Do you have a green thumb but no garden? Well, a new 'Airbnb for gardeners' lets you rent garden space to grow your own produce and plants.
AllotMe, founded by architect Conor Gallagher, connects growers with green spaces in urban areas. Simple and effective, Conor's vision was to use under-utilised land in cities and make finding a vegetable patch as "easy as ordering a taxi or booking an Airbnb".
To rent an allotment, simply register your interest and you'll be paired with local residents who have available outdoor space. Depending on size, the price to rent a plot is currently between £15 and £30 a month.
With waiting lists for allotments increasing by 300% as a result of nationwide lockdowns, it's harder than ever for some city-dwellers to find the growing space they need — and that's why Conor wanted to help.
"The notion was actually to launch in spring of 2020 but when Covid-19 hit, that plan was waylaid like so many others. During the first lockdown however, I noticed a significant uptake on AllotMe’s website and our own Greenfinger Waiting List," Conor told The Metro.
"At this point there were also multiple reports emerging of traditional allotment waiting lists increasing by figures of 300% in some cases. It became clear to me that lockdown proved our day-to-day habits could be changed for the better, and that people were now looking for practices that aligned more with their ideals for a more sustainable and wholesome lifestyle."
As well as growing new produce, Conor says that gardening during lockdown was a "tremendous escape from the monotony", providing him with a much-needed mood boost.
"It became clear to me that lockdown proved our day-to-day habits could be changed for the better, and that people were now looking for practices that aligned more with their ideals for a more sustainable and wholesome lifestyle," he adds. "In a time where it's all too easy to take out your smart phone and get lost for an hour at a time without realising it, 'growing your own' gives me a real grounded sense of time and purpose."
For more information about how to rent out a garden space, head over to the AllotMe website.
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
