Allotment - the Where, When, Why and How - What is the Soil Association

The Soil Association is the regulatory body for organic products in the UK. None the wiser? No, I wouldn't be either, but this is essentially their remit. Organic farmers aim to produce good food from a balanced living soil, organic toiletries are made from products grown in a balanced living soil and processed in ways that match up to environmental principles, and so on. Strict regulations, known as standards, define what producers and manufacturers can and can't do. These regulations place strong emphasis on protecting the environment. Farmers can't grow genetically modified crops and can only use four of the hundreds of pesticides available to farmers. Cosmetic companies can only use organically produced ingredients and a limited range of processing systems on those ingredients.

Why are more people are choosing organic?

• Many people choose organic food because they believe it tastes better.
• Organic farmers, as far as possible, avoid using unnecessary chemical sprays. Food additives linked to asthma and heart disease are among those banned under organic standards and so food safety is something many people feel is more likely to be guaranteed by organic food.
• Organic farming, and even food production at the allotment level, is friendlier to the environment so there is a much greater diversity of birds, butterflies and plants on organic farms. Organic standards ban the use of GM technology as well as a range of pesticides and herbicides that have caused the virtual elimination of much of Britain's wildlife.
• Many allotments are now classed as organic, which means that you need to check what you can and can't use (or grow) on your plot before upsetting all your neighbours. To find out more, visit: http://www.soilassociation.org/

allotment organic photograph by zoonie, used under a creative commons attribution licence