As both John and his daughter Cara are into self-sufficiency the book also covers the economics of keeping poultry at home and raising chickens for the table. His book, Vegetable, Fruit and Herb Growing in Small Spaces was released in March 2010 and was based on their time in a terraced house with just a patch of concrete to grow on. Tending a plot can be a shared activity for families, while the wider community of plotholders, uniting gardeners of varied ages, abilities and backgrounds around a shared interest, offers the kind of support, co-operation and tolerance often lacking beyond the site boundary.

I’m going to be working mainly on my own, perhaps with the odd bit of help from a friend or my 11 year-old son – but I can’t count on it. The background to allotment gardening as a unique and important social movement is more clearly charted. It has a lot of details about clearing ground, which mulches and for how long, advice on tools, then on sowing throughout they year, including for early and winter crops. We've included allotment planners and cookbooks in our list to help you get growing and reap the fruits of your labour and make great allotment gifts. The future The unique value of allotment plots is set to grow both internationally and on a personal level.Despite the initial disappointment because it didn't have colour pics etc; I sat down to read and could not put it down. The Unfinished Estate by Tim Edensor With her dogs, and it was rumoured, a particularly vicious goose, she patrolled the estate in an archaic automobile. If, like me, you need an allotment book which assumes you know v little, but have already made the decision to work an allotment, don't necessarily put this book at the top of your list. Contents: The plot: finding the right plot; growing fruit, vegetables and flowers; sheds and greenhouses; communal tools; dealing with weeds; entering competitions.

In urban areas land use is becoming increasingly competitive, and many plot-holders are having to make a political stand to prevent their sites and rights being eroded to make way for roads and new buildings. He introduced nationwide beekeeping allotment training and was involved with creating a school allotment in Manchester, receiving grants from various sources. This book testifies to the vibrancy of allotment culture, aiming both to inspire the next generation of plot-holders and to provide all the practical knowledge needed to turn a patch of soil into a lifelong adventure. This was most prevalent at harvest time when she made jellies, jams and chutneys, which we used throughout the winter months and which she also gave as Christmas presents to friends and family.

How much you participate is for you to decide: growing good food remains the main purpose of an allotment plot, and this can bring you both peace and productivity, but you may be surprised just how beneficial it can be to feel part of the wider allotment community. Getting your first allotment is an exciting time – full of promise, summer days picking fresh strawberries grown by your own fair hand. I especially like the 'sowing and planting' table which I am using to prepare for the coming new year to coordinate planting times. It is full of colourful and relevant illustrations…The content is packed with excellent down-to-earth advice.