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Student creates 'allotment in a box'

An innovation in gardening could soon be bringing the grow-your-own concept to thousands of people. A revolutionary ‘allotment in a box’ is the brainchild of Northumbria University student Carly Stephenson. The core product is a vegetable patch in a self-watering container which means the plants are virtually indestructible.

Carly, a final year Design for Industry student, said: “When I was growing up my family had an allotment and I loved the whole concept of growing fresh vegetables and the sense of family togetherness that goes with that. This idea is aimed at people who are probably already into organic produce and would love to grow their own but simply don’t have the time.”

The range comes with a variety of accessories that can transform the product into a vertical garden for a wall or a stackable tower - making it a suitable addition for any urban garden, courtyard or even a balcony. To successfully recreate the community appeal of the allotment, Carly has taken ‘Ugro’ to the next level by creating a website forum ‘Ugro over the garden fence’ where people can swap tips, hints, advice and recipes over the net. Carly’s idea could soon become a business reality as she has already approached leading DIY stores with her idea and has had a very favourable response.

Mark Bailey, a Senior Lecturer in Design for Industry, said: “Carly’s project is extremely topical and taps into a real market opportunity. We are beginning to recognise the importance of eating healthy food. “We’re tremendously proud of Carly, a local student who has taken full advantage of the opportunities offered by the course and is now set to start a career with one of the UK’s leading design consultancy businesses.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .