Let It Grow- First time Experience of the Garden Allotment

I tried to get this article published back in August of 2019 but the main newspapers were not interested. I still feel it has something to say. The allotment was sadly closed during the corona epidemic. It will eventually reopen and we will rebuild.

Let It Grow- First time Experience of the Garden Allotment

Community gardens are becoming more popular in urban areas and are a common feature in several European capitals. I was deeply impressed by the mini-gardens dotted around Vienna, a city which was my home for five years, and to see and how much they enhanced the built up areas. Dublin too has several garden allotments around the city and county, though they are often massively under advertised and their relevance to quality of life is equally understated.  Last February, I realised I was spending way too much time on the couch and decided to try one out. Apartment living in Dublin has its limitations and though our gated apartment complex does have a communal garden, consisting of a few token trees and a patch of grass, it is not supposed to be used for anything.

The allotments are run by the council and the Belmayne allotments, just off the Malahide Road at Northern Cross, were launched in 2014. They were initially intended only for the residents of the area but now open to anyone in North Dublin. The choice of location is apt as more than 30% of the vegetables grown in Ireland are from North Dublin.  They cover a mere two acres but enhance the area greatly. The site itself was once the garden of a Big House which has long since disappeared from the landscape.

A communal area provides a place to relax. Anti-social activity is discouraged by a surrounding fence and a padlocked gate. Every February, two types of allotments from the 112 on offer are available at a very reasonable rate. The larger plot measuring 64 squares metres costs 120 euro while the smaller one, measuring 30 square metres costs 60 euro. We chose the latter as we were initially unsure whether we could make it work.

As I had no previous gardening experience I was unsure how to start. Other allotment holders were however quick to introduce themselves, offer the loan of tools and more importantly impart tips. So I pulled weeds and prepared the soil. We planted fool proof vegetables such as potatoes and onions and experimented with strawberries and raspberries, with varying degrees of success. The most interesting feature was a small pond I dug which I hope will attract frog spawn and which has developed into its own mini eco system.

Working the allotment is a way for the whole family to do something outdoors. It is ideal for young children and it is on their doorstep. My son is obsessed with Minecraft and while I recognise that computers will be a large part of his life so to do I realise the need for fresh air. After initial protestations the fine weather encouraged his participation. Both he and his twin sister are now content to pull weeds, water plants and dig for insects, all in a safe environment. Though only six years old, they can now identify several plants and insects that would leave many stumped.

The allotment like nearby Father Collins’ Park offers a refuge from the noise of the traffic. The pace of life suddenly slows down and only a few metres away from a busy road an oasis of tranquillity in the urban sprawl reveals itself.

It has also proven surprisingly inexpensive. Tools were acquired second hand and among allotment holders there is a readiness to share extra seeds and bulbs as well as avail of the use of the greenhouse on site. Twice a year the council delivers top soil free of charge. 

The allotment is more than just getting your hands dirty. The mushrooming residential developments leave little time for community and often a terse greeting from the neighbours, if at all, is all you can expect. Not so at the garden allotment where the allotment holders readily give you the time of day. The allotment is all about community building and experiencing quality of life. To further enhance this the allotment holders gather together at the end of the harvest for a barbeque and to discuss future plans. The future however like many other things is uncertain. It is not just the weeds that threaten to choke the allotment but the need for residential development may soon see their obliteration.