Securing and setting up an
allotment can be a challenge, but there are innovative options for the creative
and driven…
Despite the legal obligations of
authorities to provide allotments, and even new
affordable options for securing allotment insurance, the dream of flexing green thumbs and embracing sustainability doesn’t
always play out as smoothly or quickly as imagined.
Aspiring gardeners in central
London can certainly find allotment waiting lists long, even after property is designated. Between travel costs, commuting
times, and finding a loo in semi-rural allotment locations more and more
individuals and families are increasingly turning to more creative allotment
and growing strategies.
Vertical Veg master Mark Ridsdill Smith who has spoken at Kew Gardens, the London
Permaculture Festival, and Manchester International Festival, Ideal Home Show,
and on television, tells the Guardian of his move to grow at home and how “the happiness he found
completely changed his life.” After discovering the local allotment waiting
list would have meant he would have long died of old age before getting to
plant his first seedling in the ground Smith began his veg empire from his
small London balcony. He has since grown hundreds of pounds worth of produce.
Urbanites are also seeing
builders increasingly including more eco-friendly and sustainable elements
within their designs which incorporate or achieve some of the same goals. For
example; Carlton House in London has integrated solar, rainwater harvesting, living walls and rooftop gardens, while ensuring each apartment unit has its own
private balcony.
Growing Higher
Inner city innovators can find
rooftops a natural choice. In fact, rooftop gardens can be adopted everywhere.
What’s really interesting is just how many rooftops are available as
allotments. It’s not just limited to going it alone at home by any means.
Facebook’s legendary new campus in California is to sport a rooftop garden, and in New York one farm took over the roof of a bowling alley, and is
now selling its produce to high end supermarkets, celebrity chef Mario Batali’s
Eataly and in NYC’s highly acclaimed Gramercy Tavern. For many their workplaces
could provide allotment space to help fulfill corporate responsibility goals,
increase appeal to eco-friendly staff, and build in more community and team
loyalty.
Deeper Roots
One London project has launched
a 2.5 acre farm 100 feet under the surface. Zero Carbon’s hydroponic system claims to use 70% less water than open farming. The first round of
produce was expected to yield broccoli, garlic, mustard, Thai basil and other
herbs.
Keeping it Behind Closed Doors
Fortunately, you don’t have to
have a nice boss, rooftop, World War II bunker under your home, or even a
balcony to have your own ‘allotment’. In Chicago, NYC and Detroit urban farmers
have been taking over abandoned property. In Chicago this has resulted in a
90,000 square foot warehouse being turned into an indoor organic farm. In New
York new pioneers are combining growing, education and revitalization with
aquaponics. A new aquaponics kit from Portable Farms claims a modest 3m x 6m unit will produce 1,100
vegetables and 400 pounds of fish for owners each year.
Get Growing
Evidently, location and
available green space aren’t a big of a challenge to those serious about
getting their own allotments and growing their own organic and sustainable
gardens after all. Individuals and small groups of residents looking to find
out more about their entitlements to traditional allotments can discover more
from Channel 4’s programme ‘How to Start an
Allotment’ and those interested in securing
their investment with allotment insurance may
check out more details from Shield Total Insurance which works closely with the National Allotment Society.
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