The idea
Grow Hexham will begin to create a circular economy in fresh food. Matching uncultivated gardens with gardeners from the Town Council allotment waiting list, it will combine space, and place with skills, knowledge and time. The result: more locally grown produce, shared between the owner and the gardener with any surplus going to the Community Grocery. A repair and recycle scheme for tools will repurpose garden tools that are languishing in sheds while woodworking skills shares will provide raised beds. Gardening skill shares, seed shares and plant swaps will all contribute to a zero carbon, zero food waste project that is of benefit to the environment and the town.
What we'll deliver
- Repaired and re-purposed garden tools
- Locally produced fresh food
- Community built raised beds
- Stocked tool sheds erected by our team of gardeners
Why it's a great idea
The benefits of Grow Hexham will be many: an increase in community gardening, a reduction in allotment waiting lists, an increase in local food production to suit the gardener and the garden owner, more fresh food going to the Community Grocery for people in need, recycled tools and skill sharing. The community will benefit from reduced food miles and a reduction in food waste, access to cheap fresh food as well as community building through sharing seeds, plants, knowledge, skills and experience. It will provide inter-generational links and support through the shared activity of growing. It will provide part time employment for a co-ordinator.
Steps to get it done
- Match gardeners with gardens
- Tool amnesty and repair shop
- Digging
- Seed and plant share
- Sowing
Gardeners will be contacted through the existing Town Council allotment waiting list. There are currently 40 people on this list. And through the Number 28 networks in the East of Hexham as well as through Transition Tynedale.
