About Homegrown Bristol

Julietta

I’ve always loved cooking and eating vegetables but never thought I could successfully grow my own!

I developed a passion for vegetable growing around 10 years ago. I went to a day of workshops and discussions in Bristol that focused on the environment, transition economies and the potential impact of peak oil on societies around the world. At the end of one of the workshops we were asked to make a resolution, a promise to do something practical as a result of the day’s events. I decided to put my name down for an allotment as I was keen to produce my own food, albeit on a small scale. 

After nearly two years of waiting, my name came to the top of the list. How can I begin to describe the excitement of seeing my plot for the first time? Well, let’s just say it was a little underwhelming! A magnificent variety of weeds, some as high as myself, and the prospect of hours of work to turn it into a productive growing space. I tackled parts of it bit by bit, the first year covering about half of it in cardboard, manure and straw, then going on to clear sections of it and plant directly into the soil. 

I now have a busy plot that feeds me and my partner Mike for the whole summer and part of the winter too. I put up a greenhouse this year which has extended the growing season and enabled me to try aubergines in the summer and salad leaves in the winter. There’s always more to learn and ways to do things better when you’re gardening!