Well what do you know – it’s National Allotments Week! The event runs from 9 – 16 August and is put on by the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

I discovered this somewhere around the blogs so I went to check it out yesterday. I quite fancy the idea of an allotment. We moved into a flat in February with no outdoor space whatsoever and although we’ve attempted growing some herbs and chilies in our kitchen, it’s just not the same as having a proper garden. I’d really like to try growing veg! Plus kids just naturally seem to love gardening and it is so valuable for them to see where food comes from.

So, excited by National Allotments Week, I promptly got on the intrawebs and found my nearest allotments which are in a fancy part of Hampstead. They are surprisingly budget-friendly and I asked to be put on the waiting list (they all have a waiting list, wouldn’t you know). But then I got a sad note saying they’d actually completely closed even the waiting list earlier this year because 40 people were waiting. The next closest allotments, in the next borough over, have waitlists too but I admit I’ve become a bit demotivated.

However, dreaming of my very own patch of land in London and growing my own fruit and veg like some sort of domestic goddess got me inspired enough to do the next best thing and sign up for Abel & Cole’s weekly fruit & veg box deliveries. I’ve heard they are very good. I’m just hoping I didn’t get us in over our heads with the £15.95 box – that’s seven seasonal vegetables with potatoes and three fruits every week!

If you’re keen to sign up with Abel & Cole, I searched high and low for a voucher code but came up empty handed. They do promise that if you order a weekly box of summer fruit & veg you’ll automatically get the fourth free.

As for National Allotments Week, the idea is to “to promote the awareness and availability of allotments both locally and nationally and to show the public and the local authorities the strength of support and interest for the heritage of allotment culture.” Unfortunately I can’t see any actual events or activities listed on the site.

Do YOU have an allotment or a proper garden? Soooo jealous!