A SOLUTION TO INNER CITY LIVING?

How might you meet the demand for ‘grow-your-own’ within dense urban areas where available land is scarce? What-if: projects together with local residents of an inner city housing estate in Shoreditch have come up with a novel solution:

GROW YOUR GREENS IN A BAG.

The first Vacant Lot allotment garden was started in May 07 with the construction of a water tower that projects above the boundary walls of the site and announces a small change to this inner city housing area in Shoreditch. Flyers were distributed to the surrounding housing inviting residents to become involved and take ownership of a 1m2 plot of land. With the help of the local community a total of seventy 1/2 tonne bulk bags were subsequently arranged and filled with soil to form the allotment space. The building process together with the distribution of flyers and a newsletter attracted many residents to become part of the project. 63 interested households from the surrounding housing estates were given ownership of a VACANT LOT plot and were handed a key to the gate for a one-off fee of £3.50. Since June 2007 local residents are carefully tending a spectacular array of vegetables, salads, fruit and flowers in their individual plots. As well as the local community, insects and birds have moved in and thrive in this new natural habitat. Plot holders take care of their individual plots and tend to visit the garden on a regular basis to sow, water their plants and to collect their harvest. Produce during the first two years included tomatoes, a variety of salads, beetroot, spinach, radishes, courgette, cucumber, carrots, different kinds of beans, corn, cabbage, peppers, squash, potatoes, herbs, strawberries and flowers.

The VACANT LOT has become a space for meeting neighbours, BBQs’, sitting in the sun, playing and gardening. Plot holders of different age groups and cultural backgrounds meet, exchange food, seeds and gardening advice. A new sense of community has emerged.

Between 2009 and 2012 another 20 allotments will be created on housing estates in London using this first Vacant Lot project as a model. Read more

Watch SHORT FILM by Elin Moe: WHAT IF

The Vacant Lot allotment garden in Shoreditch has become a model for allotment schemes set up by local communities with the help of their local Council, a Charity or other funding organisation. The What if team collects images if these projects. So please send us your pictures.