Plot thickens in a growing hobby

GROWING CONCERN: Kim’s plot usually a tomato forest to be found in a sunny spot. Allotments originated in the early medieval period when areas of land would be divided into smaller plots for allocation to families to grow their own food. The world wars brought the importance of this small scale ‘farming’ into sharp perspective with the very real need to feed people through the Dig for Victory campaign. My own grandfather, Victor Simpson, had a very large allotment that kept several families supplied with fresh fruit and vegetables during the Second World War, supplemented by the odd rabbit or pigeon that strayed onto his plot. It is often thought of as being a very British concept, but this is far from true. Allotmenting is enjoyed in many places around the world. We’re all familiar with the Russian term ‘dacha’ which conjures up a vision of a small log cabin on a plot of land allocated by local government. Well, a dacha is quite literally an allotment. Across Europe there are allotments but their purpose differs from country to country. Although there’s still an emphasis on ‘grow your own’, in many places the humble allotment has become a recreational space, sometimes including a wooden building that allows summer residency away from the city’s hustle. And the idea continues to grow, with countries as diverse as Malta and the Philippines adopting the concept, for the first time, just in the last few years. Competition for allotments locally is strong. Particularly since the pandemic, the desire to have a small plot to call your own has grown massively and outstripped what is available, which is a pity. Growing your own, whether it be vegetables, flowers, even herbs for dyeing or medical practice, has enormous health and social benefits, in particular for mental health, and that produces a positive benefit for society as a whole.