49 THE NEXT... DINNER PARTY CONVERSATION
I PICKED IT MYSELF

IN THIS age of austerity, it’s simply not done to import olive oil from the gorgeous little place you found on holiday last year, or unpack individually wrapped pieces of outof-season fruit for your pudding stunner.

When guests come to dinner now, they’ll be drooling not over your gleaming appliances or fancy recipe, but the soil you’re washing from the rocket, the real mud on your designer rubber boots and the free-range chicken you raised and plucked yourself.

Vegetable seed sales are on the rise, and in the UK, about 100,000 gardeners are on waiting lists for allotments, such is the demand for growing space. Yummy mummies are discussing sowing schedules and swapping cuttings over their Fairtrade coffee, and getting to grips with lengths of ‘six-bytwo’ to build raised growing beds. Michelle Obama is even turning the south lawn at the White House into an organic kitchen garden, while the urban chicken-farming phenomenon is gathering pace in Europe and the US. Surely rooftop goats aren’t far away.

However, organic supermarket produce is not enjoying such popularity. The Soil Association says UK sales rose 1.7% last year; it’s been nearer to 30% in previous years. Research firm Mintel expects a 12% decline in the market value of organic eggs by 2013.

Products aimed at the new breed of urban farmer include a roll-out, nutrient-infused cardboard seed mat that saves the need for digging, while Mintel, which has been monitoring the growth in gardening for food production, says outdoor kitchens, sinks and wood-fired ovens will be in increasing demand. Chicken wing, anyone?

50 THE NEXT... VLADIMIR PUTIN
VLADIMIR PUTIN

AS RUSSIA’S ruling duo keeps the world guessing about their plans, Vladimir Putin remains coy as to whether he will run again for president.

Putin, who served two terms as president before handing power to his handpicked successor Dmitry Medvedev, became prime minister last year. While the Russian constitution sets a limit of two terms, it doesn’t prohibit a third provided it isn’t consecutive. The election is not until 2012, but interest is hotting up after Medvedev said he might not object to swapping jobs with Putin.

Asked during a meeting with American students at the University of Pittsburgh whether he was prepared to exchange places with his powerful mentor Putin, Medvedev claimed he would not mind as long as he could be helpful: “If it is useful for the country, I am ready to work in any position.” He nevertheless reiterated that he would not rule out running for re-election as president, despite speculation that Putin may want to return to the Kremlin post he held before stepping down in favour of his ally.

Analysts are closely watching for any signs of possible discord, with some wondering whether Medvedev is willing to break free from Putin and strike out on his own. In the biggest hint so far that he may come back to the Kremlin, Putin said in September that he and Medvedev would not compete in 2012 but would “come to an agreement” as they were of “the same blood”.