The idea
We are currently awaiting full planning permission from Newcastle City Council for this project. We are confident that this will be granted soon but no pledges will be collected until permission is in place.
In December 2021 we start construction of a new community eco building using recycled shipping containers which provide a new classroom, toilets, meeting and office space and a new training kitchen with storage facilities. We are fundraising to buy and fit a recycled commercial training kitchen in the new building and buy kitchen equipment.
The new kitchen will allow us to run weekly cooking sessions for children, diverse local adults and older people using produce they have grown. We will also run accredited training in food hygiene and cooking, as well as make and store preserves, juices and honey made from the ton of fruit and vegetables we harvest each year. Preserves will be sold through retailers and at markets!
What we'll deliver
- Buy kitchen equipment appliances, units and shelving.
- Fit kitchen into the newly built eco building.
- Deliver weekly cooking sessions, training and shared lunches from the new kitchen
Why it's a great idea
1. Provide weekly healthy cooking sessions and a freshly cooked shared meal for 50 children, 30 adults and 15 older people every week.
2. Delivery of accredited food hygiene and cooking training courses for young people, adults and older people each year.
3. Supported opportunities for volunteers and young people to make preserves, juices and harvest honey and sell them at markets.
4. Increase unrestricted income through sales of preserves, cordials and honey.
5. Delivery of jam and breadmaking workshops for the public which we piloted in 2019 bringing in unrestricted income.
6. Provide catering services for organisations who hire out the Garden space.
7. Cater for 4 large community events each year. Each event attracts 300 local people.
8. Our long term plan is to open a community cafe and garden centre which will provide new jobs and training opportunities to a ward which is ranked in the highest 10% of multiple deprivation.
Steps to get it done
- Phase 1 of Eco building constucted ( funds already secured) by March 2022
- Internal fit out of building , lifts and services installed ( funds partially secured) April - July 2022
- Recycled training kitchen fitted to newly constucted eco building by July 2022
Covid 19 has hit our community hard and the new eco building will provide a much needed boost to the local area and will allow us to respond to high levels of demand for services and contribute to a sustainable green recovery for our area. The new eco building was designed with the input of people who use the Garden, local residents, staff and trustees as part of a co production project run by Newcastle University. The building is aiming for zero net carbon and will incorporate the latest green technologies as well as abiding by the ' Good Work Pledge' . Using 5 donated shipping containers has reduced the cost of the project by £500 000 and we have commissioned award winning Eco Architect, Henry Amos, from North Shields who has won prestigious awards for sustainability. The kitchen is at the heart of the building and will be used every day by the adults and children who use the Garden to learn about process and cook with fresh produce they have grown themselves.
