In this episode, Laura and Chay chat with Claire, an allotmenteer from Portchester in Hampshire, known online as Harvest and Home UK. Claire’s allotment journey began just four years ago when she and her husband, Trev, decided on a whim to apply for a plot—despite having no prior gardening experience. Like so many who discover the world of allotments, they quickly became hooked.

Since then, their passion has continued to grow. They’ve taken on additional plots, started keeping chickens, and embraced a slower, more hands-on way of living. Claire shares how the allotment has shaped her life, from learning to grow her own food to preserving produce in creative ways—like her popular homemade chilli jam.

We also talk about her recent move into vlogging on YouTube, and how documenting her journey has opened up a welcoming community of like-minded growers.

This episode offers a warm and inspiring insight into how an allotment can unexpectedly transform your day-to-day life, your wellbeing, and your sense of purpose—often in a very short time.

You can find out more about Claire on Instagram at @harvestandhomeuk,
and you can follow her journey over on YouTube under Harvest and Home UK.

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Allotment Diaries Podcast is a podcast that examines what has worked well and what hasn't worked so well when it comes to having an allotment plot. It seeks to give an honest insight into what owning an allotment plot is actually about.