The War in Iran - Why We Need Our Allotment Now More Than Ever

There has always been something special about our allotment.

It is a place where people come together, grow food, share knowledge and get stuck in. It is practical, local and real. But right now, with food prices already high and the war in Iran adding even more pressure to fuel, fertiliser and transport costs, I think places like this matter more than ever. 

For a long time, the allotment might have felt like a nice extra in our lives. Something enjoyable, something wholesome, something community-minded. All of that is true. But I think it is also becoming something more important than that. In a world that now feels uncertain, our allotment is a place where we can do for ourselves what the wider world may not.

One of the things that puts us in a strong position is the way we grow. We use no dig methods, we make our own wonderful compost, and we are building fertility naturally rather than relying on artificial fertiliser. That matters. At a time when growers everywhere are feeling the effects of rising costs and disrupted supply chains, we are creating something more resilient, more sustainable and less dependent on outside systems. 

That did not happen by accident. It has taken time, effort, learning and a lot of hard work. Thank you Karen our Compost Queen! But it means we now have something genuinely valuable. We have healthy soil, a strong growing space and a shared resource that has the potential to become more important with every passing year.

The allotment also gives us something else that is hard to find at the moment. It gives us somewhere to escape. There is no real internet down there, the phone signal is patchy, and for a little while you can step out of the noise of the wider world and focus on what is in front of you. Watering seedlings. Sowing a row. Building supports. Weeding a bed. Getting something done with your own hands. That matters too.

And of course it is not just about switching off. It is about coming together. It is about being part of something shared. It is about people giving their time and making a real difference. The allotment only works because we show up for it. The more people know what is going on and the more regularly everyone comes, the stronger and more successful it will be.

That feels really important right now. If we want to keep the allotment thriving, and if we want to make the most of everything we have built we need people there. Sowing, planting, checking seedlings, watering, weeding, helping with the day-to-day jobs and being part of the team that keeps the whole thing moving.

Because this is not just about one growing season. It is about building something strong for the future. A place that produces food, supports us deeply and shows what can be done when a community works together with commitment and care.