Page 32 - ALG Issue 2 2025

COMMUNITY
APPLYING A GROWTH MINDSET ON
ALLOTMENTS – A CASE STUDY
I was a school teacher for 39 years, and one of the most
influential things in my career was learning of the work
of Carol Dweck. Professor Dweck at Stanford University
made a huge contribution to the psychology of motivation
with her work on the Growth Mindset. This work has
transformed educational practice and teachers and students
become more motivated and successful.
The Growth Mindset is also incredibly
useful on allotments, apart from the obvious
pun; whether we apply the Growth Mindset
to our cultivation or to the management
of a site. At the risk of oversimplifying, a
Growth Mindset is when you believe that
you can improve and learn from your
mistakes. So instead of saying “I can’t dance”
simply add the word “yet” at the end - I
can’t dance YET”. Learn from any mistakes
you make and resolve to do better next
time. Furthermore, any criticism is now
“feedback” that can be used to improve.
For gardeners, with different challenges
and opportunities every year, the
temptation to continue doing things in the
same way can be overcome with a Growth
Mindset. We can allow ourselves to try new
things, to experiment (and maybe fail). Any
setbacks are now “feedback” that can be
used to improve next time! “I can’t grow
carrots YET!”
Likewise, as Secretary of our allotment
society, I have made countless mistakes
over the years. Using a Growth Mindset,
I can view these mistakes as learning
opportunities to do better next time and
eventually become a better secretary.
Waiting for another batch of
cardboard to finish the mulching.
Spring and the composting area is started
A case study: Communal Composting
After prompting from our friendly and
supportive councillors, our society
considered having a “communal”
composting area at our allotment site. This
area could be used by allotment members
for their green waste to prevent and reduce
bonfires on site. I was sceptical, having seen
a similar setup at a friend’s allotment in
another city; that heap was a very mixed
assortment of material that was not going
to rot down in under a decade. I thought
that people, who cannot be bothered to
have a compost bin on their own plot, are
unlikely to know or care about the best
way to create and tend a compost area.
The sceptic in me was NOT using Growth
Mindset, but I overcame the hesitation to
have a go – at least a pilot study.
Ten months in and the results were very
mixed. On the plus side, a lot of waste
S Sm mi it th hs s o of f t th he e F Fo or re es st t o of f D De ea an n
The Tank and Drum Experts
Buy rainsavers, IBCs, water butts and
taps from stock. Take a look at our
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Collection or nationwide delivery available.
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For Allotment Associations & Gardening Groups
Veg in trays of about 130 plants
Onions, brassicas, herbs, chard, salads
– Peat Free
Circle
Only use blue and/or white.
For more details check out our
Brand Guidelines.
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32 | Issue 2 2025 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener