Londoners Rediscover Recession-Proof Hobbies
New Trends Are Choir Singing, Allotment Gardening and Handicrafts
May 28, 2009
London is not the ideal place to promote a modest lifestyle. The latest fashion and expensive wine bars, nights out in theatre, discos or fancy restaurants are costly ways of having a break. After the credit crunch hit Britain some people decided to look at the positive side of the downturn - and to find inexpensive and possibly more rewarding ways of spending time instead of money: Growing their own vegetables in allotment gardens, singing in a choir, knitting, crocheting and all kinds of handicrafts have suddenly become a source of excitement and satisfaction for many Londoners.
Choir Singing - BBC's All The Small Things Portrays a Trend
Time was obviously ripe for a proper singsong story when in 2008 the BBC decided to commission a television series about a choir in a Northern town. The personal ups and downs of the protagonist could not disguise one central message: Singing is fun!
Even before BBC started airing the first of six episodes of All the Small Things in March 2009 choirs noticed an increased interest of singers to join. "Choirs Are Becoming Cool" was the title of a report in the Sunday Times in June 2008.
So what are the benefits and thrills of choir singing? Like with the other portrayed hobbies one big point is social interaction. Whether a choir consists of closely knit circles of neighbours or friends or is a random of people from all walks of life - they talk, sing and have fun together.
One a more specific note, singing enhances deep breathing, it brings more oxigen into the body - and the serotonin-fuelled result is truly uplifting. Bad moods simply evaporate in a choir session. The health benefits of choir singing can be a larger lung capacity, a strengthened back and improved brain function.
For those unsure of their own voice - there are many choirs that take in new members without auditions and who do not force singers to sing solo unless they are keen to. After all choir singing is primarily a team sport.
Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables - Waiting Lists for Allotment Gardens
More and more people become aware of the connections between food, environment and health. Fruit and veg from the supermarket often have to travel or even airtravel many miles before hitting the shelves - fuel and cooling causes an impressive CO²-print. Many customers, who want fresh, organic produce grown regionally, sooner or later come to the conclusion that growing their own food might be the best solution.
In a city like London many people cannot simply walk into their own back garden to start digging a vegetable patch. Boxes on window sills, pots on small balconies all offer limited capacity for growing food. Allotments or community gardens offer space and soil for potatoes, cabbage, fruit trees or whatever people desire.
In the 1860s allotments were first offered to rural people coming to live in the city. Their heyday were the years during the World Wars, when "Dig for Victory" campaigns encouraged people to grow food in the city, as transport was difficult and supply scarce throughout Britain. After going out of fashion during the second half of the 20th century the demand is rapidly rising again now - to an extent that leads to long waiting lists.
Monty Don, famous BBC-gardener and president of the Soil Association, welcomes the increasing interest in growing food: "Most people are unaware of how tenuous our food supply is and the whole thing could come tumbling down in exactly the same way as the banks have. So we have to grow more of our own food or we won't survive and the way to start must be at home. The beauty of that is it's about the liberation - from the tyranny of supermarkets and this anonymous food supply" he says in The Guardian (19 February 2009).
Knitting, Sowing, Jewelry, Woodwork - DIY Is Back
While following the latest fashion trends is - still - great for some, other Londoners are aiming for a more individual and resourceful style. Generations of women have known that knitting and needlework can be enjoyed in groups. Years ago this might have been regarded a wallflower's way of spending an evening - chatting and knitting or crocheting.
Not so today. Organisers of DIY-events cater for their attendees with cool wine, cocktails and snacks, DJs and even live bands. The Craft Guerilla organises DIY craft nights, workshops and a monthly craft market, where people can buy and sell self-made items. For those who did not really listen when mummy talked about treads and needles, there are workshops like The Make Lounge to learn new skills in a short time.
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