I transformed my garden into an allotment to feed 1,500 people… but a mystery yob poured SALT on it | The Sun

A MUM has been left heartbroken after "evil" vandals poured salt all over her allotment.

They ruined the land Carly Burd, 43, had been using to feed 1,500 people during the cost of living crisis.

Carly Burd, 43, has been feeding the community of Harlow, Essex, for free using hand-grown vegetables since last July.

The mum-of-three first started growing seasonal vegetables in her own back garden, before expanding the project into a nearby allotment.

But she was left devastated when she visited the allotment on Saturday to find what she believes is five kilograms of salt had been poured on top of her land.

Carly, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and lupus, says the salt destroyed potatoes and onions which could have fed over 300 people.

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Carly said: "I came down on Saturday morning and I just tasted and saw [the salt].

"Five kilograms plus of salt has been poured over my garden. It wasn't a kid grabbing it – it was an adult who knew what they were doing.

"What's heart-wrenching is that those onions were planted by children and they really put their effort in to put something back into the community."

She went on: "I felt like I'd been kicked in the face. I have no other explanation for it.

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"Who would do that? It's just the most repulsive act I've ever known.

"[There's a huge] amount of people that it's going to affect, it's also affecting nature.

"All of the nature that's in the ground, all the worms, they're all dead. It has a massive impact."

She has not let this stop her – and is determined to keep feeding her neighbours.

She has plans to report the incident to the police.

Instead, Carly wants to convert the damaged land into an outdoor space, where the community can enjoy teas, coffees and meals together.

Carly also plans on growing food in a different part of the allotment so that she can still deliver parcels to hungry locals.

Going forward, we carry on going. We're moving the other way, and trying to dig up as much as we can to get as much veg in the ground as we can.

Carly revealed: "But affecting 300 people – that's a lot of veg in the ground I've just lost.

"On that land, we can't plant at all. Nothing will grow, so we're going to have an outdoor space with a tea and coffee area."

She explained she's going to invite friends over and have meal nights instead.

Carly shared a video of her destroyed allotment on TikTok, where it racked up more than 33,000 likes, comments and shares.

Fans were quick to share their thoughts in the comment section.

One wrote: "Why would someone do this? What is wrong with people? I'm so sorry."

A second added: "What a strange thing for someone to do. It’s clearly someone who knows it would kill the soil. I did not know salt could do that."

A third chimed in: "How bizarre and horrendous, obviously. I’m lost for words. Is it like a personal attack? I’m so sorry for you."

Carly's work in her allotment has really helped out hard-hit families as the cost of living crisis continues to affect the UK.

She's not the only one to use genius methods to save cash.

Green-fingered gardener Lucy Taylor is an allotment expert.

The 40-year-old midwife from Darlington began growing her own food before the pandemic started in 2019.

Meanwhile, a gardener has revealed his personal hacks for how he gets the most bang for his buck on soil.

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The expert said that his advice will save plant enthusiasts some coin.

Plus, gardening experts have shared a few Dos and Don'ts to help you grow food without spending more than you would on groceries.

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