Projects do the spade work to feed the needy
Two community garden projects in Sunderland are aiming to plant the seed of an idea with green-fingered people.
The Hendon Regenerative Culture Garden and Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen Garden are joining the national Good to Grow Day – between Friday nd Monday – to welcome volunteers, new and old, to explore how to grow food in urban areas.
The gardens are inviting visitors to have a look at their work, learn new skills and get the opportunity to grow food. It is also looking to link up with other community gardens and groups in Sunderland to form a network and share some of their produce with those of the community in most need.
Allan Rowell, manager at Hendon Regenerative Culture Garden, said: “The Garden has been developed using permaculture which is a design approach based on understandings of how nature works.
"Permaculture has three ethics – earth care, people care and fair shares. In line with these ethics about 50% of the food grown is donated to Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen”
Paul Brickle, head gardener at Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen Garden, said: “Having spent several years working with Allan at his garden, this year I grasped the opportunity to work as head gardener at Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen Garden, at Silksworth Allotments.
"Both of these gardens now need volunteers to help grow fresh nutritious food for local people in most need. I’d like to think people won’t see it as work, rather think of it as bringing communities back together as we face an increasingly uncertain future.”
Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen Garden – two plots at Silksworth Allotments – is open to visitors between 11am and 3pm over the four days.
Hendon Regenerative Culture Garden has been under development for the last four years, it consists of three plots in Corporation Road Allotments It is open to visitors between 1pm and 3pm.
For details, email Allan Rowell at a.r1@me.com or call 07515 901482.
Both gardens are members of the The Sustainable Food Places (SFP) network, which is a rapidly growing movement of over 50 areas who share a belief in the power of food as a vehicle for driving positive change in communities.