[SAMPLE ARTICLE — personalise with up-to-date London Hub contacts before publishing]
Growing food is one of the most direct and satisfying things you can do as part of the Transition movement. It reconnects you with seasons and soil, reduces food miles, and — if you do it with others — builds the community connections that resilience depends on.
You don't need a garden. You don't need expertise. Here's how to start.
Container growing
If you have a windowsill, a balcony or a doorstep, you can grow food. Tomatoes, salad leaves, herbs, chillies, beans — all grow happily in pots. A 30-litre pot is enough for a tomato plant; a window box will give you salad leaves for months.
Start simple: buy a bag of peat-free compost, some seeds (salad mix, basil, radishes — all quick and easy), and sow them in whatever containers you have. Old yoghurt pots, wooden crates, colanders — anything that holds compost and has drainage holes works.
Allotments
London's allotment waiting lists are long — sometimes years — but worth joining. In the meantime, many Transition initiatives and community gardens welcome volunteers and often have growing space to share.
Community gardens — London Transition initiatives
Several London Hub initiatives run community gardens where anyone can volunteer:
- Transition Leytonstone — a volunteer-run organic growing space. Drop-in sessions most weekends.
- Transition Ilford — Forest Garden in Valentines Park, open to volunteers.
- Transition Kingston — community food garden with chickens and the Abundance juicing project.
- Transition FP&CE — Edible Landscapes London (ELL) in Finsbury Park, drop-in sessions Tuesdays and Sundays 10am–2pm.
- Transition Ealing — Village Park Allotment with starter plots available.
Seed swaps
Transition Tooting runs regular seed and plant swaps — a free way to access a wide variety of seeds, especially heritage and open-pollinated varieties. Check their website for dates.
Getting help
- Transition Network resources: transitionnetwork.org/resources
- London Food Link: sustainweb.org