I started growing my own food shortly after my daughter was born. At the time, I didn’t think of it as anything significant, I was just dabbling, planting bits and pieces in containers in the garden. Looking back now, I realise it was so much more than that.
The garden became a quiet kind of therapy for me. It helped me through a period of post-natal depression, something I didn’t even recognise until years later when I had the space to reflect. There was something incredibly grounding about getting my hands in the soil, nurturing plants, and watching things grow.
Not long after, I put my name down on the allotment waiting list with the local council… and that was it. The growing bug had well and truly taken hold.
The Allotment That Changed Everything
After nearly two years of waiting and what felt like weekly phone calls chasing for updates, I finally got the call to view a plot. Truthfully, I’d already said yes before I’d even seen it!
At the time, Sophia was 4 and Adam had just turned . Life was busy, messy, and far from easy but the allotment quickly became so much more than just a place to grow food.
It became our escape.
A place to slow down.
A place to reconnect with nature.
And over time, it has naturally became a huge part of our home education journey even before we officially started home educating!
Learning Through Living
We don’t sit down at the allotment with worksheets or structured lessons but learning happens constantly.
The children have been part of this journey from the very beginning. Over the years, we’ve built raised beds, a greenhouse, a mud kitchen, and a play area together. They’ve learned how to use tools, how to work as a team, and how to take responsibility for something that grows over time.
But what I love most is how many subjects weave into our days without forcing it.
Maths in the Garden
Maths shows up everywhere at the allotment, in the most natural ways:
- Counting seeds as we plant rows
- Measuring spacing between plants
- Working out how many plants fit in a bed
- Estimating harvests (“How many potatoes do you think we’ll get?”)
- Weighing what we pick and comparing yields
- Measuring up for projects
It’s practical, hands-on, and actually meaningful.
Science & Nature
The allotment is one big science lesson:
- Understanding how plants grow
- Learning about soil health and composting
- Observing insects and pollinators
- Seeing first-hand how weather impacts growth
The children aren’t just being told how things work, they’re witnessing it in real time.
Life Skills
Some of the most valuable learning isn’t academic at all:
- Patience (waiting for things to grow!)
- Resilience when crops fail
- Problem-solving when something isn’t working
- Independence and confidence
And of course, learning where food comes from which I think is one of the most important lessons of all. When we understand how food is grown, raised, or produced, we become more mindful of the resources, people, and processes involved. It also encourages healthier choices, reduces waste, and fosters a stronger connection to the environment. This has made a huge difference to our lifestyle and the impact on our children is clearly evident in their relationship with both food and the environment.
The allotment has become a core part of our weekend rhythm.
Our Weekend Rhythm
We head down as a family, usually without a strict plan. The children start by checking on everything, seeing what’s changed, what needs doing, and what’s ready to harvest.
From there, the day unfolds naturally.
Some moments look like “work”, planting, watering and building.
Others look like play, mud kitchen creations, exploring, climbing and digging. Their favourite things to do is saving worms from the paths and moving them to a safer place.
But all of it is learning.
There’s a freedom in this kind of education. It doesn’t feel forced or pressured, it’s simply part of our life.
Keeping It Simple
We keep things simple by growing what we eat.
We mostly sow from seed to keep costs down, although sometimes life gets busy and we’ll buy plants from the garden centre and that’s okay too. That balance is part of real life, and that in itself is a lesson.
Over the years, we’ve grown:
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Broccoli
- Beetroot
- Peas and beans
- Pumpkins
- Sweetcorn
- Apples and pears
- Strawberries and raspberries
This year, we’re focusing on a really good berry harvest and hopefully improving our success with beans. I’ve still no idea why we can’t get a good harvest of beans!
More Than Just an Allotment
What started as something small has become such a big part of our lives.
The allotment isn’t just where we grow food, it’s where my children learn, explore, and develop in a way that feels natural and meaningful.
It’s home education without pressure. Learning without forcing. And growing together, in every sense of the word.
And honestly? I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Thinking about growing your own?
If you’re just starting out, start small. A pot of herbs on a windowsill or a single raised bed can open the door to meaningful, hands-on learning. Over time, these small steps build confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection to the natural world, for both you and your children.
You don’t have to do it alone, either. There’s a growing community of families, growers, and educators sharing knowledge, inspiration, and encouragement. Reaching out, asking questions, and learning alongside others can make the journey feel lighter and far more rewarding. You can follow our journey over on instagram: www.instagram/com/everydaywithmaz or you can access further support and guidance through the Royal Horticultural Society.