Aly’s Story
I don’t recall a starting point to my growing journey – I’ve always grown. My Mum’s family were farmers, and my Dad always had an allotment on the go. My current garden is the first I have had where I could make space for a small patch of veg.
The beds we have created have receive so much positivity. When I look at the progress we have made, I can’t believe only 3 months ago we were clearing brambles from an unloved patch in our park, and now we have 3 beds containing over 20 different varieties of edibles.
These beds don’t just provide free food for our community – they provide so much more. Every time I visit, people come over to chat about how great the resource is, and how the park has been improved as a result of the beds. Kids ask amazing questions, parents ask how to pick and what to cook, even the dogs are making new friends as their owners’ chat. It’s turned into a vibrant social space – and is connecting our community in ways I didn’t anticipate. We’ve already had a successful plant sale with Shadwell Shows… pebble bug painting, and a bring a bucket of muck campaign to fill bed 3 – and we’ve lots of ideas to get people involved.
This volunteering is now central to my own wellbeing, getting me out of the house when I work from home, giving me a purpose, and helping me meet new people in my neighbourhood. To say I’m blown away by what our small crew of regular, resourceful volunteers have achieved is an understatement.