Grow Food & Friendships in Dublin 7

Our garden-share scheme ‘Soil Mates,’ connects garden owners with gardenless budding growers to grow food and community.

We advertise locally and visit specific target groups. Participants signup via our website or at in-person information sessions e.g. Friends of the Elderly’s ‘Lunch & Learn.’

Pairings are carefully matched based on assessed individual needs and goals. Over a cup of tea our Local Coordinator brings each pairing together and guides them through our comprehensive induction process, including safeguarding, consent, managing needs and expectations.

 

We supply each pairing with resources including a raised bed, built by a local Men’s Shed. 

 

We nurture connections between all of our pairings via our Community Hub and garden in Dublin 7. At this space, we host get-togethers, workshops, harvest and feast days around growing, preparing and sharing food.

 

We run quarterly daytrips and facilitate collaborations between other community groups (baking, community gardens).

 

An active Whatsapp group allows day-to-day interactions.

 

By facilitating connections between ‘strangers’ living in the same community we are:

-nurturing intergenerational solidarity.

-facilitating making friends.

-tackling social isolation.

-improving health & wellbeing,

-building resilience & agency through fundamental skills.

-increasing community sufficiency.

-creating bonds over a shared experience.

 

Friendships are forming, community roots are deepening.