It seemed like a good idea at the time - turning a disused corner of the 9.5-acre city centre site into small plots which could be used on an annual basis for people who wanted to learn about allotmenting without committing to a full-sized plot. A sort of grounding for beginners. An area of learning where mistakes could be made but where support would be offered and new adventures secured for those who wanted to 'try' to grow but who would be safely nurtured along the way in the safe hands of The Potty Plotters.
Through months of wallowing in mud, shovelling stones and clearing years' worth of thick brambles and rubbish, the hard slog paid off. As the site volunteers grappled with the weather and all that goes with winter projects, in May 2019 the beautifully manicured six small plots (each measuring 3 x 7m/10 x 23ft) were levelled, paved, dug over, fenced off and each allocated their own tool shed containing essential tools too. A perfect place for would-be allotmenteers to 'have a go' at growing their own (looking very telly gardening programme like') with not a weed in sight and literally 'good to grow'.
The Potty Plotters introduced the starter plotters to growing plants from seeds in the Growing Academy - a community polytunnel on site which was turned into a classroom arena each weekend for two hours to teach all the basics, including planning, pricking out and protection of plants on the plots. A new experience for the starters but which The Potty Plotters hoped would be a sound investment of their time.
Of course, it paid off! All five plotters remained on the plots for their allocated 12 months and as the year ended on the starter plots each was offered plots on the main site and, like many a good telly programme, we thought it was perhaps time to find out what happened next.
PLENTIFUL PRODUCE
Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 de Kitchen Garden.
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Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 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.
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A FOOD FOR ALL SEASONS
Another Christmas has passed in a whirl of twinkling lights, naff jumpers and Brussels sprouts. No doubt we smug kitchen gardeners were patting ourselves on the back after another year of home-grown delights on the dinner table. Frost-sweetened parsnips dripping with butter, tender carrots and potatoes grown and roasted by our good selves. Not to mention the swede, turnips, cabbages and other winter treats. If you're reading this while Christmas memories are fresh, you might feel your waistline expanding just thinking about it. For some, it might even be too soon to talk about food full stop!
DIGGING THE DIRT THINGS THAT GO CLUNK IN THE LIGHT
John Holloway finds the mechanical and electrical tools on his allotment site somewhat 'challenging', shall we say. But has he found the perfect solution?
THE BIG (OR LITTLE) PARSNIP GROW-ALONG
Back in December we included a free packet of parsnip seeds with every issue and invited readers to join us in growing the longest root. Here are some top tips to get you started
DIGGING FOR DEVON!
Rhiannon Alcock thought gardening was definitely not for her. So who could have foreseen that one day she would go on to found a thriving community project growing food for food banks?
WINTER WONDERFUL
This month Anna Cairns Pettigrew has prepped a range of delicious and nutritious dishes for us all to try, with mustards, Savoy cabbage and 'Cavolo Nero' kale on the menu
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR COMPOST
Dr Anton Rosenfeld from Garden Organic shares some great ideas for ways to use your composted waste effectively
A wildlife pond is born
Jane Kelly finally got round to making her own pond in the hope that it would attract a variety of wildlife. And it did!
UNDER COVER
HARVEST WINTER SALADS - Winter salads, whether they have been growing outside, on a windowsill or under cover in the garden, will be starting to grow faster as the day length increases. Regular picking of the outer leaves helps to keep the plants healthy and producing for much longer.
HERB OF THE MONTH: SAGE ADVICE
Sage has been an important culinary and medicinal herb for centuries but it also comes in a range of leaf colours that makes it a real treat for the eyes (and nose) in borders and pots
CREATING A POTAGER GARDEN
Creating vegetable beds in patterns with dividing pathways can be an attractive and practical way to grow. Emma Rawlings offers some tips on making a potager
