National Allotment Week

National allotment week took place last week from August the 12th to August the 18th. It saw a number of events take place across the country. With the aim of people getting together and sharing the benefits of allotment life.  

An allotment can be a great escape for both individuals and communities. Not only are they a great way of keeping active but they are a valuable resource in terms of producing produce and also creating a place to escape and be passionate about gardening.

Don't just think vegetables when it comes to allotments either, as they can also be a place for much more, be it flowers, fruit or a place to relax and have multiple different plots and divides. If you're thinking into getting into gardening and growing your own produce but don't know whether it's worth it or not then listen up...

Sustainability

Did you know that you're increasing sustainability by having an allotment and reducing your carbon footprint? By growing you're own produce you're going to be reducing the amount of supermarket buys, which contributes towards less of a demand and therefore a lower carbon footprint.

Great right? Not only that, you are also most likely saving money by cutting out buying essentials like potatoes and tomatoes which can be costly particularly if they are organic.

The Perfect Hobby

In addition to saving the environment and reducing your expenditure in the long run, having an allotment is also a great way to spend time enjoying the outdoors and growing fruit, vegetables or plants.

It's a particularly good hobby that can be enjoyed during the summer months, although an allotment needs attention all year round, it's nice to get stuck in so to speak during the warmer months when it can be more enjoyable. It's also a time when there's a particular good amount of harvest such as strawberries, raspberries, runner beans, potatoes and so forth.

Money Maker

Lots of allotment makers like to share the fruits of their labour and sell any overproduce. This is a great way to earn some extra money with little stalls outside your home selling what you have available.

Not only is this great for yourself, but also the locals love to get their hands on freshly home grown foods, rather than paying extortionate supermarket prices for lesser quality items.

A Social Thing

In addition to all the above having an allotment can also get you involved in the community. Often allotment plots are on large sites with multiple plots so it's highly likely you're going to bump into some other keen gardeners,

It's the perfect opportunity to socialise and get to know people that live in your area that you might not otherwise have spoken to!

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Another great reason to start an allotment is the fact you're going to be burning off those extra calories whilst digging away! Having a plot can be quite labour intensive, with lots of lifting, digging, planting, carrying water and so on.

You're getting a good amount of exercise and often you won't realise it, because you'll be so busy gardening away. This is therefore great for your physical health and mental well-being.

So there we have it, our top reasons to get involved on the allotment scene. If you're interested in taking part in national allotment week or taking up a plot of your own, then head to the National Allotment Society website.

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