In this book you will find the truth about not only the joy an allotment can bring to even those who have given up trying to find anything worthwhile to care about, but also the hard toil that it demands. It won't fool you into thinking it is a journey of pure ease and happiness; Robin Shelton writes also of the tantrums involved in digging, digging and more digging, the fury in battle against bindweed - the most evil of all things that grow - and the devastation when not all your tender-loved seedlings survive.

Shelton and his best mate Steve begin with practically no knowledge at all of gardening and a non-existent budget. Tools and accessories are minimal and mostly come from the local dump. I don't think you ever needed more proof that anyone can do it if they put their mind to it. It is the honesty of this book that kept me giggling and chuckling throughout every page and despite the previously mentioned graphic detail of the struggles involved, I can't wait to do it myself!

Although Shelton does not necessarily provide factual information, i.e. what to do if this happens, etc, you learn far more by following his journey, learning from (and laughing at) his mistakes and being totally jealous because you don't have one of your own yet!

Cautionary note: This book will make owning a shed seem essential and non-negotiable and you will wonder how you ever lived without one before!