Allotment - will it save me money?

fedup100pc

Well I know maths wasn’t my strongest subject at school but the simple answer to your question is, yes, you can save a fortune right from day one (assuming you’re not driving to your allotment or getting return train lol). Most bargain basement shops sell packets of vegetable seed slightly out of date (the seed is still viable) for 10p and you don’t need to be an Einstein to work out that if one cabbage cost you 50p at the supermarket, then one 10p packet of seeds will not only recoup your yearly cost of supermarket cabbage but will also recover your £20-30 yearly rent on the allotment. Even tools are two-a-penny at car boot sales.


The problem as I see with allotments, though, is that unless you have an army of kids in the house, you will almost certainly end up growing far too much for your needs. As a result, like most allotment holders, you’ll end up giving most of it away for nothing. A much better idea would therefore be to grown vegetables in a smaller space in your garden at home. Flowers aren’t much cop in my view.

Smoffi

fedup100pc wrote: »

Well I know maths wasn’t my strongest subject at school but the simple answer to your question is, yes, you can save a fortune right from day one (assuming you’re not driving to your allotment or getting return train lol). Most bargain basement shops sell packets of vegetable seed slightly out of date (the seed is still viable) for 10p and you don’t need to be an Einstein to work out that if one cabbage cost you 50p at the supermarket, then one 10p packet of seeds will not only recoup your yearly cost of supermarket cabbage but will also recover your £20-30 yearly rent on the allotment. Even tools are two-a-penny at car boot sales.

Yes this in basic principal looks kind of good.. and depending on the amount you grow and eat you can save a few pennies...

A slight miss in the calculation above is "man power time" taking the time to prepare/tend/water/pick the veg.. get the seeds.. go to the car boot...
unless you can grow enough to stop you going to the shops completly!


its not about finacially viable fact... but ITS RELAXING and fun...

when you go into your local supermarket there is no way you run around to your wife and family and shove a lettuce in their face.. beaming with a huge smile and jump around like you have just invented the atom....
thats what you get from growing your own

PRICELESS

Kimonokawaii

I'm a new, novice allotmenteer.

I was worried about the expense, particularly to set up but you have no idea how many people have told me I can have their tools, plants, etc etc just so I'll take them out of their way! In addition, my neighbours on the allotment have been super-generous with leftovers and produce, unused seeds and materials.

To recycle and reduce waste is an ingrained part of 'The allotment way'...just ask around!

As for over production - I'm going to sell some of my produce at work, I'll be making jams from extra fruits and selling those too. Plus I like the idea of passing on home grown veg to my family as I'm making them look at their own shopping habits, recycling habits etc. and in return I collect compost materials from them from their kitchen caddies they save plastic tubs for me and other little bits of things.

My shopping bill has come down not because I'm replacing bought veg with grown veg but because I'm replacing branded food, junk snacks and other supermarket rubbish with my grown stuff.