Your say / allotments
‘Words like “gated” bring visions of exclusivity, which allotments must never be allowed to become’
Allotment rent rises were passed at the most recent cabinet meeting, meaning that in some cases people and groups will see more than a 100 per cent rise in rents.
However, what we found most shocking was the way allotments were described by cabinet member Ellie King. There are dangerous assumptions in calling allotments “private food growing” in “gated communities”.
First, it ignores the many community groups who are working on sites. Often these groups are supporting mental health issues, physical illness, marginalised groups such as refugees and asylum seekers, young single mums; the list is endless.
is needed now More than ever
And usually those people go home not just feeling better but a part of something, and with some fresh food to boot.
Other groups are growing food for communities, locally in their neighbourhood, or for the vast food aid network across the city.
There was a protest outside City Hall ahead of the cabinet meeting which approved the rise in allotment costs – photo: Rob Browne
Allotments are the beginning of a city that truly supports food justice. People who work allotments are from all walks of life, and a microcosm of the area surrounding the site.
They are rich in our city’s food cultures with growers often producing the food that is an important part of their cultures.
And sharing the seed of those foods with others on site, mixing our cultures and bringing people together.
Allotments are places of learning. Words like ‘private’ and ‘gated’ bring visions of exclusivity, which allotments must never be allowed to become. Fenced, to avoid vandalism or deer, but never gated.
And then there was the suggestion that the increases were just a cup of coffee per week. Another dangerous trope, suggesting poor personal financial control.
Who remembers the idea that young people need to stop drinking coffees to be able to afford to get on the property ladder?
Allotments are not exclusive, never have been and we must make sure they never are.
Allotments came from the working class land movements that rose in waves following the Enclosure Acts, were begun so the working classes can access land to grow.
Allotments must not be allowed to become or be seen as the playgrounds of the middle classes, and we must fight this divisive rhetoric. Resistance is fertile!
This is an opinion piece by Sara Venn, the founder and chair of Edible Bristol, chair of Bristol Food Producers, and a trustee at Feeding Bristol
Main photo: Sara Venn
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