Allotment Tours

Philip Noakes, Chair of the Church Landway Allotment Association welcomed visitors to the site. He explained that after more than two years of great uncertainty we were beginning to get back on our feet with the help of Bearsted Parish Council and lately Community Payback Scheme participants.

There was much discussion about methods of growing crops as well as some of the challenges that allotmenteers face.

Traditional cultivation compared to No dig working

Most plots on the site are cultivated along traditional lines, digging and using horse manure, either well-rotted or in its raw state. A few plots are worked using the “no dig” method as championed by Charles Dowding (Charles Dowding: Home) and enthusiastically embraced by the Sissinghurst Castle Organic Vegetable Garden – a place well worth a visit. Visits to the vegetable garden are free.

One tenant has volunteered at Sissinghurst for 12 years and her husband for 5. At our AGM last August they gave a presentation about “no dig”. A visit to Sissinghurst took place last October to see “no dig” in operation and some of us took up the challenge.

What is “no dig”? It’s all about not cultivating the soil in the traditional manner. The spade is put away meaning less work for you and more benefits to the soil and environment.

“No dig” avoids breaking up, lifting or turning the soil. Beds are prepared by covering the ground with a layer of organic matter, such as garden compost or mulch. A one metre wide bed is covered by thick layer of 10cm in the first year, then around 4cm

after that. A half metre path is left between beds which is created from woodchips (not coniferous). The organic matter is often laid on top of a double layer of cardboard to supress weeds or grass. As long as the organic matter is well rotted plants and seeds can be sown straight away.

Why “no dig”? Apart from it being less work in the long run after the beds have been set up “no dig” has been shown to be better for the soil microbiome. Digging damages the soil structure by destroying natural drainage channels made by worms, it disturbs fungal networks used by plants, inhibits the bacteria and other microorganisms which work in harmony and releases carbon that’s locked into the soil. Allowing natural processes to work without disturbance provides plants with the nutrients they need without the addition of artificial fertilisers.

This is our first year of “no dig”. The Sissinghurst volunteers plot has been worked using no dig for at least 6 years and it shows. Their plants on their plot are larger, more robust and more productive than ours were when we used traditional cultivation methods.

The same is certainly true for our “no dig” plot although we’re some years behind. We have found that any annual weeds are easier to deal with taking up far less time than in the past. No dig will not prevent perennial weeds such as marestail or bindweed but it does appear to make them easier to manage. The organic matter retains moisture and we have noticed it contains much more active life. We only water in new plants but this may be due to the wetter summer than anything else. The site soil is silty and dusty drying up easily and forming a crust. And it feels lovely when working it.

So, what are the drawbacks? Cost. A considerable volume of organic matter is required, more than can easily be created yourself. I used 4 tonnes to create 5 one metre wide beds each 8 metres long. I could have used more. We had a mulch club to buy in bulk but even at £85 per tonne it is an investment. Much less is used in subsequent years. And courage. It is a leap of faith to invest and not to dig even though the science is convincing. And it takes time to source the amount of cardboard needed and barrow the organic matter from the gate to your plot.

What will I do differently next year? Add a rather thicker layer where the potatoes will grow and keep a careful eye on companion planting so that it doesn’t overpower crops. Otherwise, we may add edges to the beds to separate the organic matter from the chippings.

Challenges for allotmenteers

The greatest challenge for all allotmenteers is underestimating the time required to mange your plot. The thought of having an allotment is very attractive, eating produce you have grown yourself, with few food miles. The reality is different.

Many of our tenants have been on the site for some years and as they are retired they have the time to devote to their plots. Even so, aging, illness and even going on holiday can take their toll and plots can get out of control quite quickly. People who work full time and also have a family find it a challenge to keep up with their plots. You do need to visit at least twice a week. As a result we have quite a turnover of people who take on a plot and within a couple of seasons give it up. 

When a plot is left unattended it takes a considerable amount of time to get it back into production and this understandably puts off prospective new tenants.

Help, advice and support

There is always plenty of help and support for new tenants, plots can be cleared by the Council, a rent reduction for the first year and advice from experienced growers and from the Association Committee. Having an allotment is more than growing vegetables, there is a social side too which we feel is an important part of having a plot. We have working parties with barbeques, tenants meetings, an AGM and a Christmas lunch so it is not all about getting down dirty with the soil. And we support community initiatives such as BearstedCAN, Plastic Free Bearsted, Digging for Giving and the Holy Cross Flower Show. So there is always plenty going on.