Page 14 - Oundle Life October 2021

Get growing...
NATIONAL VEGETABLE SOCIETY
The National Vegetable Society was formed in 1960 by a group of keen vegetable growers with the aim of encouraging people to grow their own vegetables by offering advice, education, and inspiration. It has grown to over 2000 members now covering the whole of the UK and Eire, and its members include some of
the top growers in the country as well as many keen gardeners.
Over the last 18 months it is reported that there are 3 million new gardeners in this country, mainly as a result of COVID-19 and the lockdowns. Gardening is good for both
your physical and mental health, as it provides good exercise for the body’s muscles as well as
a relaxing mental environment. Working with plants and being surrounded by plants helps people to de-stress and relax, as does being surrounded by the colour green from the plants. Some Doctors are prescribing gardening to patients to help them recover from both mental and other health issues.
As a country we need to grow more of our own food to reduce imports and food miles and become more self-sufficient. Growing your own
food provides fresh, healthy, and cheaper fruit and vegetables, with no worries about shortages in the supermarkets. Your crops can be from
the plot to the plate in minutes with virtually zero food miles and a very low carbon footprint. Whether you have a large garden, allotment,
or just a patio, it is possible to grow some vegetables and or fruit.
Members of the National Vegetable Society receive four copies of the Simply Vegetables magazine, which is glossy, colourful and covering many aspects of fruit and vegetable growing with articles written by members. There are also local District Associations which usually meet monthly during the winter period and visit members gardens in the summer or
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