lifestyle 97

STARTING OFF

The JME Collection has some great starter packs for those wanting to get growing. The packs include packets of seeds and grow bags for growing herbs, and a selection of vouchers which can be redeemed for boxes brimming with baby organic vegetable plants.

www.jamieoliver.com

As the UK found itself in the midst of a Second World War, the famous ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign encouraged families to

grow their own food, in order to supplement rations and save shipping needed for war materials. Seventy years on, as supermarket prices of fruit and vegetables are on the rise and the recession is hitting the UK hard, we are once again being encouraged to live self-sufficiently in the search for cheap, healthy, sustainable alternatives to supermarket food.

This year the National Trust launched its grow-your-own food campaign ‘Food Glorious Food’ (www.foodgloriousfood.org.uk), seeking to equip the nation with the food knowledge and skills necessary to become self-sufficient food growers, while the mayor of London Boris Johnson announced plans to create public vegetable gardens on and around some of London’s most famous landmarks. Even the Queen ordered an area of her gardens at Buckingham Palace to be transformed into an environmentally friendly vegetable patch. It seems that nationwide, people are jumping on the grow-your-own bandwagon. But while those lucky ones with gardens or allotments can merrily embark on ‘The Good Life’ style living, city dwellers may be at a loss as to how they can benefit from some home-grown veggies in their more limited spaces.

Those hoping to acquire an allotment may be disappointed, especially in central London

GROW YOUROWNKelly Green gets into the garden to find out more about organic living

where waiting lists are excessively long; however, there are still some sites around the perimeter of Greater London with vacant plots to let. The London Allotments Network (www.londonallotments.net) may be able to help in finding a plot, but as many allotment sites let only to residents of a specific Borough, neighbourhood or geographical area, you should start by contacting your Borough Council.

Without an allotment, and with limited outdoor space, you can still profit from growing your own food – and there are many profits to be had! Buying seeds and plants which will produce fruit or vegetables for an entire season is substantially more economical than buying fruit and vegetables from the supermarket (and also more convenient as they can be picked or dug up as and when you want them).

Growing and eating seasonal food is also a way of avoiding food miles and dramatically reduces your carbon footprint. By growing organically you do not expel pesticides or herbicides into the atmosphere whilst preserving vitamins and minerals, thus maintaining the nutritive value of your food. And if all this still hasn’t convinced you to join the movement, home-grown fruit and vegetables taste stronger, fresher and keep longer than shop-bought equivalents.

There are an abundance of fruits, vegetables, salads and herbs that can be grown indoors on sunny window sills – or

outside in window boxes, on patios, balconies and roof terraces in pots, grow bags and hanging baskets. These include lots of British favourites such as strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, peas and salad. You could grow herbs such as parsley, basil or coriander indoors on a windowsill and strawberries can be grown in pots just about anywhere. For potatoes use grow bags or even an empty bin, and tomatoes can be grown inside or out in pots or hanging baskets, as long as they’re in the sun. Seeds and starter plants can be bought from local garden centres or farm shops, or ordered online, and most will come with instructions. n

For hints, tips and guides for growing your own food visit www.foodgloriousfood.org.uk and www.thebiglunch.com.

National Trust Director General, Dame Fiona Reynolds with Chairman Simon Jenkins and Monty Don at the

start of the Food Glorious Food campaign.