Dott 07

A new council site due to open in Edinburgh is believed to be Scotland's first official organic allotment and could point the way forward to a local, community based solution. Bridgend in the city's Craigmillar is being transformed into a pesticide-free area with 60 individual plots, due to open in June 07.

The 1.43 hectares site on an old disused farm replaces Hawkhill allotment near Easter Road which was shut-down. Edinburgh currently has 20 council-run allotments and around 1,100 plot-holders. But more than 800 people are currently on the waiting list and the council is struggling to find enough traditional allotment plots to satisfy demand.

It's time to fine-tune existing good ecological practice, as well as create new visions. Farmer's Markets should be transformed into community-assisted agriculture schemes, Fair Trade should become integrated with the battle for local foods and the organic imports scandal (whereby 70% of organic food is imported from abroad) must be fought.

These are all areas where the public is way ahead of the politicians. Analyst Datamonitor earlier this month forecast the UK market for organic products would rise to nearly 2.7 million pounds by 2010, up almost 69% from the 2005 level. And, a survey of British organic shoppers published by the Soil Association earlier this year showed more than 80% would rather purchase locally grown non-organic products that imported organic items. The answer can't be to import organic goods from abroad or to marginalise 'organics' as an expensive luxury.

The Bridgend site will be ground-breaking in terms of supporting and promoting organic cultivation and sustainability within the allotment community. The accessible nature of the site is also a very positive move. Cllr Ricky Henderson

George Sutherland, Federation of Edinburgh and District Allotments and Gardens Association trading secretary, said an organic workshop in April would help people to learn techniques about growing crops without using pesticides. "I am not aware of any other allotment site in Scotland where it is solely organic. I welcome the move because there are already about 10% of allotment owners who are organic. Organic is definitely growing." The unique Edinburgh allotment site will even have an organic composting toilet, raised beds for disabled gardeners and a rainwater collection system to be used for watering plots.

Maybe now's the time to offer old allotments the chance for wholesale conversion? Then you could begin to see localised urban farming producing fresh produce, and often in the cities most run-down or deprived areas. Are there old, un-used allotments that could be redesigned in the North East of England? Would you be more likely to pick up a trowel if allotments looked different?

There's a further aspect to this fragment of joined-up thinking. In the first-ever partnership project between the Council's Parks unit and NHS Lothian, a community allotment health project has been set up on the site. The health project, which is run across four of the sixty plots, is for GP- referred patients and ideal for people who want to get fitter, those who want to meet and work with other people outdoors, or simply want to have fun while learning something about growing their own fruit and vegetables.

This is about the simplest and most low-cost of designs yielding the greatest gains and renewing communities.

Are there organic allotments in the North East of England? Let us know by commenting below. The Dott 07 Urban Farming project in Tees Valley aims to get the people of Middlesbrough growing and eating their own locally produced fresh food. Check out the Urban Farm blog for the latest project updates.