How could the demand for ‘grow-your-own’ be met within dense urban areas where available land is scarce? In 2007 What-if: projects together with local residents of an inner city housing estate in Shoreditch have come up with a novel solution:
GROW YOUR OWN IN A BAG!

This first Vacant Lot allotment on a housing estate in Hoxton, by What if: projects, was realised as a temporary intervention featuring bulk bags as growing containers and has since through considerable media attention inspired many similar low budget community food growing projects.

Since June 2007, this formerly inaccessible piece of land continues to be used as an allotment by the local community. Residents carefully tend a spectacular array of vegetables, salads, fruit and flowers each year. In addition insects and birds have moved in and thrive in this new natural habitat. The space has become a place for meeting neighbours, BBQs’, sitting in the sun and all weathers, playing and gardening.

Each year, as plots become free, the garden has welcomed new plot holders to the site. An annual fee of £12 has been introduced to cover the cost for keys and basic equipment. In 2014 all plots were reallocated and bags were refilled with the help of the "Good Gym". The Chart Street VACANT LOT continues to be run by volunteers from the WHAT IF: projects team.