Digging around

Local food growing is an important component of urban sustainability. Cities must learn to feed themselves as far as this is possible in order to reduce their ecological footprint and also to improve the quality of life of their citizens. Birmingham is no exception and in many ways has an advantage in that allotments have been an important part of the city’s culture since the nineteenth century. Indeed, gardens, food growing, orchards characterised the city (then town) as much as small engineering and manufacturing did in the years prior to the industrial revolution.

"Digging Around" offers you a glimpse of the allotment project funded by the Centre for Sustainability and Innovation at Aston University. This was developed in conjunction with staff from Birmingham Libraries and Archives and Dr John Blewitt, using many of the Central Library’s impressive archive collections. Special thanks go to Dr Lisa Palmer and Dr Andy Green whose enthusiasm, professionalism and expertise made this project a reality.

John Blewitt, Aston Business School