3 years ago I got the keys to my first ever allotment plot. It was 2019 and allotment plots weren’t seen as quite the trendy, exciting hobby as they are now. They had a reputation for being mainly occupied by elderly, retired people and this was my personal experience too! I rocked up on my site with such eagerness to grow, such determination to create a productive garden for myself that I quickly gained the respect of the long-timers who had been working their plots for years.
My goal was clear. I wanted to create a place that I could disappear into. A garden that was bursting with life and wildlife with flowers and vegetables intwined with each other to create an almost magical feel. My own secret garden.
“My first year on the plot was hard work, and I almost gave up multiple times.”
My plot was overgrown with blackberry bushes and required an awful lot of effort to being it under control. I used other people’s plots and pictures from pinterest as inspiration for my design and tried to keep that end result in my mind. It was tough though. I found a wasps nest which pretty much stopped all my work, putting the breaks on my momentum and forcing me to take a step back.
Once the nest died back over the winter, I got back to it and eventually the plot came together. It was a relief and I was so glad I hadn’t given up. My dream was still alive and I remember the feeling of pride I felt as my shed was finally erected. I had a shelter.
I’ve never considered myself a gardener, even now I have trouble referring to myself in that way! A gardener is someone with an abundance of knowledge about plants and wildlife. I love to learn as much as I can, but I certainly don’t consider myself an expert. Instead, I like to see myself as an observer of nature. My role at the plot is to nurture it, plant seedlings and step in to help plants whenever I feel they may need it!
“Anyone can be a gardener. You don’t need a degree in horticulture. Just the willingness and patience to place a seed in the ground and nurture it until it grows.”
I’m in my third year now and still learning. Still making mistakes. The difference is in my attitude. I no longer see every mistake as a failure but as a learning opportunity. I recognise that sometimes, things are out of my hands and that I can not control everything. Recently, storm Eunice swept through our allotment site and so much was damaged. In my first year I might have been upset about this, but now I am able to shrug it off. This is just nature and I know that whatever damage is done, it can all be repaired and rebuilt and regrown. That’s a big comfort to me.
“Getting my allotment plot has been a life changer for me.”
Not only have I learned important lessons about patience, accepting change and learning to let go of the things I can not control, it’s also shaped my career. I am not writing for gardening magazines on a regular basis, working with gardening brands on platforms such as instagram and Youtube and have built up a fantastic community of like minded people. Everyday I receive emails and messages from people just starting out on their allotment journey, or growing their own food for the first time. The fact that I might have inspired people to give that a go fills me with so much joy I can’t even describe it!
I will always grow my own food, whether I have my allotment forever or not. Even if it’s just in a pot on the windowsill. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I will shout about it’ benefits from the rooftops!
