Why grow your own?

Growing your own food in your garden or allotment can be very rewarding - and you don't necessarily need a big space to do it. Try cultivating your favourite herbs, salad leaves and even fruit and vegetables on a windowsill or balcony; in containers, grow bags and even hanging baskets. Freshly harvested, your own food tastes better and offers greater choice, as there are hundreds of weird and wonderful varieties out there to discover. You can get the kids interested; there is no packaging and you get a great sense of achievement. 

How to get an allotment

Allotments are in great demand, but it is worth contacting your local council and enquiring. You may have to go onto a waiting list, but it is important to do this, as it shows local authorities how much demand there is. If you don’t know which site is closest to you contact your Council’s allotment officer.

For information about getting an allotment and a map of allotments in Manchester:

Council Allotment officers for your area:

Further links

  • Real Seed company - Many seed companies now source seed from countries like China, which may mean that seeds germinate poorly in the colder, wetter conditions of the North West of England. The Real Seed Company is not only keeping heritage seeds alive and experimenting with exciting new varieties, it is doing it just over the border in North Wales, so their seeds are happy in the rain!

  •  Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library - By joining Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library (HSL) you can support their work to conserve and make available vegetable varieties that are not widely available.
    Garden Organic (formerly HDRA) has been campaigning for over thirty years to save Britain's traditional vegetable varieties, which are threatened by a combination of commercial pressures and red tape.
    "Most of us get our vegetables from supermarkets where what counts most is regular shape and colour, plus a flawless appearance. These are not qualities that would have carried much weight with earlier generations, when most people either grew vegetables at home, or bought from the local market. Flavour, continuity of picking and delicate skins were what mattered to them" (Garden Organic website)
    As a member each year you can choose six varieties of HSL seed to try yourself and you can also swap seeds with other HSL members . You can also become a seed guardian or 'adopt a veg' to help with their conservation campaign.