Community rallies after shed damage
Kind-hearted Strath residents have been thanked for their support after rallying to ensure a popular project damaged during Storm Arwen can continue.
Crieff Community Garden was one of many local initiatives to suffer a setback as high winds wreaked havoc across much of the country from Friday afternoon into Saturday last week.
The main storage shed at the volunteer-run Monteath Street site was “obliterated”in the early hours, meaning a smaller space which is normally home to a well-used community food larder was pressed into action in order to keep equipment under cover and ensure locals’safety.
This contingency plan meant it was no longer possible to keep the larder – set up earlier this year in conjunction with Crieff Community Foodbank to save short-dated food sourced from the Co-op being sent to landfill – running until replacement storage had been found.
However, Crieff Community Garden’s Catriona Smith contacted the Herald this week to say the response to an online appeal for assistance had been“overwhelming”.
She explained:“The main shed was completely destroyed. As a result, we had to close our veg shed – which provided free surplus veg and other dry goods to people every day to save the items from going to landfill.
“The wind was howling, it was snowing, it was 4am. We had to get our lawnmowers and tools under cover fast, and the veg shed was the only available storage.
“I put out a plea for an old shed or funds to replace the obliterated shed and the support was overwhelming.
“We raised £560 over the weekend! Brian Smith of Argyle Fencing has also been in contact with an offer to supply a shed, saying he’ll cover the remaining cost!
“In the meantime, Crieff Connexions has very kindly offered for our free veg initiative to be relocated to their shop in Crieff High Street.
“This means that people can still access all the benefits of the veg shed, but just in a different location.”
Catriona continued:“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated.
“I am overwhelmed by the support and am so encouraged that our efforts down at Crieff Community Garden are appreciated.
“I’d like to thank Elizabeth Philip and Crieff Connexions for their support, and all our volunteers who collect the surplus food from the Crieff Co-op each night and deliver it to Crieff Connexions – Leigh Ross, Mairi-Jane Grimes, Lynne Jackson, Athol Curtis and Bob Anderson.”
Anyone is welcome to help themselves to the fruit, vegetables and other items that are put in the community larder daily.