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
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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
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
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
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
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
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
Celebrating Organic September!
In this special section we bring you four great features aimed at improving your crops and allowing nature to thrive
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
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
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!
