As we reach the end of May, and temperatures creep up, the Community Growing Project at Vine Road is really bursting into life. Bees circle the gorgeous display of flowers, and each week more seedlings are transplanted into the raised beds, which look fuller and more abundant every day.
The Growing Project uses methods that are organic and regenerative. Key to this is water-wise growing. We might see the UK as a rainy island, but in reality, rainfall patterns are changing. We have seen heavy deluges interspersed with periods of drought. Last summer was challenging for all growers, when a hosepipe ban meant many were unable to water their gardens. Although the growing project was given dispensation, the extreme weather highlighted the need for us to consider how best to work towards being self-sufficient in water. Capturing rain when it does fall, so that supplies are plentiful when it doesn’t, is paramount.
It is really exciting, therefore, that in a few weeks, construction of a new water catchment and storage system will begin. This has been made possible due to the generous funding support of Richmond Parish Lands Charity. The new system will capture water from the roof of the polytunnel, storing it in large tanks. A solar powered pump will be installed so that water can be pumped from the tanks through a hose, thus enabling all of the beds in the growing project to be watered. We hope that this will significantly increase our resilience to whatever weather future years may have in store!
Other aspects of the project also continue to expand and develop. The project has gone from strength to strength over the past year under the leadership of volunteers Rashadee Miller and Claire van Rhyn. The new initiatives they have undertaken means the project is busier than ever, which is why the new role of Community Growing Coordinator has been created. Nicky Buley has been appointed to this role, and has joined the team for two days a week. Nicky has a long-held interest in regenerative growing, and has worked in horticulture for many years, after a career change from her previous role in the mental health field. Nicky is excited to get started at the project and see it continue to expand and develop.
There are many other initiatives ongoing at the Growing Project. Last year, the project provided 15 deliveries of fresh, organic produce to Castelnau food bank, and we hope to provide even more this year. We also continue our engagement with the London Seed Bank and International Seed Sovereignty Campaign, and aim to expand the amount of produce we grow from our own saved seed. We were delighted that members of the Positive Living Group from Richmond Borough Mind have begun regular sessions at the project, and look forward to welcoming members of Age UK Richmond later in June.
The Community Growing Project is open to all, so if this has piqued your interest, the please do get in touch to find out more at [email protected].