Roots Allotments Coming To Stourbridge!  

We are coming to the Stourbridge area and wanted to release a statement on what we hope to achieve with our newly launching growing community and the good vibes projects that we can facilitate in the surrounding locality.

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Roots mission is to make growing food more accessible by opening new allotments on agricultural land. We think that by enabling people to grow their own food on fields that have classically not benefited the local populace around them, will help us develop a deeper understanding of the care, time and energy needed that goes into food production. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an everyday citizen sowing seeds, or a farmer, we can all contribute towards food security by taking up growing no matter how big or small.

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The land we have chosen in Stourbridge has been conventionally farmed in the past and shows the typical signs to us of soil degradation from being ploughed previously. We have been told that the field has previously grown single variety crops of potatoes, wheat, barley and oats to name a few. Now the land has the chance to grow a hugely diverse range of crops and create a longer lasting benefit for those who come to grow on it and also for the natural world which will get a boost from the establishing of a wildflower meadow, fruit & nut orchard, and the multiple habitats from wild bee hives to bat boxes that we aim to set up with the community once they are growing and the space is open.

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The organic matter in our Stourbridge site's soil currently sits at around 2.5% which is the same level we encounter when viewing and testing many of the conventionally farmed prospective sites up and down the UK. Prime food growing conditions should have an organic matter rating of 9-12%. We’ve looked at samples under the microscope and they are lacking key fundamental structures that would indicate an intact and healthy soil food web.

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Over time as we increase the organic matter percentage by following no-dig growing techniques we should see an increase in yields and also nutritional content of the produce grown because we are allowing the soil to recover with minimal disturbance.

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On top of creating a space for people to grow their own food and connect with other like minded members of their local area. We will also be offering free patches to local schools, community groups and charities so we can begin to inspire and educate more children and adults to grow their own.  

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If anyone reading this knows of an organisation/charity/school who could benefit from a patch please get in contact with us on [email protected]. We also offer a 25% discount to any blue sirens workers (+ NHS & militarily), students, and those on income support.

If you are interested in getting a patch, click here to sign up to the pre reg list and grab yourself a patch at 6:00PM Friday 1st September!