Jon Daniels
MSc. Architecture: Advanced
Environmental & Energy Studies

Hi, my name is Jon and I lived and grew up in Suburban North West London, a couple of years ago I moved to London Colney and at the same time studied for a Masters in Environmental and Energy studies. It dawned on me that I didn’t know how to cook and or where my food came from. Since watching food programmes by the likes of Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall I have started to look at ways that I and the community around me can change their habits and approach to food and energy. This article is about growing your own food and specifically an idea called Landshare.
What is Landshare?
With allotment waiting lists massively over-subscribed and people right across the country keener than ever to grow their own fruit and veg, the aim for Landshare is to become a UK wide initiative to make British land more productive and fresh local produce more accessible to all. 
Why get involved?
- Save Money
Growing you own food saves you money. I purchased a White and Purple Wight garlic bulb for a couple of pounds a few weeks back. I now have twenty-four young garlics that have sprouted and ready to consume in a matter of months. That is a pretty good return. We spend over seventy per cent of our weekly food budget in the large supermarkets, whilst they are entering a price war at the moment, food prices have been going up in recent months, and have gone up massively in the last decade. The reason for this is the close relationship between food and oil prices. The herbicides, pesticides and transportation costs to get your food in good condition from farms into our local supermarkets require plenty of energy. With North Sea oil & gas running out we are ever more reliant on overseas oil and the fluctuations in those prices. Growing your own food allows you to be less dependent on these price fluctuations and saves a few pounds at the same time.
- Healthier Food
Growing your own produce not only saves you money on your food bills but it also provides you and your family with healthier food. A report by London Metropolitan University in January said that a quarter of four year olds are obese and this rises to a third by the time they are eleven. Growing your own veg and using the landshare scheme if you do not have access to your own plot will help combat this if you have kids, but also improve your own diet. Imagine being able to pick your own berries in the summer and make your own soups in the winter, which will keep for days.
- Carbon Footprint
Why not help reduce your carbon footprint by growing some of your own veg? If you go to the end of London Colney and look down onto the M25 you will see truck upon truck scream by carrying food all around the country and bringing it in from further abroad. My mum still buys fine green beans from Kenya, American blueberries and Mangos from Costa Rica in the winter. Why not enjoy the bountiful seasonal produce that is available at this time of year? Many of these such as Parsnips, Jerusalem Artichokes and Carrots are easy to grow and make gorgeous and quick winter soups. Here is a chance to grow some of your own local and seasonal veg and doing your bit for the environment at the same time.
Community
I think Landshare is a great way to bring members of the community together. I am sure there are people who remember digging for victory, who may not be physically able to garden anymore, but could definitely pass on plenty of growing advice in exchange for a few carrots. It is also an excellent way of getting your kids involved with where their food comes from, from an early age. I for one grew up not knowing what many foods were and when they are available in the UK. Anyone who has tasted a British strawberry in the summer and then one that has been imported in the winter can taste the difference. Gardening is also a great way of getting in some exercise. You don’t need to go to the gym for a decent work out. 
How to use Landshare
Go onto the Landshare website, or get someone else to do it for you. Sign up as a grower, a landowner (you can offer your land in return for produce), a land-spotter (if you’ve got your eye on a fertile patch) or a facilitator (to support elderly or other landsharers who need a bit of help). If you have already found a group of fellow growers you can register as a group. Then it’s a question of waiting and checking to see if you find others to help bring together land owners, growers and helpers.
I for one can testify to this project. I typed in the postcode where I live, found someone with a back garden he was willing to share. We met up a few days later and I am now preparing the land to plant garlic, Jerusalem Artichokes and broad beans.

Join Landshare here...
http://landshare.channel4.com/