My Bristol allotment
Ever heard of an allotmenteer? It sounds a bit like a buccaneer, but there's less ocean and more vegetables. Until recently, having an allotment was seen by many as a Grandad hobby, or something to do with the war. But now more people than ever are interested in growing their own food, being connected to the changing seasons, and living in a more sustainable way.
My allotment plot is on the edge of Bristol, tucked neatly alongside the rambling Ashton Court Estate. I grow organic organic fruits and vegetables and share my experience with more than 15,000 followers on Instagram. It's less 'dig for victory' and more 'save our soil'.
Standing on the edge of the plot and looking towards my lopsided shed, I can see deer grazing on the slopes of Ashton Court. On all sides, my plot neighbours grow vegetables in joyful abundance, pink rhubarb, green pears and sweet peas that climb in tangly knots over the sheds.
In my first year, sandwiched between these beautiful growing spaces, I remember worrying whether my seasoned neighbours were laughing behind their hands at me making it up as I went along, but rather than raised eyebrows I received their overflowing bounty and wisdom. Three years on I can hold my own in a conversation about compost, but I'm happy to say I still have a lot to learn.