Growing greener

There’s something wonderfully grounding about digging your hands into soil, planting seeds, and watching them grow. Growing your own food not only saves money, but also cuts down on food miles, packaging and waste. 

The 11 to 17 of August is National Allotments Week—a time to celebrate the joys of gardening and the sense of community it brings. Across the country there will be events and open allotment days. Find an event near you here. 

Even if you don’t have an allotment, there’s always room for a few herbs on the windowsill or a small planter in the garden. Why not get creative with what you already have?

At one of our Anchor homes, Timken Grange, in Duston, Northampton the team took this idea to heart. Faced with a surplus of old divan bed bases destined for the tip, they decided: why not reuse them instead! With teamwork, they removed the mattresses, painted the frames, then lined and filled them with compost, creating accessible raised vegetable beds in just one day. Residents here now proudly grow broccoli, cabbages, squash, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, and beetroot. It’s a shining example of turning trash into treasure. 

Of course, gardening doesn’t always go to plan, especially if hose pipe bans hit your area during hot weather. These bans are vital in helping to manage access to clean water during drought, protecting our reservoirs and rivers in hot, dry spells. A ban doesn’t have to mean giving up on your garden. Here are a few water-wise tips to keep your flowers flourishing: 

• Use a water butt to harvest rainwater and a watering can for targeted soaking
• Water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation
• Mulching around plants with bark chippings, straw or leaf litter helps to lock in moisture between waters
• Reuse household grey water such as cool bathwater or water from rinsing veggies (just avoid any strong detergents)
• Try terracotta ‘olla’ irrigation pots—bury them in soil, fill them with water, and let moisture slowly seep out to roots where it’s needed most 

Gardening is not just about growing food. It’s also about sharing ideas, being creative with resources, and connecting with others. This National Allotments Week let’s celebrate the many ways we can all grow greener together.