http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/7361528/Grow-your-own-vegetables-in-the-local-skip.html
Just saw this article about the UK passing a law earlier this week that will open up public lands (i.e. bare lots, green strips) for people without backyards to have gardens. Talking about being progressive in food security. I wish that the federal gov't would open up city parks and lots to vegetable gardens like during the Depression and WWII.
Opening up public lots for vegetable gardens
The Brits have had community gardens for years and it's growing in this country, especially in big cities. There are 3 subscribers here that I know of who have had experience with it. It seems to me that it would be a win/win for everyone, including the cities who wouldn't have to keep the grass mowed.
I have a hard time understanding how you can get everyone to follow the rules but the Brits could surely offer some good guidelines. I know if I lived in an apartment with no space I'd be very interested in getting involved.
Some friends living in Boston rented a plot in some sort of place that a man was running. When the went to dig, their shovel went thunk--- The man had trucked in topsoil and covered a parking lot a few inched deep! My friends tried, but they said the soil would dry out in a day.
This was twenty years ago, so no suggestions, please.
There is a lady in youtube that I like to watch, her you tube name is claires allotment, she is from Englnad and has a nice plot of land or allotments as they Brits call them, I love her videos, they are very informative and I have learned a lot as well.
I have been looking in my area here in Mobile to see if there was anything similar and they do have a couple downtown mobile, unfortunately it would be a good 30 min drive from my house to the plots, nevertheless I think it is great they have them.
There are alot of them in my area, which kind of surprises me since there's so much land, ie - most homes have at least half an acre or so. (Guess I just don't there are apartments tucked all over or something?? Or maybe other people want lawns instead of container gardens and raised beds - gasp!)
We have several community gardens near the cities and small towns in our area. I don't know too much about them but I do know that the one in Harrisburg has been there for many years. There is a small one in Carlisle not too far from Dickensian College. I think it was behind the Extension Office. I went on a tour of Master Gardeners gardens in the Carlisle area and the tour started with the Community Gardens. It was pretty interesting seeing what was growing in the different plots.
Funny today I went to a Starbucks to try to get some coffee grounds for my plants and also for my compost, and the manager told me that they save it for a church that has a community garden so he could not give me any, a little upseting but I am glad at least is going to a good cause.