Communigrow: Learning eco-friendly gardening approaches

At Communigrow we are looking forward to the spring, when everything will start popping out from the soil with an abundance of delicious produce available to harvest.

Communigrow dusk
Communigrow dusk

We have already begun preparing the field for the new season, clearing out to make way for new beds to support educational and wellbeing activities for everyone. Autumn onions and garlic are planted, along with few hardy plants such as 'Meteor' peas and a couple of broad bean varieties, to provide continuity of the harvest throughout the year. There are many interesting plans for the year ahead, from new raised beds inside the polytunnels to new varieties of vegetables to grow.

This year our growers and volunteers will grow tried and tested varieties of vegetables, as well as new, ancient and uncommon varieties. The list include: Sweet Potatoes, Onion, Garlic, Sweet Corn, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Chard, Spinach, Radish, Dwarf Beans, Peas, Sugar pod, Cumin, Coriander, Pak Choi, Won Bok, Spring Onions, Salad Leaves, Parsnip, Beetroot, Carrots, Turnip, Potatoes, Swede, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Scorzonera, Salsify, Cucumbers, Tomatoes (15 varieties) Aubergine, Rhubarb and Squash (18 varieties). The new crops will be Celeriac, Celery, Ginger, Melon, Lemon Grass and Watermelon.

Last year we started ‘No-dig’ trials, a growing system used in permaculture and regenerative agriculture which improves the soil structure. Under the supervision of staff and volunteers, we plan to continue these trials and also, we will be exploring Moon Planting - a growing approach which involves growing to the phases of the moon. We already use companion planting to ensure a healthy ecosystem which not only benefits the crops, attracting predators and deterring pests; but also, it provides a peaceful and colourful space for volunteers, beneficiaries and the community to enjoy. This year there will be more Sunflowers, Foxgloves and Hollyhocks in pathways. These initiatives are part of our educational activities to highlight eco-friendly gardening approaches that everyone could use in their gardens and allotments.

We would also like to run a series of hands-on holiday workshops - ‘Birds, Bugs, Bats and a Butterfly Banquet’ for local young people (aged 8-16yrs). We have managed to raise £100 which is 20% of our goal. If you would like to learn more about this projector help us to make this happen, please visit Communigrow donation page

Due to the current lockdown the field is only open to regular volunteers who book in advance. Our Veg Box scheme will be offered between April and December. To register your interest contact us at 075 4643 7272 or vegbox@communigrow.org.uk

If you want to know about Communigrow, want to start to grow your own food or you would like to get involved and support us, do please follow us on social media and/or join our Communigrow ‘Grow Along’ WhatsApp chat. Ask for details at volunteer@communigrow.org.uk