If you’re new to the concept of Allotment Gardening, here’s a short primer: Allotment Gardens are essentially a collection of land parcels that have been assigned to individuals or families. This can range from just a few gardens, to more than several hundred in one single location. The concept is different from community gardening, where a group of people cultivate an entire area collectively. In Allotment Gardening, the land parcels are tended to individually.
Allotments have grown ever more popular, with thousands of Britons wanting to produce their own vegetables and fruits as they try live more healthily and save some money simultaneously. It might be tough to believe, but there are actually more than 100,000 people on the waiting list for the available allotments in the UK. Some people have to actually wait for over 40 years to get a plot!
On the other hand, it’s not too surprising that allotments have become so popular. Why? Many individuals’ wishes to lead healthier lives are being constantly thwarted by ill-informed Government edicts and poor corporate ethics. Need an example? How about Genetically-Modified foods, utterly useless in every aspect, and the sort of culinary monstrosity which even Frankenstein himself would have left on the side of his plate?
Or how about the recent news regarding Pret a Manger, every Britain’s favourite sandwich shop, which recently admitted its ‘just made’ & ‘fresh’ chicken sandwiches are comprised of frozen Brazilian chicken? Active You’s favourite one, however, was Pret’s ‘spankingly fresh’ sushi which actually contains frozen fish from Chile. Active You will never set foot in a Pret again. Shameless corporate liars….. the only person who should be spanked is Julian Metcalfe, Pret’s ‘I didn’t know it was happening’ liar-in-chief.
Anyway, back to allotments after that brief diversion.
If you don’t own a decent sized garden, or cannot use it for cultivation purposes, getting yourself an allotment is a good option. These are available for rent from local authorities, councils, parish councils, and also private land owners. You can click here for the contact details for your local allotment providing authorities. For more details, you should visit The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners website.
Costs? Well, these vary quite a bit, depending on a number of factors like the location, allotment area, soil quality, etc. Annual rents go from as low as £5 to as much as £50 or more per annum. For this considerably ‘little’ amount, you can cultivate more vegetables and fruits than you could possibly eat! As an added bonus, you’ll also be around like-minded people with years of cumulative experience. Senior citizens and students can also receive special discounts. All in all, Allotment Gardening offers excellent value for money.
In case you’re wondering, you don’t actually have to set off across town to get to your allotment. Most cities and towns have these allotment areas slightly hidden, a bit off the beaten track. Once you start looking, you’ll be amazed to find how many allotments you have quite close by. Allotments offer a great way to grow healthy and delicious organic vegetables, to stay fit, and to make new friends... all at the same time!
So what’s left? Wondering what to plant once you get your allotment land? Think no more... Here’s your chance to win a year’s supply of plants for free!
