Youngster grows vegetables to help locals

Jake 11

A young gardening enthusiast has been given his own allotment plot since helping out locals residents where he lives.

Riverside, the housing association who owns and manages homes on Colshaw Farm, recently handed over the lease for the land containing the allotments on Lincoln Road, Handforth to Dean Row Allotment Society.

Jake Johnson aged 11 started showing an interest in growing his own vegetables since becoming involved in gardening through his local scout group. His enthusiasm grew from there and when Ian Lomax from Dean Row Allotments heard about him, he was quick to offer Jake an allotment plot of his own.

Ian said "When I was told about Jake by a plot holder my first thought was, wow, what a lovely kid and didn't hesitate about offering him one of the community plots. I raised the subject at our AGM, with it agreed unanimously to give him a plot rent free."

Rachel, Jake's mum said "Jake is really interested in growing vegetables, he started off growing carrots and it just went from there. Jake has now started to plant a variety of vegetables, but doesn't just grow them for his own use. Jake wants to donate them to local people."

In his own words Jake said "I want to make sure the older people on the estate are able to get a hot meal."

Ian Lomax, Society Secretary, said "It is fantastic to see young people becoming involved in growing their own produce and especially a young lad like Jake who is doing it to help out others. With the enthusiasm shown by Jake, we now looking to start a children's club."

Jake said "It would be great if other kids got involved in allotments. I have learned a lot since getting my plot from the other gardeners and I really enjoy seeing my vegetables grow."

Allotment plots of various sizes are provided for anyone living in the Handforth area as well as community plots specifically for Riverside's tenants and residents on the Colshaw Farm Estate.

To find out more about the Society, or if you would like to apply for a plot, visit the Dean Row Allotment Society website  or email the secretary.

Tags:
Dean Row Allotment Society
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Comments

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DELETED ACCOUNT
Thursday 5th November 2015 at 1:03 pm
It is great that they have given this lad an allotment - his interest should be nurtured.
Pippa Jones
Sunday 8th November 2015 at 8:17 pm
This is absolutely fantastic! Well done Jake, you put us adults to shame! A children's club sounds like a great idea and I am sure there are lots of us with tools we rarely use or spare seedlings in the spring that might be useful. We have a Transition Wilmslow "Seedy Saturday" at the Community Garden in The Temp in Gravel Lane at the end of April when we swap seedlings, and perhaps we could all work together with Incredible Edible and other groups in Wilmslow and Handforth to get us all growing fruit and vegetables, not just for ourselves but perhaps even for others.
Pippa Jones
Friday 13th November 2015 at 12:25 pm
Jake, if you need seeds or seed potatoes, the Macclesfield Seed and Potato day is on Sunday 31st January 2016 10-3 at Macclesfield Town Hall. It's brilliant!
Rachel Bagnall
Friday 13th November 2015 at 2:49 pm
Hi everyone thanks so much for your lovely comments it's really nice to hear such lovely things said about my son and I will pass all of these onto him. X