The Get Osmaston Growing project is all about young people growing in the heart of their community. It will transform a disused plot of land into the focus for positive project work, partnership between isolated groups and the challenging of negative perceptions of what young people can create.
Once built, the project will begin with a large community opening ceremony. At this we will cut the ribbon, tell the story of the site, give thanks to each individual donator and make plans for the future. Likewise we will distribute bulbs and 'seed bombs' for those attending to take and throw on a derelict site. The legacy of this will be spontaneous growth at unexpected locations in our community.
We will maintain the site with the help of a team of young volunteers, forming a development committee and laying solid plans for the future. We will form skill-sharing partnerships with elderly allotment owners in the community, trading growing expertise for labour power.
What we'll deliver:
- Create a fence around the site
- Set up a bench on the site
- Build links with local residents and allotment owners
- Clear the site of waste and rubbish
- Create a path through the area
- Create a youth volunteers committe to maintain and develop the project
- Lay a top soil
- Plant hardy vegtables
Why it's a great idea:
This idea came from a realisation that in Osmaston too much attention is placed on negative behaviour, too much land is left empty and not enough opportunities are created. This project offers this community a chance to create something new.
Former commercial and industrial sites make up a sizable proportion of the land in Osmaston. Now derelict, many of these are at best an eye sore and at worst potentially dangerous. Get Osmatson growing hope to be part of a lead to correcting this, turning unused space into a productive community asset.
Although small, we hope to grow food at the site. And produce grown will be used to host healthy eating sessions with young people at the youth club, using the vegetables we grown as ingredients. We will share the surplus between young volunteers and their families or donate it to local food banks.
Steps to get it done:
- Organising young volunteers from our youth club
- Purchase eco-friendly/recycled fencing from Low Carbon Product Ltd. (or similar)
- Purchase 'seed bombs' from Kabloom
- Purchase top-soil from local garden supplies retailer
- Volunteering opportunities for parents and residents
