Whole allotment of savings to be made (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Whole allotment of savings to be made

11:30am Tuesday 19th August 2008 in

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In many town and cities, demand for allotments is outstripping supply, as people queue up to reap the benefits of home-grown produce.

In Bradford district, plots in the outer areas have waiting lists up to five years long, but inner-city sites still have vacancies for those who want to grow their own and save cash into the bargain.

With rising food bills, allotments offer an opportunity to grow vegetables and fruit, which can go some way to savings at the checkout, as well as being healthy and full of goodness.

At this time of year, across the country, gardeners will be digging up potatoes, beans, courgettes and many other varieties of vegetable, and storing them for autumn and winter.

Jenny Moran is one of those people. Jenny and her husband Roy are self-sufficient. They don’t buy any vegetables, growing enough on their allotment at Thompson Lane, Baildon, to keep them going throughout the year.

The site is one of two managed by Baildon Horticultural Society, of which they are members.

“We are growing about 75 different varieties of vegetable, so hopefully we won’t have to buy any this year,” says Jenny. “When we see the prices in supermarkets we laugh. I saw some raspberries for £1.99 – we picked so many recently, I reckon we easily ate about £10 worth. We freeze a lot in the winter can save an astronomical amount.

“And the taste is wonderful. They are not sprayed with chemicals, they are all completely natural. We make crumbles, pies and tarts. Stewed rhubarb is delicious with yoghurt.”

Broccoli, sprouts, turnip, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, melons, and aubergines are among the many vegetables that Jenny and Roy grow.

The couple, who have farmed their allotment for 13 years, also have a constant supply of free-range eggs from their 50 hens.

“We get two dozen a day, and they are lovely,” says Jenny, a retired secretary. She likes to involve her grandchildren, who collect the eggs.

Janette Goodinson, Bradford Council’s allotments officer says waiting lists are now common across the country.

“People now realise that it makes good sense to have an allotment and how much healthier it is. It is not only the food but the great community spirit. Your annual rent is less than the price of a weekly shop.”

Bradford currently has vacancies on sites at Harewood Street, Barkerend; Bowling Park; Cecil Avenue, Great Horton; Legrams Lane, Lidget Green; Whetley Grove, Whetley Hill; and Scotchman Road. The plots are overgrown but Bradford council offers incentives such as the second year rent-free.

To find out about allotment vacancies contact Janette Goodinson on (01274) 432247.