I've just started giving a client a hand with his allotment in Dundee, and what a brilliant experience it's proving to be.
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| Brilliant Scottish inventiveness to be seen in shed construction here |
There's about 80 allotments on the site, all of a decent size. A feature that stands out straight away is the wild variety of sheds, clad with everything from reclaimed wood to floor tiles, like finding yourself at the centre of the recycleverse. The site has been established for a long time with a kind of leaning towards annual veg crops and less in the way of fruit or perennials. My client wants to develop his permaculture and forest gardens ideas, slightly against the grain of the site committee, but all very dear to me and Ruth of course.
It's wonderful for us to find that all the practical experience we have gained in our eco travels can now be put to good use at what, to me, is the real cutting eco-edge, helping people to grow food in a sustainable way right in the heart of the city. We can tell people what works and what doesn't work, how to make the most of your time, energy and money, give tried and tested tips on keeping pests at bay, drop the odd idea into the process that may open a whole new understanding of working with Nature, and just put in a bit of vital energy when you're faced with a daunting amount of work at the beginning of a project. I'm looking forward to seeing the plot here flourishing into multi layered, natural abundance.
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| A less regimented style on one of the other Dundee plots, rather frowned on by the comittee... |
