Calling the cavalry

Chris Howard|15:48 UK time, Friday, 24 April 2009

Hi Sara, hi everyone. Nature Chris here with my first post!

So, Sara, by now Gardener's World should have had their little visit, and I am really looking forward to seeing the results. I sneakily started my seeds off a week or so ago to get a bit of a head start, and am happy with how they are going so far... But I'll wait until next week to talk about them, because first I have a confession to make.

I haven't done any gardening for a while. An eight or nine year-long while. So when I was asked to do this blog as a 'gardening expert' I was a little worried. Do I still know anything? Will I look like a fool? (Something I should be used to perhaps - see the Dig-In song on CBeebies for evidence!) Did I ever know anything?

So it was time to call in the cavalry. I went and talked to my own personal expert - my mum. The last time I did any gardening of note was with my mum, in her allotment, those eight or nine years ago. Now they've got a patch in the garden, an allotment and more fruit bushes than you can shake a stick at. I've been back a couple of times recently, helping out where I can and desperately trying to remember what this gardening lark is all about!

But that for me is a lot of what this is about - not just growing your own veg, but doing it with your family, friends, neighbours, whoever. It's great that Sara is already talking about getting her kids involved as that's how I started, and hope that a lot of the next generation of Gardeners will be inspired by this Dig In campaign.

And yes, your friends may laugh, the dog might run over the patch, the foxes might drive you mad but the satisfaction of growing your own veg is well worth it - as is time spent in the outdoors with people close to you.

So get out there, grab some other folk, and Dig In!

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About this blog

The Dig In campaign has finished now. Thanks to everyone who took part in the campaign throughout 2009 and 2010. We hope you enjoyed growing the Dig In seeds, especially those of you who are new to growing vegetables. This site is no longer being updated, but it is still packed full of useful information about growing veg.

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Expert authors

Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - check out his website for details. He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with BBC Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at Capel Manor College, Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the BBC Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

Peter Horrocks has an allotment in Newcastle. He's the regional rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners in the North of England & Scotland, the secretary of the Newcastle Allotments Working Group. Plus, Peter is secretary of a ten-acre allotments site in Newcastle, considered by many to be one of the best in the city.

Ben Raskin is an advisor with the Soil Association, as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

Beechgrove Potting Shed is Radio Scotland's top gardening show, giving tips and advice to Scottish gardeners - and the odd Dig In grower - every Sunday.

Zoe tends the Dig In website. When she's not in the office you'll find her gardening on Hampstead Heath and in Regents Park.

Ann "Dig In" Kelly looked after the blog from day to day until May 2010. Bitten by the gardening bug a few years ago, she has progressed from a few growbags to a great big polytunnel. She hates slugs.