The Allotment
By: James Woods
Tags: Gardening, Community, Plants, Coronavirus, Allotment

The Space

Having an allotment was a long held dream for me. The mere concept of an allotment, despite the antiquity of it, became increasingly intriguing to me and this reached a crescendo during a module I took as a part of my undergraduate sociology studies called ‘Radical Planet’. In this module, we explored ideas and concepts surrounding alternatives to capitalism and consumerism. One fascinating example we explored was the experimental, anarchist self-build housing project in South London which was a vision of Walter Segal who kick started the project in in the 1980s. Of course, there are numerous current examples of such projects too, Lammas in Pembrokeshire, Granby 4 Streets in Liverpool and LILAC in Leeds are just a few examples of where things are being done differently, going against the grain. As we exists through this unsettling time of climate breakdown, we are often compelled to alter our lives and search for new and futuristic solutions to reduce our impact on the planet. Yet it seems that perhaps the oldest ideas offer much more than we may first believe.

Walter’s Way, Lewisham (YouTube)

My first experience of an allotment came on a summers day in 2017, my Mum had heard about an allotment open day in Hoylake on the Wirral via social media and we took the opportunity to attend and have a look around. I was brought up around gardening, my Grandad had worked as a gardener and every Saturday he would visit us and throughout the seasons, he would spend hours in the garden, my Mum shared his passion and so did I. The Hoylake allotments experience was an eye-opener, it was filled with well kept, productive plots and had a real communal spirit running through the site. My second encounter with an allotment was when I was offered the opportunity to spend some time helping out on a plot run by a local mental health charity and this experience really inspired me to take on a plot of my own, I signed up to the waiting list that same day with my local council.

It was in March 2019 when I received the long anticipated e-mail inviting me to a viewing the allotments. It was a glum rainy evening, there was a handful of others there led by the council officer who took us for a tour around numerous available plots. The plot I chose was at the end of the track. Situated in the corner, with a pond to the rear. It had a tiny decaying shed under a large oak tree and it was littered with old junk which was nestling amongst the jungle of weeds that the neglected plot had become. After slicing through the bureaucracy that comes with becoming a plot holder, we eventually got the keys in the late summer. This gave us a few months to begin work, clearing at first, then building fences, raised beds and other structures made from repurposed from pallet wood. Freecycle is a haven for numerous resources, this helped to keep costs low and, vitally, means much of what we use is recycled and this helps to keep the plot as low-impact as possible.

The Allotment, Summer 2019

By the time the winter had passed, we found ourselves in a new world. COVID-19 had engulfed the globe in the space of a few months and we were living under, previously unimaginable, lockdown conditions. Once we eventually figured out we were able to tend to the plot during lockdown, we took a visit and began putting regular shifts in throughout the week to transform the plot from the wasteland it had become into a working plot. We approached this first season with caution, viewing any potential yield as a bonus, especially as we started late. Despite this, we did enjoy a good first season. Harvesting potatoes, carrots, runner beans, pumpkins, peas, tomatoes, mangetout, cucumbers and much more. It was in this moment of global crisis that the allotments really demonstrated their qualities, offering people the opportunity to escape, not only from their home but the grim reality we were all facing for just a few hours. It also offered vital, extremely safely distanced, social exchanges which had become such a rarity in the pandemic, triggering a wave of loneliness around the world.

The People

The people make the allotments. Like with most things in life, be it football, live music or the university. Without the people, such communal spaces have become lonely voids. The pandemic we are living through has stripped the people away from these places, rendering them barren and the world is a darker place because of this. This should serve a warning to us to cherish people, social connections their huge importance in some of the most joyful aspects of society. This idea is reinforced by the allotment. A space where people from a vast range of backgrounds collide on common ground, uniting. The mere suggestion that community is a thing of the past is severely disrupted by the community spirit that runs through an allotment site.

Gifted Dahlias

From the first day we arrived at the allotments we were greeted by friendly faces bearing advice, gifts and support. All gladly accepted and appreciated. From help trimming of trees, to gifts of Indian spiced beetroot chutney, strawberries, dahlia flowers and advice on how to beat the weeds. The impact of the community was immediate. Yet the greatest feeling was to have the opportunity to return such favors through acts such as leaving a pumpkin for our plot neighbor in October to give to his grandchildren. Be it the social exchange of a few words, a plot tour, or the sharing of produce, this encapsulates the community spirit of the allotment that continues to resist erosion from the pressures of modern life. Time slows down in this unique timeless space.

The Plants

Growing as you learn often comes with harsh lessons. The first lesson is developing a working relationship with nature. Often we have come to work against nature, grappling with it and attempting to destroy it in a bid to solve problems. The key is to strike a balance, finding harmless solutions when problems arise, avoiding destructive approaches and admitting defeat when you are beaten. You will fail, plants will die or be eaten and these instances can vary season by season depending on various factors. But the key is to fail again and fail better. If you choose to persevere, the rewards that come with growing any kind of plant or crop far outweigh the failures. To be able to harvest any crop comes with great pleasure and remuneration for your hard work.

Sunflower Leaf

After a surprise bonus bumper crop from the first season, we are about to head into the next season. Our garlic and onions have been in over winter developing strong root systems, while deliveries of new seeds are binging to arrive. Our first seeds are starting to be sown and placed into propagators in a bid to get an early advantage. As the ground begins to firms up in the coming weeks, we will return to the plot to tackle the weeds and begin planting as soon as the last frost passes in May. One of the most memorable mindful moments from the first year on the plot was growing some sunflowers by the rose arch, they grew to be over 9ft tall and the leaves were bigger than my hand and the bees thrived upon the flowers. Whether it is growing for food or growing simply for the pleasure of enjoying the process or the floral delights it can offer, plants, like the people are another core component of the allotment, albeit an obvious one.

The Animals

In the industrial town in which we reside it can be easy to become alienated from nature. Yet down the trail and through the gates, the allotment presents an abundance of wildlife; foxes play in the onion beds, bees help us to pollinate our plants and there is even the regular sound of a woodpecker chiseling in the nearby trees, a rarity. Nature is the true engine of our world, connecting the plants through the bees and allowing us to connect with them through growing those plants. The threat to the creatures that we co-exist with is increasing everyday, and this is no more true than in the case of the bee who faces a raft of existential threats from climate change, habitat destruction and much more. It is therefore important that we ensure we avoid destructive behaviors and play our own part to ensure there is space for wildlife in our plots, gardens and community spaces, forever.

Bee at Work

Every time I visit the plot I find myself enjoying a moment of calm, where above the droning noise of the traffic on the nearby main road, I can hear the soundtrack of nature spinning; from the ducks splashing in the pond to the local birds chirping away. It is often said amongst the wider allotment community that everyone has a red robin on their plot, this is true from my experience. There is a relatively tame robin who will visit regularly, perching on various wooden structures throughout the space and seeking food from the ground. Meanwhile, slugs will often make an appearance and munch on our crops. Animals, through their sounds, sights and activities, whether they have a positive or negative impact on our plots, ultimately help us to connect with nature in, often subtle, but meaningful ways.

The Memories

Many generations share our allotment site. This offers great insight, experience and a unique opportunity to understand the history of allotment gardening. Every year for thousands of years people have made memories on allotments as they have nurtured their crops. One recent conversation with a fellow plot holder involved a reflection on how things have changed when it comes to the keeping of seeds from crops for the next season or composting, since this is now a highly commercialized sector and it can seem ‘easier’ to just buy such things. Of course, many people still collect their seeds and even more compost. However, it is an interesting insight into how times change, even in the most timeless of spaces.

Purple Carrots

I have only spent just under two years at the allotments, yet I have already forged unforgettable solidarity with my fellow plot holders, planted long lasting fruit trees, built lasting structures and risen to unique challenges. Of course, you can also take your produce beyond the plot, sharing it with family and friends, creating even more memories. From the first shepherds pie with allotment potatoes to being able giving your Nan a box of produce or the first taste of fresh peas straight out of the pod, it all means so much. While finding rusting ‘NO SMOKING’ signs, bottle tops, plant labels and old decaying structures serves a reminder of those who had the space before you and who may have this space after you.

The Future

The future is a strange concept during the pandemic. Our hopes rely on the outstanding scientific efforts to develop treatments and vaccines to help us fight this virus and return to ‘normality’. The future of allotments, meanwhile, always feels uncertain. In a hyper-capitalist world the mere idea of the allotment goes against the grain. Land is an increasingly valuable commodity and right now, alongside the allotments are building projects on nearby land. There is, of course, a slight anxiety in the back of my mind that one day this space will be taken away from us. A space that not only connects us to nature, but us to one another. And a space that plays a role in my plans for the long term future too. These anxieties are not unfounded, there are countless examples of allotment land being sold-off and ‘developed’ including one case where an allotment site was turned into 68 houses and a car park for Watford FC.

Our allotment plot is currently safe. If one day it does face a threat, I am confident that the community will fight hard to save it, community, after all, one of the core components of the allotment. In the immediate future, there is a new season on the horizon, as we move into spring and back onto our plots I look forward to another promising year growing some unique crops and I look forward to sharing produce and making more memories with friends, family and fellow plot holders. Of course, you don’t need an allotment to experience these wonders, you can grow in your back yard or windowsill. connect with your neighbors or grow with friends and family. It is often about making small cracks, and always, progress over perfection.