikely spaces. I have of course taken the opportunity to extol your virtues as I’m so inspired by your achievements. Richard Reynolds is speaking at one of our forthcoming events – something to look forward to! Like you, am thinking of defying the weather to start sowing salad leaves, having just seen flowering jasmine today! Caro x
Hi Caro, Growing food in unlikely spaces sounds great! Have you read an article about Todmorden in West Yokshire where they’re doing just that? If not have a look, it’s fantastic http://tinyurl.com/6sdnk9d Could you let me know when Richard Reynolds is speaking as I’d love to come along? V.best Naomi
Inspiring as always! So glad the media are picking up on these issues and spreading the message. As you know, I grow in pots, in my garden, in an allotment, anywhere I can really! It’s how I met my neighbours in London and also in Plymouth.
Your project is such a motivation for everyone, well done xx
Thanks Lindsey! You’re right. Meeting neighbours through veg growing can only be a good thing.N x
Amen to that Naomi.
Definitely good to see front gardens brought back in to use. Was reading just the other day about drainage problems in towns due to so many people tarmaccing their front gardens to get cars on and generally lower the maintenance required. Sad really.
Hi Jono, Yes, think it’s sad too. Luckily we have managed to get council grants for 10 front gardens to be have their tarmac/concrete removed and other households have been following suit. Makes a huge difference to the look and feel of a neighbourhood. Plants and trees provide a friendlier and more welcoming environment for both residents and visitors alike, as well as improving drainage. Still have more concrete to remove, but providing residents with growbags does allow those with no soil to still be able to grow fruit and veg at home.
I think it’s very inspirational to hear how people eager to grow produce are finding ways to do it. I was rather gobsmacked to hear how expensive your plot is considering the size. I know supply and demand and all that but even so I do think some councils are charging way too much. I wouldn’t mind so much if some of that was used to create more growing spaces. It’ll certainly stop me whingeing about not having enough space, which I’m sure will be music to Wellyman’s ears. Have a good weekend.
Wow, what an amazing project! My ambition this year is to grow lots of edible things on my balcony. I see all the other flats in our block growing flowers and salads and it makes me jealous. No idea where to start though.
Hi Yesilikethat, Happy to help with ideas for your balcony. It’s a perfect time to plan what you’d like to grow and I’d start by seeing how much sun your balcony gets and how much space you have to grow in. If it’s sunny area, your choices are limitless (but don’t let this overwhelm you). If it’s more shady, there are still some great options too. Do let me know how sunny your spot is and what space is available and then we can move onto what plants you’d like to grow. You might like to have a look at https://outofmyshed.co.uk/2011/11/01/grow-what-you-love/ V.best Naomi
Inspirational!!! I’ve just got a plot – well, when I say plot I mean a bit yet to be marked out – in a field, and we’re planning a community orchard and seemingly some sort of wine production thing too! Should be fun, and I hope it works out as well as yours has!
Hi Idiot Gardener, Just had a look at your field http://theidiotgardener.blogspot.com/ and looks like a very exciting project, and a lot of hard work too! Love the idea of a shared orchard and wine production. Hope all goes well and will be following with interest to see how the field progresses!
we came across your blog before christmas and loved it – very inspirational. We are a small community group with a large space with open public access nearby (N1) and would like to incorporate some grow bags and food growing – would love some advice – what bags – what compost to use and soil etc – do you have a leaflet pointers in the right direction. T
Hi Teresa, Very happy to help, but we don’t produce any leaflets (as yet!). Our 120 litre growbags were bought from http://www.recykerbag.com/greenwaste.htm You have to buy 100 bags at a time, but we find these bags a great size for all sorts of fruit and veg. They do smaller sized bags too. We received free compost from North London Waste in Edmonton, who are happy to deliver up to 15 tons (this is a huge amount) of compost, which is made from recycled green waste from a number of London boroughs. Hope this helps. Any more questions, feel free to ask.
Wanted you to know that I was invited to speak to a local (Durham NC, USA) garden club last week and one of the things I mentioned was this post and how your London allotment influenced my thoughts about space in my beds thousand of miles away.
Wanted the ladies to know that the internet was a great way to share their gardens, knowlegde, plants and seeds. Thanks for the great perspective and the great example to use in my little talk. Christine.
Cor! Thanks Christine! Lovely to imagine ladies in North Carolina hearing about urban gardening in London!
Yes, the internet is a marvellous thing. Would probably be glued to it all the time if I wasn’t out there gardening!