Allotmenteering With Joe Harrison: ‘It’s A Good Idea To Grow A Few Things And Do It Well’

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Having acquired his first family allotment in 2016, Joe Harrison has not stopped since and has gone on to document his gardening experiences for his army of followers.

Known across social platforms as Grow With Joe, he is passionate about growing vegetables and encouraging young people to get involved, starting with his own children, who can be spotted getting their hands dirty in images captured on the allotment.

Joe works as a Freelance Garden Writer and has hopes in the future to start his own gardening podcast.

Learn more about Joe and all of his projects in his own words below.

Please note that the imagery featured in this article is provided courtesy of Joe Harrison.

How Did You First Get Into Gardening?

“We were very lucky to have a large garden growing up, so there was always something to do outside,” Joe shares. “We would watch the fish, tadpoles, pond skaters and frogs in our pond.

“We’d tend to our chickens by collecting eggs, cleaning them out, feeding them and watching them have a scratch about looking for insects and other treats in the soil.

“Then there was, of course, our vegetable patch. This is where my passion really began and it’s all thanks to my grandad – ‘The Master Gardener’.

“I have so many happy memories growing up in these wonderful surroundings. My grandad would lovingly tend to his vegetables, such as broad bean and pea plants, which were just perfect for a small boy like me to get lost amongst.

“He would look after his vegetables from dawn until dusk, only stopping at lunchtime for a sandwich and a mug of tea. I have lovely memories of following him around his veg patch, soaking in as much advice as he would send my way.

“Sitting alongside him, shelling peas and beans in the evening summer sun, is something which is still very close to my heart and are memories I look back on which bring so much joy and happiness.

“It’s my hope that I am creating memories like these for my children to look back on with the same fondness.”

Why Are You So Passionate About Gardening?

“Gardening is just so rewarding, enjoyable and addictive for all the right reasons. I will never tire of seeing those first signs of life emerge from the soil, no matter how many seeds I sow.

“Sitting down at the dinner table knowing you and your family are enjoying the food which you have grown really is the most satisfying feeling. By growing your own produce, it means you are in charge of how your produce is nurtured. You are in charge of how it’s grown, maintained and harvested.

“Working alongside nature is such a joy and something I never take for granted. Being outside in the fresh air with your hands in the soil is such a fabulous mood booster.”

Tell Me More About Your Experience With Allotment Growing…

“I favour working alongside nature and keeping a healthy balance in the surrounding biodiversity,” says Joe. “This is why we are completely chemical and pesticide free on our allotment.

“When visiting our allotment, you will see lots of nets and barriers to protect crops and a few munched holes in the odd leaf or root vegetable is common, which is all part and parcel of growing in a completely chemical-free, organic environment.

“The end goal of this whole process wasn’t to be fully self-sufficient or to never need to visit a supermarket again. The goal was for our children to be involved from a young age.

“We wanted them to know where their food comes from and to teach the skills and knowledge so they could grow it themselves. Seeing them sow, grow, tend to and then harvest and eat their own food makes me very happy indeed.”

Do You Have Any Tips For Getting Children Involved In The Garden? What Are Some Good Plants To Grow To Introduce Them To Gardening?

“Giving your children ownership of something is key to help motivate them. A great way to do this is to give them an incentive to venture outside, which you can do by giving them their own area of the garden or even just a plant pot to look after.

“Strawberries are the perfect plants for children to have a go at because they’re fun to grow, really easy to care for and they’ll be rewarded with lots of yummy, sweet treats that they’ve grown themselves.

“Creepy crawlies are always fun to find no matter how young (or old) you are,” he adds. “The great thing about this activity is that insects are all around us, so you don’t need to have a huge garden or even venture too far to find something.

“Gently moving a plant pot or an old log can uncover lots of fabulous minibeasts for the kiddies to inspect, draw and if they’re brave enough, even hold.

“Counting how many insects you find with your children and seeing how many different species you can spot is the perfect way to introduce them to nature and get them excited to be outside.”

What Would You Say To Those Who Are Thinking About Giving Gardening A Go?

“It can be a little daunting if you’re completely new to gardening, no matter how big or small your growing space. Whether you’re starting your gardening adventure on a new allotment or even in a container on a patio or balcony, just remember to try and start with a small selection of things.

“It’s a good idea to grow a few things and do it well, rather than trying to grow lots of things and struggling.

“Gardening is supposed to be enjoyable, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself if something doesn’t grow or dies suddenly. You may even find that something you grew successfully one year will be a complete disaster the next year, so don’t be disheartened – just have another go.

“Gardening is all about having successes and failures and even the most experienced gardener will fail at things over the course of the growing season.

“If you’re struggling or are really unsure about something, just ask. There is one subject growers really enjoy talking about and that’s gardening, so don’t be afraid to reach out.

“If you don’t know the answer to something or need a little extra direction it really is ok to ask and I can almost guarantee it will be something someone has queried before.

“Just remember, there are no silly questions if you don’t know the answer!”

What’s Next For You And Grow With Joe? Do You Have Any Future Projects You’d Like To Share With Our Readers?

“I think Mother Nature overheard me saying how much we were getting ahead with things during autumn and winter because she has thrown a spanner in the works with terrible weather in April and equally awful conditions in May, which has slowed everything down and put us behind with proceedings on the allotment somewhat.

“However, more time spent catching up in the greenhouse with my hands in compost, sowing seeds and potting on has given me the opportunity to record more gardening videos for my Instagram followers, including the introduction of live chats.

“These live videos have given me an opportunity to speak firsthand to my followers to offer help and advice and give them a little insight into what happens on our Suffolk allotment.

“I am also hoping to start my podcast very soon which will be a chance to chat, answer questions and have some fun with my listeners each week.

“However, my time thus far in 2023 has been taken up with lots of freelance garden writing and catching up on the allotment, so there has been a slight delay in podcast proceedings.

“This is still a project I will be pursuing in the near future, which I am very excited about.”