Neighbourhood gardens
Community Alliance Trust has promoted community gardening in the areas of north-east Edinburgh where we work since 2014, working in partnership with Edible Estates. We helped local residents to set up neighbourhood gardens in Magdalene and Bingham, which are run by volunteer management committees with continuing support from the community gardening team when they need it. Anyone living in Bingham or Magdalene can join their local neighbourhood garden, rent a raised bed for their own use and help to create a shared community space for all to enjoy. Contact the management committees or the CAT Gardens team for more information:
Bingham Community Garden: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2554403338013056
Magdalene Community Garden: https://www.facebook.com/ediblemagdalene
Craigmillar Growers
Our current project, funded by the Scottish Government’s Investing in Communities fund, aims to set up a network of community growing sites which will be maintained by a volunteer growing team of local residents. We hold regular gardening sessions and workshops at our gardens at Bristo Church and the White House, where participants work together, learn about vegetable gardening, and take a share of the harvest. We also intend to use the produce from the gardens for community meals, and distribute it for free through the Food Bank and other outlets, including our new community pantry.
CAT set up a garden at the White House in 2014, with help from local volunteers, to supply the community cafe with fruit and veg. The garden has raised beds, a polytunnel and a covered work space around the edge of the car park behind the White House. Since 2018 we have also established a vegetable garden in the grounds of Bristo Memorial Church, just a short walk from the White House. Over the coming years we will identify more sites, small and large, which can be turned over to food growing.
We are always looking for local folk to help with the construction of the gardens and to volunteer time as growers. We will provide training and tools. Supporting a sense of community and inclusion is as important to us as growing food, and anyone is welcome to join our gardening sessions – no experience required.
Check out our Facebook page for news and details of upcoming events:
https://www.facebook.com/CraigmillarGrowers
Or for more information contact the Community Gardener: paul@communityalliancetrust.org.uk
Home Grown
During the lockdown of 2020, we set up Home Grown as a way to help local families to grow a few easy salad plants and herbs while they were stuck at home. We distributed starter packs of seeds and pots of compost, made videos showing what to do with them, and set up two Facebook groups so members could share experiences and questions. Later in the season we also gave away spare plants to Home Grown members who could pick them up at the White House.
Due to the success of Home Grown in 2020, we are planning to make starter packs available again in 2021, and continue posting videos and gardening tips through the season.
Please note that we are discontinuing the Magdalene, Bingham and Christians Home Grown group, and will only be posting in Craigmillar Home Grown. We hope members in Magdalene, Bingham and Christians will join the Craigmillar group and it will be bigger and more active as a result.
Join Craigmillar Home Grown:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/craigmillarhomegrown/about
Growing Youth
Growing Youth is a training and work experience scheme developed by Edible Estates to involve young folk in the construction of our community growing projects. The programme is centred around joinery, landscaping and horticulture.
Since January 2021 we have been working with small groups of young people from local schools, referred to us by the Council’s Additional Support for Learning Service, who are currently helping to renovate the White House garden.
Growing Youth seeks to broaden the horizons of participants, provide a positive and enjoyable experience including physical activity/exercise and learning opportunities, educate about nature and horticulture, and generally improve their health and wellbeing. We seek to raise awareness and teach skills in growing and cooking healthy and affordable food, improve inter-personal skills, confidence and an opportunity to explore life goals, and gain practical experience and skills that will help them find employment in the future.