Plot 180A is my allotment plot. It is a place where I dig for anarchy. The main activity that takes place at the allotment is gardening. I am almost self sufficient. I grow beans, potatoes, spinach, kohl rabi, lettuce, carrots, garlic, beetroot, herbs, strawberries, flowers.
Allotments and gardens are suffused with humanity. There are many types of people who garden-different age groups, different nationalities, different religions, with different ideas, with different occupations-politicians, computer consultants, builders, the retired.
The personalities of people can be most clearly seen at the allotment. There are the 'encloses' who fence everything in. There are the builders, the thwarted architect whose shed seems more important than the plot itself. There are the orderly, the disorganised, the laborious, the lazy, experts, the practical, the philosopher, experimentalists, and traditionalists.
But, what unites all plot holders is a concern for nature, ecology, food, health, land, and economy. These concerns are political. Debates about global warming are particularly prevalent after this summer's record-breaking heat. Debates about health and food are always in the news - obese children; Jamie Oliver's kitchen; pre- packaged, pre- made food containing all sorts of additives and high contents of salt and sugar; the rise in people buying 'organic' food.
The economy is a general concern for plot holders. Many allotment holders grow their own food as a consequence of not having much money. If you invest time and bit money in your plot then you will reap the rewards. The choice is: buying a tub of tasteless strawberries from a supermarket who exploit the growers and pickers, as well as the checkout lady (e.g. Asda employees are not allowed to join unions), and make huge profits themselves; Or you can grow as many strawberry plants as you choose, of any variety you want, as big and juicy and as organic as you like, year after year. Renting a 30ft x 28ft plot from the council is £32 a year. |
