Launching my blog: The Good Life

What better way to launch my AllotmentPickings blog than with a note about The Good Life exhibition running until March 2010 at London’s hidden treasure, The Garden Museum. This small show is a “must see” for anyone who values their plot, for anyone interested in social history, for anyone concerned about our planet, for anyone. Starting with a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of allotments - illustrations of the demise of the Manor Gardens allotments in favour of space for the 2012 Olympics - it covers the three major Grow Your Own movements of the past 100 years. The pattern is clear; at times of crisis we become sudden Good Life Tom and Barbaras only to revert to Instant Luxury Life Jerry and Margots at the hint of the return to prosperity. Just one result? Developers move in, allotment space disappears.

Can we break this mould? Will the current must-have-a-plot/must-grow-our-veg hype survive a receding recession and a winter or two of digging and chilblains or will we, too, emulate history? What are we doing to spread the word that rooting ourselves and our veg should be normal everyday life for each generation, on our window ledges, in pots outside our back doors, in our plots or our gardens; that a bunch of mixed in season flowers beats 10 perfectly formed, cellophane-wrapped, carbon footprint stamped matching stems any day? Landowner Sir Julian Rose certainly seems to be supporting the movement by offering 5 acres of his agricultural land in Oxfordshire for allotment rental.

If you are near The Garden Museum, pop in. If not, make an outing of it and enjoy their café, shop and garden.

The Good Life exhibition, until March 7, 2010. www.gardenmuseum.org.uk