Living in a flat and having a garden is possible. When there's no patio or terrace space to grow vegetables for personal use, one option is to rent a plot on the outskirts of the town, although it's hard to find one small enough to meet the needs of one family. Now the Estepona-based firm Agrojardín plans to fill that gap. Their pioneer project in the town offers people the chance to rent small allotment plots on which to grow vegetables. The idea has been exported from other European countries where the system is very popular, and it has been a success among customers. In fact around thirty people have already shown an interest. "We have all sorts, from people who don't even know what a tomato looks like and want to grow them, to a crop farmer who has worked for other people all his life, and now wants to have his own bit of land", explains María Dolores Extremera, the project's agronomist.
Many are attracted by agricultural tradition, but others see it as a way to achieve a healthy diet. "What people want is to know what they are consuming. Eating a tomato out of season isn't normal; it doesn't taste of anything", adds the engineer.
To make caring for the garden simpler, the firm organises the installation the irrigation system, sets up a small shed for storing tools and even offers advice to those who are less used to picking up a spade and a rake. "The people who come have to provide the seeds and be ready to work", warns Extremera, although the firm does offer to look after clients' gardens if they are unable to tend them themselves for a period of time. They also plan to hold courses to help provide answers to the main questions and concerns about how to get the best produce from the land. "It's simple; anyone can do it", the firm points out.
The garden will start to function at the end of July, according to the firm's forecasts. By then they will have prepared a plot covering some 4,000 square metres, which will be divided into 60 allotments. These will be rented out for a minimum of six months at a cost of no more than 100 euros. "It's not expensive if you compare the price of produce on the market with the production possibilities of these plots", calculates the agronomist in charge of the project.
Each client will be free to choose what to buy and to use their own tools. Agrojardín will also offer them the possibility of purchasing everything they need for the work from their shop - just a few metres from the gardens. "The aim is to diversify our activity and create synergies so that those who have a plot come to the centre and buy products", explains Antonio Bazán, the owner of Agrojardín. In fact, they are already designing a space in the shop to stock everything required for working the land. The rest is in the hands of the new crop farmers.
