ECI news
New Community Garden in Guinness Lane, Exwick
Twenty 8-12 year olds who were participating in the Guinness Trust’s Dreamscheme spent a lovely August afternoon with Harvest setting up their new community garden in Exwick. The children planted winter veg in the new beds. They now have salad, leeks, kale, broccoli and garlic to care for and eventually harvest during the winter months. The children were really enthusiastic and had a great time. Later in the afternoon their parents and other residents were invi ted to come and enjoy a cream tea and admire the children's work.
ECI's Autumn 2010 Newsletter is now available for viewing
Our Autumn Newsletter has now been published and is available for viewing by clicking on this link. It gives a quarterly update on ECI's work and developments. Please take the time to see what we've been working on.
ECI's 2009/10 Annual Review is now available for viewing
This year's Annual Review has been published and is available to view by clicking on this link. The document gives and overview of ECI's current work, projects, news and future developments. Please take the time to see what we have been working on and are working towards for the future.
NAVCA delivering workshop - "Empowering the Voluntary Sector"
NAVCA to deliver an “Empowering the Voluntary Sector” 1 day workshop in conjunction with Total Support for the Devon Consortium. This is open to all Voluntary and Community Sector groups and will help them:
- Negotiate more effectively with public sector bodies
- Build confidence to negotiate using new knowledge about Public Law
- Access to the tools and knowledge to challenge, and operate from a stronger position
Harvest Produce Swap and Launch Party
Bring your surplus produce and swap with other growers.
Apple pressing, children’s activities, local food café, gardening demonstrations and much more. Plus the launch of the Harvest Community Gardens and Garden Share scheme.
Saturday 25th September
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
St Sidwell’s Centre, Sidwell Street, Exeter, EX4 6NN
Admission Free
All Welcome
Incredible Edible MiniGarden Giveaway events - Harvest News
During July the Harvest team visited 9 Exeter neighbourhoods, distributing starter kits for people to set up their own Incredible Edible MiniGardens. The giveaway events were a big success, with 118 people having received containers, compost, seeds and seedlings to get growing. The kits were completely free to people who met certain criteria (eg living in one of our target areas, not having a garden, being on a low income).
Homelessness Collaboration - possible Night Shelter in Exeter?
Laura Callaway has completed a document discussing the feasibility of a Night Shelter for Exeter. This came about in response to repeated concerns about a lack of accommodation immediately available in the city, voiced by the church groups that provide food, blankets and a listening ear to Exeter’s homeless and vulnerably housed. The report can be viewed by clicking here.
Look out for the...
Harvest Produce Swap and Launch Party
Bring your surplus produce and swap with other growers.
Apple pressing, children’s activities, local food café, gardening demonstrations, talks, films and much more. Plus the launch of the Harvest Community Gardens and Garden Share scheme.
When: Saturday 25th September, 11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.
Where: St Sidwell’s Centre, Sidwell Street, Exeter, EX4 6NN
Admission: Free
All Welcome!
Recruiting now - Devon Consortium & DSP Delivery Board Chair
Exeter Community Initiatives Executive Director, Alistair Macintosh, has stepped down as the Chair of the Devon Consortium and DSP Delivery Board after 2 terms - totalling 5 years.
We encourage people to consider this important opportunity to support the development of the voluntary and community sector in Devon, and hope that this appeal is met with broad interest.
For more information, please click on this link
Volunteers needed to help run Focus Groups with homeless people
The Homelessness Collaboration are in need of Volunteers to assist with running focus groups with homeless people in Exeter. The minimum requirement would be 5 hours throughout October and/or November 2010.
Please see the following links:
ECI - Now Recruiting - Finance and Admin Manager
Finance & Admin Manager (Ref: FAM)
21 hours per week
£24,646 - £27,052 per annum pro rata
plus 5% employer pension
Closing date: 12 noon on 6th August Interview date: 19th August
Harvest News 9th July
It’s been another busy week at Harvest, with over 45 Incredible Edible Minigardens given away at Wonford Community & Learning Centre, Jubilee Court (St David’s) and Exwick Community Centre. That’s over 60 people of all ages now growing salads, herbs and many other vegetables at home – many of them for the first time.
Harvest Update - Growing Champions and Incredible Edible Minigarden giveaways
26th June
The Growing Champions met again for another training session in the St Sidwell’s Centre community garden. Now armed with knowledge about home composting and eliminating pests from the vegetable garden, they are ready to get out into the community and share their passion for home grown food!
30th June
Incredible Edible MiniGardens, coming to a place near you
During July the Harvest team will be visiting various neighbourhoods in Exeter to distribute starter kits for wannabe gardeners. Come along and collect your kit, meet the team, and get planting. Our Volunteer Growing Champions will be on hand to offer you any advice you may need.
For more information, including dates, see the Incredible, Edible Mini-Gardens page.
Harvest at West Town Farm
Sunday June 13th saw us head out of town to West Town Farm in Ide, where we held a stall as part of their Open Farm Sunday. The theme of the day was ‘Local Food’ - it was a great opportunity to talk to families about Harvest, and meet other people working on food projects locally, in the farm’s beautiful orchard.
Harvest Growing Champions News
Our team of Harvest Growing Champions began their training at St. Sidwell’s Centre on Saturday June 12th. During the day we looked at the environmental and personal benefits benefits of home growing, sampled some different kinds of compost, and spent a lovely sunny hour sowing seeds and potting on seedlings in the community garden.
Website feedback questionnaire
We now have a feedback questionnaire relating to this website. Please click on the link below and take the time to fill it in! Once completed, email to info@eci.org.uk. Your comments will be very useful to us and are welcomed!
Flying Start Children's Centre - Pram Push
Come and join Flying Start Children’s Centre for the weekly Pram Push!!! Get out and about on a series of 30-40 minute walks in the city's green spaces, including a play park on the way.
Track your steps by using pedometers, meet other parents and children and join us for FREE!
Come meet the Harvest team
Come and have a chat with us and find out how you can get involved, or get your free starter kit to make your own Incredible Edible Mini Garden.
This week we will be at :
New Community Allotment in Cowick
Anyone who wants to get outside, get active and grow food but hasn’t got enough space, or the time or energy to take on a whole allotment, or the confidence to do it on their own, will be pleased to know that Harvest has been given an allotment at Cowick Lane for use as a community garden.
