Nature is your enemy: that’s the verdict of one BBC journalist berating the current trend of allotment ownership.

He had one himself way back in 1974, and found it simply too much hard work. Carrying the watering can, keeping the plot weed-free, getting the blackfly off his broad beans… he quickly came to the conclusion that it would be better to revert to buying his vegetables off Kingston market. Which he did.

But isn’t that rather missing the point? For some people having an allotment is about saving money on the food they’re eating (one of his inspirations in the early days, too) but for many it’s also about knowing where your food comes from, and getting out in the fresh air and having some productive exercise.

Sadly it’s the exercise part that ultimately put him off.

Check out the full story here on BBC News.

Related posts:

1. The Allotment Cookbook : review
2. National Trust goes on an allotment drive
3. The last onions