An Introduction to Allotments

​​What is an allotment?

 

An allotment is a plot of land that people can rent to grow plants. This could be any sort of plant, but people most commonly use allotments to grow their own food.

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Benefits of having an allotment plot

 

Having your own plot of land to work with can be a very rewarding experience. It is crucial for people to connect with nature for their mental well-being and the hard work that can go into tending an allotment is good for their physical well-being. Getting your hands dirty while you grow your own plants is always a positive experience.

Producing your own food is a huge pro of having an allotment. Not only are you seeing the fruits of your labour, but you can also save money on produce. Growing your own food also comes with environmental benefits, as it cuts down on how much of your food is shipped around the world before it gets to you.

Another benefit is the community that you can build around an allotment.  There will be other people tending their allotments around you, who you can connect with through your mutual love for gardening. Not only this, but you could also use the produce from your allotment to connect with other people in your local community by giving it away to neighbours.

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How do you get started with an allotment?

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There are certain gardening skills you’ll need to get started with your allotment. If you have plenty of gardening experience already, this will be a breeze. You’ll need a good understanding of:

• Soil preparation

• Planting

• Watering

• Pest, disease, and weed management

• Using basic gardening tools

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Planning and designing your allotment plot

 

Choosing what crops to grow depends on the growing conditions at your allotment as well as your preferences. Here are some crops you could grow in the UK under different conditions:

Full sun

• Cucumbers

• Tomatoes

• Peppers

Light shade

• Raspberries

• Blackcurrants

• Rhubarb

Shade

• Cabbages

• Broccoli

• Salad leaves

You should also think about how much space you have and how much space different crops will take up. For example, growing potatoes or peas can take up much more room than lettuce or radishes.

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The benefits of beekeeping for the beekeeper

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The benefits of beekeeping are vast, but some of the main reasons that you might be interested in taking it up include:

• Feeling satisfied that you are helping to increase the population of healthy honey bees.

• The opportunity to learn some new skills. There’s always something new to learn!

• Producing your own honey. Some shop-bought honey products can be diluted with different syrups (such as high-fructose corn syrup), be harvested immaturely, use ion-exchange resins to lighten colour, or be mislabeled. These are problems you won’t have to deal with if you’re producing honey yourself.

• Selling your own honey. Many people take up beekeeping as a hobby, and then decide to start selling honey as their confidence and experience levels grow.

• The relaxing effect. Lots of beekeepers find spending time out in nature, and the soothing buzz of the bees, to make for a calming and meditative experience.

• A deeper appreciation for some of nature’s wonderful creatures. It’s likely that the more you learn about the hard work of bees and how they contribute to our planet, the more you’ll respect and feel grateful for them.

• Having a thriving, healthy garden, farm or allotment, as a result of the pollination work carried out by your honey bees.