The demand for garden allotments – plots of land leased to individuals so that they can grow vegetables and fruit for their families – has been growing over the past year. With people trying to eat locally and wanting to know exactly where their food comes from, having access to your own space to grow vegetables has never been more in vogue. In addition, as the credit crunch starts to hit homes – and purses – in Ireland, this movement has received added attention.

Many people now live in apartments without access to gardens, particularly in Dublin. Every council in the capital has long waiting lists as demand for allotments far exceeds supply. During the Emergency of the 1940s, there were 40,000 allotments across the country but few of these were left by the turn of the century.

Thomas Cowderoy, who runs the popular website www.Irishallotments.net, tells me ruefully that there is approximately 1.6 sq cm of allotment land available in Dublin city per person – enough to grow a pinch of cress, perhaps, but not much more. The situation in Cork, where he is based, is different. At the moment, Cowderoy estimates that there are as many sites in the county – between council plots and privately run allotments – as there are in Dublin city. However, urban dwellers have been vocal about their demands for growing space, actively lobbying for more allotments, and councils across the country are finally starting to pay attention.

Cowderoy maintains his own allotment on a private farm in Blarney and speaks about the strong community feeling between the allotmenteers. “A lot of people that go into allotments are either beginners or experts and everyone is always happy to help the neighbour out with whatever they need. People always share their crops with each other and exchange vegetables, seeds. In the case of some allotments, they organise their own events.”

He also talks warmly about the mix of people that he meets while working on the allotment, such as “the retired person that has a lot of time and wants a great pastime, to some very young couples and people who just want to know what they are eating”.

Last year Karl Hennessy, a dairy farmer in Co Meath, decided to set up allotments on his farm. “It’s no money spinner,” he admits, “but I would like it to eventually cover its own costs.” He has recently noticed a difference in the people approaching him through his website www.growyourown.ie. “Last year they wanted to grow organic vegetables for dinner parties, now they want to know if they will be able to feed their family out of the allotment.”

For Hennessy, it’s very simple. “You'll never buy the same quality vegetables as you'll grow yourself.” However, he cautions: “Some people don't realise the volume of work.” On the other hand, he notes: “They often say ‘I appreciate what farmers do now’.”

Top tips

• Find out about local allotment sites from your local council. Don't get discouraged if there are long waiting lists – privately run allotments are often available.
• If your plot is covered with weeds, remember Rome wasn’t built in a day! Clear one bit, get that working really well and move on to the next section.
• Never be too shy to ask some of your fellow allotment holders for their advice. They’ve probably already struggled with something like your slug problem and figured out a way to deal with it.
• Start a compost heap. Keep a covered bucket in your kitchen and use it to store all your organic waste for transporting to the allotment.
• Grow vegetables and fruit that you like. You’re much more likely to put in the effort to take care of something that you enjoy eating.
• Go to your allotment at least once a week. If you leave it any longer, it just gets more difficult to deal with weeds.