The search for the Good Life
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Land grabs and grow bags: The plot to feed the City of London
The City of London is growing fruit and vegetables in grow bags in vacant building sites to tackle the increasing demand for allotments.
National Trust backs boom in self-sufficiency
The National Trust is showing its support for the grow your own crusade by creating 1000 community allotments by 2012. 74 historic houses across Britain have agreed to hand over land for growing fruit and vegetables. From small parcels of soil for novice gardeners to large areas for community groups or schools, the land is … Continue reading
Business is ‘blooming’
Private companies and businesses are joining the grow your own movement. Offices, factories, hotels, supermarkets and even army camps are now getting their own allotments and roof gardens. Thornton’s Budgens supermarket in Crouch End, North London, now has a green roof of fresh fruit and veg thanks to the project Food from the Sky. The Mint … Continue reading
Capital Growth reaches 1052 spaces!
Capital Growth has now created 1052 food growing spaces!
The Green City – London’s secret urban gardens uncovered
I went along to the Open Garden Squares Weekend in London to see how neglected urban space is being used for growing food in the City.
FARM:shop on Andrew Marr’s ‘Megacities’
FARM:shop, who feature in my TV documentary on Capital Growth projects, is on Andrew Marr’s ‘Megacities’!
The root of it all: Food fanatical Todmorden spreads its seed
Thousands of people across the country have been inspired to grow fruit and vegetables in their community thanks to the ground-breaking achievements of a food growing project in Todmorden, Lancashire.
Middlesbrough sows seeds of self-sufficiency
People in Middlesbrough are pioneering the grow your own movement by growing fruit and vegetables in skips, parks, back alleys and roundabouts. 1000 volunteers from local schools, care homes and hospitals have helped build new community growing spaces as part of the council’s 3-year project ‘Grown in Middlesbrough’. The scheme hopes to increase the amount … Continue reading
Richmond council defends rise in allotment fees
“If you want an allotment, you have to pay for it.” That’s the message from Richmond council who are scraping subsidies and increasing rent for allotments to make sites self-sufficient and save money. Many people have argued that the rent rises are unfair and they can’t afford them. But Allotments Officer Pete Lewis said: “Why should local … Continue reading
Escape E.coli by growing your own
Secretary of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Donna McDaid says growing your own organic vegetables can save you from health scares like the recent E.coli outbreak.
The search for the Good Life 