We’ve had very exciting couple of weeks just outside the New Horizon Centre! IdVerde operatives have cleared and expanded the Garden Plot, and in the last few days they have installed two H-shaped raised beds on a solid yet permeable base of compacted gravel. The compacted gravel will help to drain off excess water and its ‘compacted-ness’ will enable people to walk on it without worrying about lumps or bumps and whether these will trip them up. The H-shapes are designed to allow a wheelchair to fit snugly into the reachable gardening area or for someone who prefers gardening from a chair (because of back problems for example) can draw up a chair and garden with ease.
We have spent some time looking at the design options that will enable more people to get involved in growing food locally. There is plenty of space further down the new pathway to enable us to also involve children who are mostly nearer to the ground and are more comfortable squatting or sitting down. We’ve also been looking at a range of adaptive gardening tools that can help more people to get actively involved.
And this is what the Garden Plot project is all about – involving local people in growing and eating more local, fresh food. We already run a free weekly supper club, sharing recipes and tips about how to cook healthy food on a budget and eating together, and we’ve successfully run cooking clubs for children and young people in the past too. We’ve added the aim of making the Plot safe and accessible for people who are less mobile – this is something that is very important to us. We will also be talking to members of Merton Vision about what plants, scents, textures etc their members would like to experience, actively or passively, when they visit the plot.
Gardening is a great way to get and stay fit and can suit all ages and backgrounds. We want to hear from you all about what you would like to help to grow, harvest, cook and eat. We will be talking to older users of the New Horizon Centre about what memories they have of gardening (good and bad!) and what they would like to see grown or help to grow and this can include flowers etc.
Running a successful community Garden Plot is not only about transforming a Plot of land, it is very much about doing regular little jobs throughout the week. We need people to commit to, say, 30 minutes weeding or watering a week, rather than, say, a half day’s heavy lifting. ‘Little and often’ will often turn out to be very much be the route to success.
And the more people who are interested and volunteering on the plot, the better able we will be to keep an eye on it and keep it safe. We want people to help us grow tomato plants, not to steal the plants (this did actually happen). If we all pitch in there should be plenty for everyone.
So get in touch! Tell us what you would like the community plot to grow and what you can do to help! Send us an email or drop us a note at the Reception in the New Horizon Centre and we will be in touch. Thank you!
If you would like to access a FREE Introduction to Sustainable Gardening course from Merton College then look no further.
It starts on 7th November and you do need to register.
If you are worried you don’t have computer or internet facilities to access the course, pop in to Pollards Hill Library and talk to staff – they can advise you how to access the necessary equipment via Merton Service.
