When I lived in Reading I enjoyed growing veg in my student house garden, and writing about it. Gardening has always been one way in which I can indulge in passivity without quickly falling back into hyperactivity. Now I'm living in London, a big dirty blemish, but I've managed to get a spot in a friend's garden to grow some veg.

After two afternoons of clearing brambles, tangleweed and nettles, then digging out the roots and assorted rubble, here's my allotment:

I've put in two courgette plants, and I have plans for sugar snap peas, carrots and perhaps some greens. Rob and I even built a little crazy paving path down one side using the clay layer under the topsoil and rubble that we dug out. Next job: dig the rest of the soil, plant the seeds for the other plants, and paint the wall with some art student friends!