Gardening is on the rise nationwide, and the new year gives us a fresh chance to join the growing movement and save money at home.
Who has not dreamt of growing a few herbs or tomatoes at home, only to watch a basil plant wilt on the window sill?
The good news is that growing even a little of our own food is easier than we might expect and can make a small but steady difference to our food bills. It can also help us feel more secure at a time when prices and supplies can change without much warning.
The new year is a good moment to try again and see if we can grow a green thumb after all.
Why growing is taking off
Projects like Coronation Gardens for Food and Nature are showing how unused corners of land can become simple growing spaces. More than three thousand sites have been pledged across the UK. They include patches by car parks and church walls as well as balconies and small front yards.
The Big Issue reported that many families are turning to home growing as food prices rise. One volunteer told them the need to learn to grow and cook our own veg has never felt more urgent.
Some councils now support the Right to Grow. This lets communities ask to use small, unused patches of land for simple food growing. It gives more of us a fair chance to take part and share the benefits.
Where to Start
For many of us the worry is cost, time, confidence or space. The Wildlife Trusts remind us that the basics are the same whether we have a pot on a sunny ledge or a shared patch in a community garden.
We can start by looking at the space we have and how much light it gets. Salad leaves, herbs and easy veg like radishes are simple first steps. We can reuse tubs and yoghurt pots, swap seeds with neighbours and share tools to keep costs down.
The Coronation Gardens Project has tons of great resources for first time gardeners.
- Check out their guide for getting started
- Find ideas for gardening in small places
- Locate community groups in our area (scroll to the bottom of the page)
- Get advice from others through their helpful community hub
The Wildlife Trust also has tips for nearly every scenario, from chemical free gardening to making a seed bomb (the sort that spreads petals, not panic).
A Little Patch Can Go a Long Way
Plants do not mind if we learn as we go. Even if a basil plant has discouraged us in the past, the new year gives us a fresh chance. We can start small, enjoy the process and pick our own leaves by spring.
Image: AlessandroBiascioli/Shutterstock
