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 own greens in a bag

What if: projects have been mapping vacant and neglected spaces that surround the housing estates of inner city London. The team has been developing strategies for how these unloved spaces can be appropriated to accommodate the needs of the local population. The VACANT LOT project addresses the basic need for food and an outside space for the neighbourhood to socialise. The first Vacant Lot allotment on a housing estate in Hoxton was realised as a temporary intervention commissioned by the Shoreditch Festival 2007 and continues to be used as an allotment by the local community.

Since June 2007 local residents are carefully tending a spectacular array of vegetables, salads, fruit and flowers in their individual plots and, in addition 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. VACANT LOT has become a place 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.

What if: projects are currently working in partnership with Groundwork London to create 20 food growing spaces for local residents on housing estates in Hackney, Camden and Islington and with social housing providers. The three year project , VACANT LOT GARDENS funded by the Big Lottery’s Local Food programme, provides a creative solution to growing fresh food in urban social housing settings where there is a limited amount of available space.