The Story of Urban Allotments!
Urban Allotments is a family company, dedicated to helping you get into growing your own in whatever space you have available - whether it be your garden, your patio, even your windowsill! We are passionate about helping not only people to grow great taste from their own little spaces but also about giving those who have the desire but little time to get started.
We aim to spread the word - everyone can grow their own, and enjoy the satisfaction and enjoyment that can bring. No more throwing of half eaten salad and herb bags in the bin, pick fresh from your own back yard! Food needs to be valued again, kids need to understand more about what they eat and above all, this hobby doesn't have to break the bank.
Where did the idea come from?
Rachael decided she'd like an allotment a couple of summers ago. An allotment she got complete with little baby vegetables and herb plugs from a nursery run by our parents friends.
She slowly but surely became totally hooked on the whole idea of growing your own, opening the kitchen doors to check out dinner rather than the fridge quickly becoming part of her evening ritual.
Talking with work colleagues about her newly found passion for growing, Rachael found herself trying to find solutions to their desire to follow suit when hindered by their lack of garden space or ability to get to a garden centre.
And so was born the idea of growing crops in stylish yet functional pots that would instantly add character and design to patios, balconies, porches. Increasingly we have spread our range into larger gardens with raised beds and fruit trees.
Urban Allotments was a name taken from Rachaels crafty espionage on a not-to-be-mentioned councils website whose naming conventions, for once, meant something useful! The need for allotments in urban areas far outweighs the supply - which is where we come in!
Rachael and Dad had a couple of conversations, usually glass of wine in-hand, and following a few positive discussions with potential suppliers they realised that this idea could well be a viable business. Sarah, with nothing much else to do (with two small children!), was roped in to help out and quickly found herself hooked too. With kids in tow trying to battle with a trolley full of pots and compost soon became a chore rather than a pleasurable experience it was supposed to be! More people who share our 'passion' have been brought in too now, you know who you are!
The little baby plugs seem to unearth the nurturing instincts in everyone! You become so protective of your little plants that before you know it you've got the bug! We think everyone is capable, if the desire is there, to grow their own in whatever space they have available. With this online service, time is also no longer an excuse!
Business building
For the last 6 months the Rigby clan have been trawling around for stylish planters to grow in, traipsing around trade fairs, talking to suppliers, tracking down a specialist container gardener for input and generally establishing a business plan.
We've spent the last year re-modelling the website. After our first year, we had a better idea of where we wanted the business to go, and who are target market is, Urban Angel has been introduced for those with a keen eye for design.
Happy growing!
The Team at Urban Allotments (that'll be Noel, Rachael, Sarah, Kate and Trixie our little helper (on the home page).