Aim of the Shared Garden project

Sharing an allotment seems to be the answer for many busy people nowadays. There are many advantages; the pleasure of working with a friend, sharing knowledge, skills and learning, not to mention the more practical aspects such as running costs, dividing the work load, and covering during holiday periods. We have decided not to divide the plot in separate areas, where each person is responsible for their part, but we have gone for the option that the work of the whole allotment is shared.

The method of growing is organic and bio-dynamic where possible. To start off we have cultivated 4 allotments.

Allotment 1 will be high yielding from day one.
Allotment 2 has fruit trees, a new shed for shelter, storage and working in, and an area where, during the first year, will only have clover and rye, to improve the soil. Here the children can play to their hearts content.
Allotment 3, will have one half potatoes and one half broad beans.
Allotment 4 will have mainly fruit.

If and when all these allotments are in perfect working order, we might want to obtain any other suitable ones, gradually increasing our working land.

At the start of the project we had 12 families interested, who all do 2 hours per week. There are now requests from 3 more families who would like to join as well.

We are now a year into the project. It has been great fun, fantastic results on a social side as well as on the work side. We shall keep you up to date with the news.