russell-jones - your own allotment

[...]... society and working with friends or family; G self-respect – personal worth; G and possibly self-actualisation – growing your own food! So having an allotment can also meet several of the needs that humans have – in part anyway You do it your way Whatever people may say, it is important that you manage your allotment in your own way Do what suits you and your likes, dislikes and objectives: within the... intentionally left blank 1 All About Allotments This chapter will explain what an allotment is; give a brief overview of the allotment movement and how allotments came into being; and explore a couple of questions – ‘Why do you want to grow your own food?’ and ‘Why do you want an allotment? ’ – which, although they may overlap, are not the same Having answered these questions to your satisfaction, and if you... production and ‘allotted’ to families to grow food – allotments It is, therefore, largely an urban phenomenon – although there are allotments everywhere, including the countryside It is estimated that there are 300,000 allotments and about 30sq miles under production in the UK Why grow your own now? Historically there was little alternative to growing your own food If you were very rich you could, of course,... commitment and an undertaking involving a great deal of effort Some people on our site complain that they don’t have enough time to work on the allotment – but they won’t down-size! You might find it helpful to draw up a balance sheet of pros and cons 10 Your Own Allotment Allotment – pros and cons (examples) Pro Cons G Good exercise G Requires commitment G Out in the fresh air G Hard work G Social G Initial... do things Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Self actualisation doing your own thang! Ego needs Personal worth, respect, autonomy Social needs Belonging, friendship Safety needs Security, protection Basics Food, shelter, warmth 12 Your Own Allotment As needs are met you move up and satisfy others, ie what drives your behaviour changes Having an allotment actually meets several of these layers: G the basics... be grown Our own society, many years ago, was originally 3 4 Your Own Allotment called the Dulwich Chrysanthemum and Horticultural Society Over the years the emphasis has changed and so has the name – with ‘Horticultural’ moving forward to displace ‘Chrysanthemum’ – and now it is more commonly known just by the initials DHCS What you grow is, of course, up to you and, as long as it is within your objectives... allotment With both new houses the first crop that I planted was always potatoes to clean the ground An allotment would give me a chance to try some larger-scale vegetable cultivation This book is based on my real first-hand experience of trying to get an allotment; of being allocated what was basically a run-down field or jungle; and the process that I went through (and am still following to some degree)... closures and sell-offs Below are extracts from a London Assembly publication looking at the state of allotments: A Lot to Lose: London’s disappearing allotments October 2006 It takes a very good look at the state of allotments in London: it does not make happy reading They are disappearing extremely quickly It is available here: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/environment/allotments-main.pdf The... neil.jones333@ntworld.com The allotment website is www.dulwichallotment.org.uk x Preface There has been a marked increase in interest in and demand for allotments People are focusing increasingly on green issues, the environment and well-being; and the increased interest in allotments is symbolic of a reaction to concerns about the quality and healthiness or otherwise of mass-produced food There is also... websites DHCS does and ours is www.dulwichallotments.org.uk Many have said it is an exceptionally useful one, so have a look! Websites will usually give you details of the allotments and how to get onto the waiting list Contact your local authority – this will be your parish, town, borough, city or district council When I started my trawl I couldn’t find any local allotment websites (some did exist, but . YOUR OWN ALLOTMENT If you want to know how… How to Grow Your Own Food A week-by-week guide to wild life friendly fruit and vegetable gardening Planning and Creating Your First Garden A step-by-step. About Allotments 3 What is an allotment? 4 History of the allotment movement 7 Why grow your own now? 7 Why do you want an allotment? 9 Getting an allotment 12 Creating a new site 16 2 Our Allotment. First Garden A step-by-step guide to designing your garden – whatever your experience or knowledge How to Start Your Own Gardening Business An insider guide to setting yourself up as a professional