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As the current #COVID19 "lockdown" continues, we as a community growing group are adamant to be assisting in the efforts the pandemic brings, now more than ever. As I have alluded to in previous blogs, community growing has vast and varied benefits for all and these now, more than ever will be essential in assisting in the provision of food for those locally.
Due to the "lockdown" we, of course, could not physically meet as a group, so decided to embrace technology, as everyone is doing and utilise one of the platforms available to hold video meetings. This went surprisingly well with little technical hiccups. After a general catch up, we discussed our plans for the immediate and further future. I have published a statement from us as a group in relation to our movements during the "lockdown" which allows us and permits us to carry on maintaining and attending the community garden to carry out work and tasks. You can find this here.
Last week some may have seen me out in the garden weeding and hoeing the four raised beds we have, which are looking a lot better than they were. Weeds are amazing things that seem to grow when you turn your back! I also managed to get my own lawnmower topped up with fuel and cut the grass around the raised beds as it was bearing on 2 feet tall! This, of course, was a challenge in itself, but the bigger challenge was when I had the bright idea to create a nature path through the whole garden. Starting off with the lawnmower on the highest setting from the ground, I waved in and out the woodland, wildlife area, over to the orchard and then finishing at the raised beds. It took several times to get a substantial-looking "path" but I think it is fairly noticeable, so why not head out and follow the path through the garden as part of your 1-hour exercise!
The local authority produces its own compost, known as Discovery Compost, which we are waiting on a delivery off for the site. Around 5 tones of the stuff in fact! We plan to mulch/top up the current four raised beds with this, which won't take a lot, and then use the remainder to plant potatoes straight into using a carboard mulch underneath. Into the four beds, we hope to plant a variety of vegetables such as onions and beetroot. Once any crops grow over the months and with a hopefully harvest, these will be donated to the local food bank and church to be accessible to the locals of Fintry and afar.
We are also currently looking at designing a banner for the community garden so that locals and those passing know about us and our goals. We are hoping to get this done in the next week or so with two of us working on the wording and design. While talking about design, we are also waiting on the local authority providing a professional design for the garden site, based on the suggestions from us a group, as well as the school children from the local primary school. We are hoping the design can be then also published via social media to let you all know what the site will look like in the future when we are out of "lockdown" and able to carry on in a more normal way of working.
Here are some pictures from fellow community gardens in Dundee to give you an idea of what might be included here, in Fintry Community Garden.
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