Page 41 - ALG Issue 2 2019

How far back do you go?
2020 sees the 90th Anniversary of the National Allotment Society. To celebrate, we will be looking back at the history of the NAS – but what about the history of your allotment plot or site?
Send us a snapshot or two that you feel defines your allotment’s history, and your photos could feature in our 2020 Anniversary editions of the magazine.
PAST & PRESENT...
Decades or months, your allotment doesn’t have to be many years old to take part!
Submitting your images:
• Weappreciatethatolderimagesmaynotbe
available in the best resolution but suggest
that 300dpi high resolution photos are best. • Providecaptions–Whenandwherewere
the photos taken?
• Emailto:jodie@crestpublications.com
watch your back!
Don’t be REDiculous – avoid a garden sunburn! The health campaign returns in 2019, devised by the Melanoma Fund, offering expert and targeted advice on sun protection and tips on early detection for all gardeners.
www.watchyourback.co.uk
Thank you from Almu
I would like to thank The National Allotment Society for helping with
my dissertation by disseminating
my online survey via newsletter, website and Facebook page. And to all respondents a huge THANKS. Below you can read a small summary to my research:
Motivations for food gardening in the UK: An investigation into the concerns of allotment holders over food affordability, nutrition and food production.
Background: A growing population worldwide puts food supply systems under great strain to produce more food. “Grow-Your-Own” has been explored as a method to secure food access. However, when comparing other European domestic growers to those who practice home growing in the UK, the latter seem to not be motivated by necessity unlike the former.
Objective: Exploring the motivations of allotment holders to grow fruit and vegetables for their own consumption in the UK.
Methods: The study used an online survey and theresults were compared with the responses to five interviews with allotment holders.
Results: Enjoyment is one of the main motivations named in both interviews and survey. Allotment holders show
their concerns about the amount of miles food is transported to get to the stores. Equally the chemicals used to produce crops commercially and preserve them for transport are a big concern for this population. Seasonality was often mentioned
as one of the measures consumers could take to help consuming a more environmentally friendly diet. The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey Data (NDNS) reports an average consumption of 4.2 units of fruit and vegetables daily among the general population. In comparison my study highlights allotment gardeners report a higher fruit and vegetable intake, at over 6.5 units daily.
Conclusions: Although, due to different factors (land constraints, climate, water supply, horticultural techniques...) urban agriculture’s potential for increasing food security may be limited, allotments can be a hub for transmission of knowledge and promoting healthier lifestyles. Allotment gardeners in the UK, agreeing with previous studies, are
not motivated by necessity. This study highlights they are more likely to be motivated by the sense of achievement and enjoyment the activity brings them. Despite being aware of the produce available in supermarkets they choose to produce their own because they value qualities such
as flavour and chemical-free. The fact they put a lot of hard work into the production makes them waste
Despite being aware of the produce available in super- markets they choose to produce their own because they value qualities such as flavour and chemical- free
conscious and moves them to share what they are unable to use fresh. While they enjoy sharing their produce, this also helps them create stronger social networks within the allotment community as well as with neighbours, friends and family. Gaining their admiration adds to the pleasure of
the activity. Seasonality determines the way they eat as well as pushing their creativity to try new dishes and explore new preserving or storage methods. Allotment holders have shown in this study their awareness
of issues surrounding the food supply chain, and are concerned about the amount of miles food travels around the globe to reach consumers homes, as well as the use of chemicals to ensure mass production and facilitate preservation during transport and storage. The general population would benefit from acquiring some of the allotment holders’ qualities such as enjoyment and increased intake of fruit and vegetables, reduction in food waste, increasing seasonal eating
or awareness about food production issues. As part of the community, allotments could be a good starting point for the creation of campaigns
or interventions to spread the message of the need of improving the sustainability of the food system in the UK as well as encouraging fruit and vegetable intake for health promotion.
Almudena Ines Archilla – MSc Public Health Nutrition Dissertation
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 41