Nine Reasons To Get An Allotment
1. The freshest fruit and veg
We're all keen to eat more healthily and food does'nt come much fresher than when harvested straight from your own allotment.
Once you've experienced the taste of a just picked carrot, you'll never want to eat a shop bought one again.
And remember that fruit and veg picked fresh and eaten in peak condition is far more nutritious than that harvested, transported and stored for days.
2. Loads more variety
Having an allotment means being able to grow different or unusual varieties of fruit and veg that rarely, if ever, make it onto supermarket shelves.
These may not have the uniformity of commercially produced varieties or grow as prolifically, but the flavour will undoubtedly be superior and the satisfaction of growing something unusual is always a bonus.
3. Better than the gymnasium
Fresh air and exercise are two things we could all do with more of, and allotment gardening gives you both in spades.
Not only is all the digging, lifting and carrying involved in allotments good all round physical exercise but it's also far more interesting and satisfying than a session at the gym.
Allotment fees are also a lot cheaper than a gym membership and you have the added bonus of all that fresh fruit and veg which will keep you in even better condition.
4. Learn something new
It's never too late to learn something new, and growing your own produce is an important skill to acquire.
Allotment gardening presents a real challenge for the mind to focus on, and is great mental exercise as well as physical, as anyone who has struggled with their first crop rotation will testify.
Swapping tips with other allotment holders and sharing the benifits of collective experience is a great way to learn without much effort.
5. Become a high-achiever
Who would have thought that allotment gardening could be quite so fulfilling ?
Growing your own produce will give you a huge sense of achievement, and for many of us, the excitement of harvesting those early crops never goes away.
Whats more, many allotment gardeners take the opportunity to show off their fruit and veg at local gardening shows and the thrill of winning a prize can become addictive.
6. Find sanctuary
Heading to the allotment after a hard day at work is an ideal antidote to todays hectic and pressurised lifestyle.
Allotments provides an opportunity to slow down, relax and temporarily escape from everyday life.
Whats more, allotment sites provide a much needed haven for wildlife as well as gardeners.
7. Great to involve the family
An allotment can do wonders for family life, as growing your own is an activity the whole family can get involved with.
Allotment gardening offers lots of fresh air and exercise for the children and teaches them where food comes from, and children are more likely to eat fresh produce they have grown themselves.
Kids can get their hands dirty and enjoy themselves whilst learning lots about insects, wildlife and botany, without ever realising it.
8. Make new friends
Allotmenteering offers a great opportunity to meet and make friends with gardeners from all walks of life that you may not normally enounter.
You'll find a strong and supportive community at your local allotment but there's absolutely no pressure to socialise if you dont want to.
Allotments are places where everybody seems happy to rub along together doing their own thing, whilst at the same time celebrating growing successes, comparing failures and learning from each other.
9. Better for the environment
Fruit and vegetables that haven't been shipped half way around the world , or even down the motorway, have got to be better for the environment as well as our health.
If you choose to grow your own produce you're helping to reduce the use of chemicals in the environment and protecting wildlife at the same time.
In fact a lot of allotments are important wildlife havens, whats more many allotment holders are expert recyclers and composters, making good use of anything from yogurt pots to old tights.
So get in touch and reduce your carbon footprint, have fun, eat healthily and save money at the same time.
