Allotments - Good For Everyone

Almost every English TV programme you’ll ever see has someone ‘down at the allotment’. There are usually waiting lists for the best spots too. But where do you start? And, why are they good for you and the environment?

Photo by ​Dan Roizer​ on ​Unsplash

Bugs and Beasts

Even the smallest of allotments can make the perfect habitat for a myriad of different wildlife. So, just by planting a few wildflowers, or some veggies you will be supporting a whole ecosystem. As we all know, bees are seriously in decline right now, so any help this little wonders can get to help their survival is a bonus. 

Saving Money

This one is two-fold. Because of the work that an allotment needs to be adequately taken care of, you probably won’t need an expensive gym membership. Secondly, once you have worked out what grows best in the soil you have and have created some more raised beds, you can grow fruits and vegetables all year round. Plant them well, and you can sustain a whole family. 

Equipment

You won’t need too much in the early days. But here is a great list to get you started:

●     Garden Gloves

●     Hand Trowel

●     Garden Fork

●     Shovel or Spade

●     A Garden Hoe

●     Secateurs

The more you grow, the more work will need to be put in. You might find you need to visit https://www.fertilizerdealer.com​ for more specialist options to help maintain your patch. 

Healthy

Getting up slightly earlier to make sure your plants and crops are well watered, being out in the fresh air for hours at a time. Even if you aren’t putting some serious backbreaking work into the lot just 30 minutes of weeding and turning soil can ​burn plenty of calories​. Plus, your food will be free of pesticides, and from the ground to plate in a matter of hours. There isn’t much that is as sustainable and organic as the crops you’ll produce. 

Friendly bunches

It is pretty standard to chat with your allotment neighbours, and you might find that you can swap some of your veggies and fruits for theirs. Giving you both a variety. There is a community spirit when it comes to allotments and the associations and boards that look after the plots. When other allotment renters or owners go on holiday, or when you do there will be an opportunity to do a good turn and look after their patch for them. 

Creative

The great thing about an allotment is that there is probably a little bit of history there, but you can add your own details. You can grow your favourite flowers, next to the herbs that you can never get in the supermarket. Painting your shed a personalised shade of blue, plant some miniature trees that produce your most beloved fruit. In a way, your allotment will be your very own garden of Eden. 

Picture yourself at 6.30 am watching the sunrise, ​watering your herb garden​ and eating an apple from your very own tree. An allotment is a little piece of paradise.