Donate online or find out about legacy giving at Biggive.org.uk
Community Growing
[Return to the Harvest Homepage]
Community Growing
Harvest can support people and groups who want to grow food together in Exeter.
If you are an existing community group, or an informal group of friends and neighbours who would like to start a community garden, please get in touch to discuss your ideas, however big or small!
We can:
- help identify suitable land, and liaise with owners if necessary
- help groups to develop constitutions and work through any legal issues
- help you publicise your project and support your fundraising efforts
- provide practical guidance and financial support to help you get started
- recruit volunteer Growing Champions to provide ongoing support to a group
- help in various other ways – please contact us and let us know what you need.
Cowick Allotment
A group of new growers are working together to develop their growing skills on a 5-rod allotment on Cowick Lane – click here for photos and to read about their progress.
Our other 5-rod plot on this site is being developed as a training allotment. Starting in October 2011 we will be offering a series of “How to…” workshops focusing on the different aspects of planning, planting and caring for your vegetable garden (details to follow). We are currently recruiting a small group of volunteers to manage this plot – please see Get Involved to find out more.
Chestnut Children’s Centre
Since February 2011 a group of parents and children, supported by Harvest Growing Champion Rachel, have transformed the garden behind the Wonford Children’s Centre into a productive growing space. Three raised beds, a compost bin and a shed have been added, and future plans include planting a soft fruit area and installing a water butt.
Pellinore Road Residents
Council tenants in Beacon Heath have joined forces to create a community growing space in a disused garden. Probation Services cleared the extremely overgrown patch, and Robin Rolle of the Carbon Compost Company kindly donated compost to help improve the heavy clay soil, as well as his expertise.
The Foyer
We are pleased to be supporting the development of a new growing project at the Foyer on Exeter Quay.
Queen’s Crescent
In partnership with Exeter Mosque and Cultural Centre, we are working to improve this much-neglected corner of the city – and grow some food too! Local residents are invited to join our group which meets every Tuesday at 4.30 to tidy borders, sow seeds and care for the salads and veg we’ve planted. Please contact us for more information.
The Permaculture Pub
We are very excited to be launching Exeter’s (possibly the world’s?!) first ever Permaculture Pub at the NBI, St David’s Hill, Exeter EX4 3RG [link to map]. This is a joint project with POGOE - Permaculture and Organic Growers of Exeter. Permaculture is a system for living and growing food which mimics nature’s processes and uses design principles to get the most out of a growing space. On Sunday 6th February two local permaculturists led a group of volunteers through an introduction to the design process, and the resulting designs will be displayed at our Seedy Sunday. We hope to start work on the pub garden in March - watch this space! For more information about permaculture try these websites:
St Sidwell’s Community Garden Challenge
Harvest has challenged The Ivy Project and Kazlum to a competition - to see who can get the most value from their raised bed in the community garden at St Sidwell’s Centre. Inspired by a London grower who produced £750 worth of produce on his balcony, the teams have until the end of September to grow as much as they can using organic methods. Volunteer garden caretaker Clive Temperton will act as adjudicator and will weigh and value the produce throughout the competition. Click here to see the Express & Echo’s report of the competition launch.
Guinness Trust Dreamscheme
In August Harvest worked with the Guinness Trust to help 20 children create a community garden on Guinness Lane, Exwick. The garden will provide winter greens, broccoli, garlic, leeks and salad and will be nutured by the local children, with support from a Harvest Growing Champion.
