Grow more goodness

What was the motivation for Alot?

Wish your area had a community garden? Instead of awaiting for local councils to act and land to become available, we had an idea to turn every lawn into a micro-community garden for people who were yearning to get their hands in the soil. It's just like having your own allotment, except your allotment is in a kind neighbour's yard.

Are there allotments in New Zealand?

Not really. Allotments are a concept from England and the UK where people who live in flats can rent a small space to garden on a piece of land that's walking distance from their home. It is a practical solution to urban intensity where not everyone has a lawn that they can use to grow food. Alot extends the allotment concept to a New Zealand setting, where we actually have plenty of houses with underutilised lawns, that green thumbs could easily turn into thriving, nourishing gardens.

Is this less secure than an allotment or a community garden?

People with allotments in the UK pay money to rent their allotments, and get some formal renter's rights in return. But allotments and community gardens can still be taken away by the council or land owner at any time. The Alot model promotes a cashless trade, and a relationship built on trust and mutual understanding. This creates a different type of security.

Who pays for the seedlings?

The land owner. Usually they set a budget for what they're willing to pay each season. The gardener is often the one who spends the most time at the local garden center.

Who gets the bounty of the harvest?

Both people usually split the fruits, seasonal vegetables, berries, flowers, native plants, herbs and medicinal plants 50/50.

Does the gardener get paid?

Not usually. Alot promotes building community through sharing skills and non-monetary trades.

Are these rules fixed?

Not at all. We encourage you to discuss your arrangement over a cup of tea, and come up with something that suits you both. A regular check in once-a-season is also a good idea, so arrangements can change over time.

How does Alot make money?

We don't. The website runs for free, and we maintain it as an act of service to the community.

Does Alot use AI?

No. No AI is used in the running of Alot. No AI has access to the database. No AI reads your data. AI was used to help write the code that built this website, but the code is kept seperate from the database where your information gets stored. No AI can access your information, and there's no AI running inside the live website.