Needed More Than Ever

 If you’ve stood at a supermarket checkout in the last couple of years and quietly muttered “when did that get so expensive?”, you’re not alone. Food prices have shot up at a rate that’s left many of us blinking at receipts like they’re written in another language. What used to be a normal weekly shop now feels more like a budgeting exercise worthy of a spreadsheet and a strong cup of tea.

For our family, the last two years have really driven home just how important growing our own food has become. This isn’t just a hobby anymore — it’s a genuine part of keeping the household budget under control.

The reasons behind the price rises are many: higher fuel and energy costs, climate problems affecting crops, global supply issues, and the knock-on effects of world events. All of that filters down until it lands squarely in your trolley. And once prices go up, they don’t seem keen to come back down again.

That’s where the allotments and the garden step in.

Between me, Sam and Iris, the plots aren’t just somewhere to stretch the legs — they’re producing real food that keeps us fed week after week. Potatoes, leeks, beans, brassicas, onions… all the steady, reliable crops that would otherwise add a painful chunk to the shopping bill. When you’re lifting a crate of spuds you grew yourself, it’s hard not to think of it as money dug straight out of the ground.

We’ve also leaned heavily into growing bedding plants, both for home and the allotment. It’s one of those quiet money-savers that doesn’t shout about itself. Instead of buying trays of plants each year, we grow what we need, when we need it. The garden looks better, the allotment is more productive, and the wallet breathes a little easier.

Now, I won’t pretend growing your own is free or easy. Seeds cost money, compost isn’t cheap, and the weather seems to enjoy testing our patience. There’s also the small matter of sore backs, muddy boots, and crops that occasionally fail despite your best efforts. Gardening keeps you humble.

But when things go right — and often they do — the rewards are huge. Fresh veg on the table, food you trust, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing you’ve taken some control back. In times when household bills feel unpredictable, that feeling is worth its weight in runner beans.

The last two years have reminded us why allotments still matter. They’re not old-fashioned relics — they’re practical, sensible, and more relevant than ever. Growing our own won’t solve everything, but it makes a real difference. And these days, every saved pound counts.

If food prices stay high — and I suspect they will — we’ll keep sowing, planting, and digging. Not out of nostalgia, but because it works. And because nothing tastes better than food grown with a bit of effort, a lot of mud, and just the right amount of stubbornness.