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'I used my back garden to help others after job loss'

Mr Allotment Christopher Jones in a cream hoodie smiles for photo. Behind him are trees and shrubsMr Allotment
Christopher Jones says he has found "purpose" in helping those who would otherwise go hungry

A man who started growing food in his back garden to help people in need hopes to "inspire people to do the same".

Christopher Jones began growing food after losing his job as a security guard at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

"I'd lost everything in lockdown. I had no jobs, I had nothing.

"I was struggling financially and I thought, well, I've got a big garden - I'll turn it into a bit of an allotment.

"I was constantly studying on YouTube, I don't read books because I'm dyslexic but I can watch the video tutorials and learn from that."

mr Allotment A black netted cage covers one part of an allotment growing green produce, which more grows in open air next to itmr Allotment
Mr Jones spent many hours clearing out two allotments so he could grow produce

Mr Jones has since given his produce to people in Halton, Cheshire, via food banks, boxes set up on streets and through social media.

"In 2025, people shouldn't be going hungry and if an avid gardener could plant a couple of vegetables that would feed their family, but then any surplus could be donated to a food bank or a charity, then together we could make a massive difference."

After years of being on a waiting list for an allotment, he was given one in 2024 and, following media coverage of his work, Halton Borough Council offered him another allotment so he could grow more for residents who were struggling.

Members of the local community and others interested in his work have rallied to fundraise for the allotments and he is now hoping to buy more durable tools.

mr Allotment Green produce grows in soil on both sides of a path under a polytunnelmr Allotment
The produce is distributed at harvest-time to locals via charities and requests

He has set up a TikTok account called Mr Allotment to record his progress and maintain transparency and hopes it can inspire others.

"I've been asked to do things with schools, but at the minute because I'm doing everything on my own… it takes time away from me growing food for people in need.

"If a teacher wants to tune into my TikTok, ask questions, watch videos, watch the lives, they could learn and put it into fruition for themselves."

Spending about 8-14 hours per day in the garden or allotments, he says he would "love to be able to do it as full-time but I've still got to work".

"It's not an obsession - to me it is just like a general purpose.

"I just feel like if I'm able to help other people and if anyone's able to help other people, then they should try at least."

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