Now is the time of year when new life is appearing everywhere. Have you given a thought to helping Nature and yourself at the same time, by starting to cultivate an allotment? Perhaps you and a few friends could work together on it - because it does take sustained loving work and care. The rewards though are worth it. Apart from the pleasure of fresh food for yourselves and to share with your friends, you have the satisfaction of being able to combat the glut of tasteless, chemically grown, poison sprayed food we are now offered in the shops. And you can do this in a very positive way by applying organic growing techniques in your allotment.

Here are some addresses and information which may help you get it together.

Where to find one

Well there are 33 allotment areas in Newcastle alone. Each is run by its own association on a more or less co-operative basis, and the people there are only too ready to give you help and advice. You can find the one nearest to you by ringing Newcastle 28520 (ask for Mr B Brown) or Durham 4411 (Mr R Hemmings).

An average rent is £1.50 per year for a 300 sq.yd allotment.

Planting, how what and when

There are several associations who are devoted to spreading knowledge of organic growing techniques: The Henry Doubleday Research Association, 20 Convent Lane, Bocking, Braintree, Essex, are worth writing to for a list of their publications which include pamphlets on making compost, non-toxic pest control and a very useful book 'Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables' by L D Hill.

The Soil Association, Walnut Tree Manor, Haughley, Suffolk can also supply information including employment possibilities on organic farms and market gardens. They publish a monthly magazine 'Span'.

A cheap and comprehensive guide is 'The Basic Book of Organic Gardening' by Rodale and Turner, published by Pan / Ballantyne at 40p.

Two large and detailed books are 'The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening' and 'Organic Plant Protection' both published by the Rodale Press, Berkhampstead, Herts. These should be in your local library for reference.

A very enlightened magazine is 'Seed, the Journal of Organic Living' which is in some health food shops or write to 8a All Saints Road, London W11.

So if you have some spare time, on the dole perhaps, and want to work with Mother Earth, it is still not too late to go out and get it in.

Mike