TORRENTIAL rain has driven vegetable growers away from Ongar's allotments, leaving the town council searching to fill plots.
The shortage at the town's allotments comes despite national figures showing that, on average, waiting lists are running into years.
Until Christmas, staff at Ongar Town Council, which operates allotments in Castle Street and Moreton Road, had waiting lists on both sites.
But now decision makers at Bansons Way have been forced to split plots in half in a bid to attract new people who may feel that a whole patch is beyond them.
Allotments in Moreton Road are 125sq m, while the land sections in Castle Street are double that size.
There are two half plots available on each site.
Eileen Gough, who manages letting of the allotments on both sites, hopes that dividing them up will make a difference.
She said: "I think that with the horrible English weather last year, unfortunately some people have given up hope – it's just put them off.
"But also maybe they are finding that with work commitments they are struggling to manage a whole plot, so we decided to divide them into half plots and advertise.
"We are just hoping we are lucky with the weather this year and really encourage people to take these on."
Mrs Gough explained how growing your own on an allotment is not only an unorthodox fitness regime, but it is also a good way to save money.
In total, there are 39 mixed-size plots on Castle Street and 13 full-size plots on Moreton Road.
A simple vegetable plan at either site can include potatoes, peas, brassicas and onions.
Mrs Gough added: "Being an allotment owner can be really fulfilling because it is very rewarding to eat what you produce yourself, but there is also a great social life to be had down there.
"It's particularly nice for people on their own."
High Ongar resident Gordon Arthur, the secretary of the Ongar Allotments and Gardening Society, echoed Mrs Gough's views but also said it would help the environment.
"Increasingly people are worried about their food, what is in their food and how far it has travelled," he said.
"Any given week you can walk into a supermarket and buy an asparagus that has been imported from as far away as Peru, but you can also grow your own asparagus here in Ongar."
The half plots available cost £15 per year at Castle Street and £10 at Moreton Road.
For more information, call 01277 365348.
