These days, more and more people are considering growing their own vegetables. There’s no substitute for freshly picked garden produce (once you’ve tried it, you’ll know what I mean) and it can help keep food costs down.
Of course not all of us have the space to grow enough to make a big difference to our food-spend, or have no clue how to go about it in any case… but what if you were able to lease a small piece of arable land, not too far away from home, where you could grow to your heart’s content (with some guidance, if you’re new to it)?
Would you try it?
My pondering was sparked by a recent comment on a post I wrote a few months back on food gardens in the Western Cape:
I have been thinking of setting up small scale allotments of about 200 square metres for keen organic vegetable gardener. The general idea would be to provide electricity, water point, and an over night type shed with ablution facility to each allotment, common use of a small tractor to prepare the soil, assistance with organic farming procedures etc. The entire allotment area would be properly fenced off with security provided. I would appreciate it if a farmer in the Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Wellington or Paarl areas would consider leasing off a section of land for this enterprise or assist with setting up this concept. (Gavin)
Personally, I would love to do something like this… Having a piece of land bigger than my current postage stamp (plus sun-chasing pots) on which to grow my own food would definitely float my boat.
Of course, travelling to and from the areas mentioned would need to be considered – one of the main reasons to grow your own is to reduce your carbon footprint by cutting down on transport costs. But for people who lived relatively nearby, it could work…
And, if 200 square metres seems like a lot, what about friends and families getting together and leasing the land cooperatively, taking turns at doing the gardening…?
I think this could be the start of something… In Europe, many countries (like Denmark) have what they call ‘summer gardens’ – allotments upon which citizens can grow to their heart’s content – so why shouldn’t we?
What do you think?
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Helen on 
As an allotment holder in the UK for a number of years, I think this is a brilliant idea. We grew almost all the fruit and vegetables that we consumed on a patch 10m x 10m. Now that we’re back in SA, I’m starting out small with pots (we’re in a rented house), but are planning bigger scale food gardening once we’ve managed to appropriate our own place.
Tracys last blog post..Make: solar tea
Allotments are very cool indeedc! My aunt had one in Copenhagen. Little patch of land also about 10x10m. Had a small hut on it for keeping one’s tools and a couple of chairs. But this was right near the city centre, we’d cycle there from her house, spend a few hours out in the (rare) sunshine and head back for a meal of fresh salad and veggies.
Imagine if part of Rondebosch common became an allotment area!
You’d definitely want your little patch close by, within 10-15mins walk/drive/cycle. How about all that open space above District Six?
Active Girls last blog post..NEW!! Do It Yourself Activities
I have leased land from the City Council in central Claremont. I have been elementally organically growing vegetables herbs and flowers. Harvesting and eating fresh produce has become a way of life. The vegetable’s taste, colour and texture are something that takes me back to my childhood, no commercially produced vegetables can taste or smell like this……. yummy and so healthy. I have noticed as well that the eco systems are slowly coming back. The population of Chameleons has grown as well as returning birds… Herons, Guinea Fowl, Black Harrier, Cape Canaries and a Lanner Falcon. I have a worm farm and use the vermi T to feed the vegetables. I have also noticed more honey bees Crab spiders and butterflies.
Brigid Jacksons last blog post..ARISTON – HISTORY
Tracy: I’m also doing the pot thing, with a tiny little square patch of actual ground. It can be quite challenging, but ultimately so rewarding! I hope you find a bigger piece of ground soon
Active Girl: It would be awesome to have a piece of Rondebosch Common… just around the corner for me! In London, apparently, they are revisiting the ‘victory garden’ notion – taking over open spaces for the creation of food, like during the war. A kind of guerrilla gardening, I suppose…
Brigid: I must come and see your garden! And I will… it sounds so beautiful, and it’s so fantastic that you’re creating an oasis for all those animals and bugs and birds. Once you start eating fresh produce, it’s immediately apparent how deficient commercially produced vegetables are, not only in taste and texture, but in nutrition. I’ve never been healthier than I am now, eating fresh produce every single day.
This blog is awe-inspiring. Six months ago I went in search of land in the city-bowl to start a small herb garden but I was unsuccessful. So I went to visit the military road farm in tamboerskloof only to be told that the council wants to build houses on the last piece of open land in the CBD. So I started using the balcony and a small piece of garden belonging to the apartment block I stay in. Old-school folk grow flowers because they’re pretty. I want to prove that herbs and vegetables combined with a rock-garden can look good. Amatungula, an indigenous shrub/tree, with it’s beautiful white flowers and large red fruit looks awesome and makes an impenetrable hedge with mega thorns. With the cost of living it seems logical to create useful gardens. I would love to lease a small piece of land close to the city. I see no reason why it cant be done in the CBD. May the powers that be wake up! The land opposite Dewaal Park is empty and unused and screams to be allotted.
Thanks, Andreas! Well done for trying to find a piece of free land, even if the powers that be weren’t too accommodating about it. It’s great that you’re using the space you do have… I think it would be awesome if more people had access to some sort of garden, however small it might be. Even if we don’t get permission for the land, though, there’s always the idea of guerrilla gardening – planting your own stuff there without official go-ahead – although it might be hard to make sure your produce (if you’re growing foodstuffs) isn’t filched. I live in Rondebosch, and would love it if I could rent a small patch on the Common… I’m sure there are plenty folks out there who’d be in for it as well… and imagine how wonderful it could look (never mind what food it could produce). If every school yard, church garden, municipal area could be made into food-producing spaces, it could really make a difference in all our lives.
Pia, you are really an inspiration. I love popping in on your site for a browse. I don’t know where you manage to find all this information, but ‘hats off’ to you!
I vaguely recall an interview on the radio with Brigid of the Claremont food garden a year(?) ago, but didn’t have a pen and paper with me at the time, so I forgot the name of the blog. Now that I have found it again through your website, which is such synchronicity, I really want to go and have a look at what she’s doing.
In the Tamboerskloof area, there are also some people doing food gardening and vermiculture. There’s a little article on it on: http://www.tamboerskloof.co.za/cg_updates.asp?i=15.
Do let me know if you’d like contact details.
Reggies last blog post..Ireland Trip 2008: Table of Contents
Thanks, Reggie! I have people in various suburbs who hold on to the local newspapers for me – there’s always interesting info there. And I just keep my eyes peeled for anything appealing
Yes, Brigid was on Cape Talk I think – for the green tip of the day… perhaps elsewhere as well? That green tip is definitely worth listening out for – on every week day around 10am.
I’d definitely love to find out more about the Tamboerskloof food gardening… will take a look at the link – thanks!
Dear Pia
We need a ‘green agony aunt’. The demand for infomation is growing. Since we spoke last I have decided to explore small scale farming with a new but very useful product. It appears that ‘organic certification’ is neccessary when approaching suppliers which equals finding land that has been deemed clean. Soon I shall be seeking a small piece of ‘clean’ land to follow my dream. If anyone has advice on cost, size and certification versus non-certification it would be appreciated by me and many. Many thanks, Andreas
Hi Andreas
What a great dream! I’m working on putting together a ‘community’ page where people can raise and discuss all these kinds of issues… I’m certain there must be something like it out there already, but I haven’t discovered it as yet, so am hoping this will be a useful forum. Hoping to have it up and running by next week – fingers crossed!
In the meantime – good luck finding that patch of ‘clean’ land!
I am a beginner organic gardener in South Africa living between Johannesburg and Pretoria on an equestrian estate. Properties have a bit more space, so enable one to turn a sizeable piece into a plot. like an allotment, for growing veggies and fruit.
I have removed all those non-productive plants and established quite a patch of rich composted area to estalish an organic veggie garden. I am now getting ready for planting and am bewildered by the array of options and advice.
Anybody in the geographical area with some practical experience and advice on the best planting options for this time of the year, most welcome to contribute to the next steps.
Hi there fellow allotment seekers,
I’m right there with you, urban food gardens would open doors to all sorts of positive spin off. I have my dream planted on a large piece of neglected land in Wynberg.
Do any of you have any info on the govt/ council ruling on the concept?
My dream – to rent plots to those who can afford it but have a certain portion of them set aside for local children’s home or night shelter. The goal – to grow it into an educational upliftment space as
well as somewhere us postage stampers can expand into.
I can already see neatly hedged allotments, a long table under the existing grove of trees – a place to congregate in the shade and swop info/seed/ advice and laughter
Itching to get busy
This is a wonderful suggestion!
I had same idea/dream – a place e.g. near poor communities where plots are mapped out, and the Permaculture designs as per my book are taught and applied. You can get only 1 plot at a time, if you are productive you qualify for another one which must be productive before you can get another one. All proceeds sold through the central place (even what you want, thus you “buy” your own veggies to pay for rent), the excess beign sold to Spar or Woolies etc. Also an open market of course.
So each day the farmer can sell stuff he harvested to the market, and get paid for it. It then gets sold at higher to cover running costs, or farmer pays in difference if he wants it himself.
Rights to plots can be “sold” within the system, with market value being determined by what’s growing on the plot at the time. People make deals with neigbours to look after their plots while on vacation. You can lose your plot if not maintained, or breaking organic rules, etc.
Wow! I must have had my head buried in the sand for so long. I didn’t realise that these allotments exist.
It certainly sounds like a great idea, especially since I live in a unit in Sydney. I haven’t heard of anything like this around here but I am sure there would be people who are interested in starting up something similar.
I have centennial park right next to me.. I wonder if the council would be interested? Mary
Marys last blog post..How Do I Propagate A Rose From A Cutting?
I would incredibly interested in a plot near Cape Town. I would love ot get my hands in the dirt- my flat just doesn’t have enough window sills!
I agree with alicia, I would love to get my hands in the dirt, I live in Australia too, Mary. How long have you been in Sydney?
Walter Scotts last blog post..Aeroponic Hydroponic Cloner
Great blog, I really enjoyed this post. I will be back and have bookmarked your site. Thanks! Dana
Organic for me is next year. As a starter vegetable gardener I am struggling with the basics without adding another level of detail. I am working on growing veg up a wall and in containers at the bottom of the wall. Any advice gratefully received on container and wall gardening.
Rob Wilsons last blog post..The Inspiration
I would love to be part of an allotment close to Plumstead in the Southern Suburbs (that I can walk to).
We should start a movement to use all appropriate municipal, or city land that is causing more of a headache (and crime hotspots) than being tended to by authorities.
I have a small organic veggie patch, but wanted to go bigger, as I have a good-sized garden. I started adopting unwanted bunnies and guinea pigs, caught a few wild bantams, and was given some ducks. I have been composting everything raked up in their pens, and now have a sizeable compost heap /worm bin that is ready to use.
Progress is very slow as I am working at it all alone. After reading your website, I was wondering if their might be individuals who enjoy gardening and eating the produce as much as I, and who may be interested in helping me with this project. The advantage to me would be to speed up progress and find some like-minded friends. They would have a very pleasant and safe environment to work in. If they live in Camps Bay, or close by, they would have the extra advantage of producing their greens on their ‘doorstep’.
If anyone is interested in pursuing this idea, please call me at 072 215 6228.
Thanks,
Juliet
.-= Juliet´s last blog ..How’s this for a striking colour? Benji is booked into our accommodation while his family is away. He is the most affectionate bird I have ever met. He gives kisses continuously, and when he sits on your shoulder, he rubs his face against your cheek. =-.
What an awesome idea! I hope someone takes you up on your offer – I know if I lived nearby I certainly would
Event: Ariston Elemental Organic Garden Planting day
“Planting day/ Spring Equinox”
What: Festival/ Trade day
Host: Ariston Organic Garden
Start Time: Tuesday, September 22 at 10:30am to 1230 and End Time: Tuesday, September 22 at 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Where: Ariston Elemental Organic Garden
Do you, or know of someone who has fruit trees dripping with fruit, or flowers or herbs which they may want to earn some money on? The same applies for crafter, bakers….. etc. Please encourage everyone to join us for this Special Day. A communal trade will occur with a small donation to Ariston after.
Please let me know on aristonorganic@gmail.com if you would like to trade goods.
Let us celebrate:
The Spring Equinox
Planting Season in conjunction with Jason’s Garden
Eat local, grow local, buy local.
Community spirit.
Thanking you in advance for your support.
I have been hoping and waiting for a vege alotment in Woodstock, never got around to organising it myself but I know from chatting to others in the neighbourhood it would be a hit and a healthy community investment.
I wonder if anyone could help. I am looking for an allotment. I am living in Claremont. Any ideas? Thanx
@Jessicah – I have heard quite a few people chatting about organising an allotment in Woodstock.. I hope that enough of you can get together and organise something – it would be awesome to have a ‘green lung’ in Woodstock, and a lovely way to spend spare time! Please keep me posted if anything does happen.
@Penny – I am hearing rumours of something happening in Claremont… will let you know as soon as I do! I would definitely like to be involved with that myself, too.
Hi all, I am totally new here but glad to have found you! I have decided to do something I know nothing about so all advice welcome! I want to buy one tree a month for the next 24 months and plant them in large containers (wooden or plastic) so that I can move them should we vacate our current premises. I currently have a granadilla tree and a lemon tree. So………I have two questions:
1. Where can i learn what i need to know about looking after these trees, each one’s needs etc. – organic of course!
2. Anyone have an idea of what i can plant these trees in? Would need to be fairly large containers!!
All advice welcome and appreciated!
Many thanks,
Michele
Thank you for your post, I am sorry it took so long to find this post because I think it is a great idea.
I think I can convince some family and friends to get together to do something like this and make it work!
Thanks again
Barry
.-= Barry Rice´s last blog ..Tomato Plant Diseases – How To Recognize And Treat Them! =-.
i will have to check into allotments in my area.. hmm
.-= Growing Vegetables´s last blog ..Vegetable Planting Guide =-.
I think the majority of people could make use of an allotment but many people think that you have to have a huge amount of space if you want to grow organic vegetables. When in actual fact you could grow some great things in just the smallest of places.
.-= Jane The Organic Gardener´s last blog ..5 Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips =-.
I have a small holding in landsdown +- 1000msq and would love to hear from any one who will be interested in a veg garden.
Hello Stephen
I am currently sharing a garden in Oudemolen.As the government,including Biovac and others,are evicting people from Oudemolen we don’t know where we stand. We may be seeking land elsewhere.would you provide an e-mail address so that people can make contact with you if need be ? Please keep us updated. Andreas
If anybody is still reading this, Julie (from Wynberg… I think I know which piece of land you’re looking at) and Chez (from Plumstead) please get in touch. I’m establishing a relationship with the municipality around using a Council-owned piece of land in Wynberg for the community – not for gardening initially, but we may be able to grow it into that.
Great post! My dad lives in the country and always grows his own vegetables, so I certainly know what you mean! I would love to grow my own garden, but I do live in the city and don’t even have my own backyard. I do have a balcony, however. I have heard about greenhouse kits, and I would to try one if they have a smaller size to fit.
http://www.greenhousekitguru.com/
Am so glad I came across this post!
I am a young lady who has decided to rent a small section of land from a local farmer due to several failed attempts at doing so in my own backyard. There is plenty of land but the soil is just too sandy (well that was initial excuse)! when I had somewhat solved that problem,I was faced with the monkeys…they savage everything before it even gets a chance to ripen!
oh oh! I’m from KZN South Coast.