Digging for tomorrow
Kitchen Garden|June 2024
Encouragement to grow your own is being passed on to the next generation, as Sally Clifford discovered when she visited a former Dig for Victory site in the historic city of York
Sally Clifford
Digging for tomorrow

From within the slightly sloping vista I am told York Minster's iconic Central Tower can be seen. Seasonally obscured, as it was during my visit with summer's cloak of greenery, abundant plant life and produce, it is hard to comprehend how close this enclave of 'countryside' is to the city walls.

The layout of plots at Scarcroft Allotment & Amateur Gardeners' Association is naturally compartmentalised by foliage spanning what were once vast parcels of land, deep rooted in York's expansive history.

While growing your own is the focus, there's a real sense of sharing this valued space with the community, through public pathways bordering the site and events, such as theatre performances, held here.

This sense of community has flourished since the war years when Scarcroft was among sites designated for the Dig for Victory campaign. According to records, an area in front of Scarcroft View grew only potatoes from around 1939 to 1949. Back then the restrictions of rationing prompted plot-holders to grow their own, while today's quest for self-sufficiency is, perhaps, the reason for the current waiting list of 470 vying for plots. Scarcroft Green Nursery is among the fortunate ones to get growing in this natural haven.

AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE

A robin lands close to a raised border where a child digs the earth. This hands-on approach is demonstrated as staff chaperone the tiny gardening team around the plot. Watering cans are filled from butts and peas are fed with recycled rain. Recycling is very much at the heart of this plot. Crop markers are fashioned from drumsticks and wood planks, and, I'm told, the pergola created from recycled ladders provided a climbing frame for last year's beans.

Esta historia es de la edición June 2024 de Kitchen Garden.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición June 2024 de Kitchen Garden.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE KITCHEN GARDENVer todo
SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
Kitchen Garden

SEPTEMBER SPECIALS

This month, with sweetcorn, figs and blackberries on the menu, Anna Cairns Pettigrew is not only serving up something sweet and something savoury, but all things scrumptious

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT AUTUMN RASPBERRIES
Kitchen Garden

FLAVOURSOME FRUIT AUTUMN RASPBERRIES

September - is it late summer or the start of autumn? David Patch ponders the question and says whatever the season, it's time to harvest autumn raspberries

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024
SOW GREEN THIS AUTUMN
Kitchen Garden

SOW GREEN THIS AUTUMN

Covering the soil with a green manure in winter offers many benefits and this is a good time to sow hardy types, says KG editor Steve Ott

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024
A HISTORICAL HAVEN OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS
Kitchen Garden

A HISTORICAL HAVEN OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS

KG's Martin Fish takes time out from his own plot to visit a walled garden in Lincolnshire which has been home to the same family for more than 400 years

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024
RESTORING THE BALANCE
Kitchen Garden

RESTORING THE BALANCE

The phrase regenerative gardening is often heard in gardening circles, but what is it? Can it help you to grow better veg? Ecologist Becky Searle thinks so, and tells us why

time-read
4 minutos  |
September 2024
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Kitchen Garden

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

Garden Organic's Anton Rosenfeld shares his expertise on using compost made from green bin collections with handy tips on getting the right consistency and quality

time-read
3 minutos  |
September 2024
Celebrating Organic September!
Kitchen Garden

Celebrating Organic September!

In this special section we bring you four great features aimed at improving your crops and allowing nature to thrive

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024
SEEING RED
Kitchen Garden

SEEING RED

Do your tomatoes have a habit of remaining stubbornly green? Or perhaps you're lucky to enjoy lots of lovely fruits - just all at once. Either way, Benedict Vanheems is here with some top tips to ripen and process the nation's favourite summer staple

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2024
NEW KIDS ON THE BROCCOLI!
Kitchen Garden

NEW KIDS ON THE BROCCOLI!

Rob Smith is talking broccoli this month with a review of the different types available and suggestions for some exciting new varieties to try

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024
A NEW kitchen garden
Kitchen Garden

A NEW kitchen garden

Martin Fish is getting down to plenty of picking and planting on the garden veg plot, while Jill is rustling up something pepper-licking good!

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024