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We hear more and more about being self-sufficient and sustainable today. But what does that mean? Essentially it means producing enough food or products for you to consume without having to go elsewhere. This may not be practical for many of us, but we can get involved in self-sufficiency in a small way and a good way of doing that is through owning an allotment.

Self-Sufficiency Blog - Try an AllotmentIn the past, cultures tended to be agrarian, but over time, farming methods changed and it became more profitable for larger farms.  This mean that the common man was reliant on jobs working for others.  In the UK in the 20th century, World War I prompted large numbers of temporary allotments to be set up in America, the UK, Canada, Australia and Germany.  People were encourage to grow their own, with slogans such as “Sow the seeds for victory! Plant and raise your own vegetables” (American slogan) or “Dig on for Victory!” (British Slogan). Towns and parks were turned over to the growing of produce during World War I and World War II.
 
Allotments declined somewhat after that, but today there is a new revival of interest.  People are more interested in growing their own food and knowing that their food is fresh, ethically sourced and organic.  There are over 250,000 allotment sites in the UK, enabling people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
 
If you are interested in growing your own food and becoming self-sufficient, we can help.  Take a look at the following selection from our distance learning courses, short courses and eBooks.
 
Study Medicinal Herbs with our Short CourseProficiency Award in Self-Sufficiency
Self Sufficiency I
Medicinal Herbs (Short 20 hour Course)
Herbs 100 Hour Course
Home Vegetable Growing
Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs eBook