The threat of climate change and the rising costs of imported foodstuff on our nation's food security is something most Brits prefer not to think about. The thing is, it's not that scary if we personally take a little more responsibility for what we eat. How? By growing our own.The Soil Association is pushing a campaign aptly titled "Dig For Victory" to encourage people to be more self-sufficient when it comes to their food. They would like more of us to learn simple agriculture skills and start growing our own fruit and vegetables and have also proposed every child to visit a working organic farm before they turn eleven.

Patrick Holden director of the Soil Association told The Independent on Sunday "there is this perception out there that farmers have a huge knowledge and you couldn't possibly do it. But the truth is the principles [of gardening] are just scaled up in agriculture. We need to affirm that Britain's citizens do have the ability to grow their own food."

It was National Allotments Week this week a few weeks back (11-17 August) and a number of allotment sites opened their garden gates for those keen to sneak a peak. If you would like to know more about owning your own allotment visit The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

With energy and food prices expected to rise, it is as good a time as any to learn a new hobby. With readymade vegetable gardens available now, it has never been easier to start.