h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I read a statistic recently from the allotment association (or some such body) that the bulk of new applications for spaces are now coming from the middle classes - mostly professional men aged 30-50. It seems that the growth in vegetarianism and the distrust of GM foods/supermarket practises is driving people to growing their own food again. though, I admit, not as many as there should be.
The allotment shed, I should also point out, is the "secret den" that all grown up men wish they still had.

We don't have allotments in the USA. I think the closest equivalent is probably the "community garden" found in many cities -- usually empty lots that are partitioned off into plots that people may apply to raise veggies on. I've seen them in both New York and Seattle, though I understand that the NY program is being seriously pressured by rising land values and lack of support from the current conservative city government.

Anyhow, this is just one more case where we're separated by a common language across the pond...

"A rose by any other name..."

Great article Vlad. Me and the missus rented an allotment when we were first married (we didn't actually live there). There was a wonderful sense of community among the allotment gardeners, who would go out most evenings, do a bit of this and that, then loiter about chatting until dark. You could count on somebody helping out with the watering, and so on, if you couldn't get out for a day or two. On the other hand, I think allotment gardens are a great place to study plant pathology and insect pests.

You've no doubt heard the story about the gardener who left his car unlocked and came back to find it full of zucchini (Courgette).

JTG