Swede dreams! Growing interest from flat residents

Published: 11 June, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

A GROW-YOUR-OWN project for people who live in flats is producing an array of mouthwatering vegetables at the Culpeper community garden in Angel.

Project organiser Scarlett Cannon, at the garden in Cloudesley Road, uses plastic shopping bags, tubs and boxes to show that even in a small space it is easy to grow everything from potatoes, tomatoes, sweetcorn and pumpkin, to carrots, broad beans, swede and  beetroot.

The Urban Food Growing scheme, funded by a Big Lottery grant, uses a mock-up of a small balcony, similar to those found in flats, to show how easy it is to nurture and grow produce. Scarlett, who has been growing vegetables for 22 years, said: “Everybody can be a gardener, no matter how big a space you possess. It’s a wonderful hobby which keeps you fit and grounded.

“And nothing tastes better than home-grown vegetables. Not only are they truly succulent but you know they haven’t been doused in chemicals, flown thousands of miles, and picked by people who are exploited.”