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Get Growing Volunteers – Really Useful Gardens
Get Growing Volunteers are a group from Liverpool, they’re
aims are to improve the health and wellbeing of the
community and to improve their skills in things like growing
vegetables. The group also improve social interaction in
their community and provide education on a variety of
topics.
The group attended our Really Useful Gardens in the
summer of 2013, and were successful with their application
for a grant of £500, they wanted to use the money to
purchase a water butt with guttering to catch rainfall. At the
time the group didn’t have a suitable supply to water their
gardens and had to walk a long way to fetch fresh water,
with several elderly members of the group, it wasn’t an
ideal situation. The water butts would also catch rain water
which meant that they would no longer have to use water
from the mains supply to water the gardens, this would save
them money on their bills.
With the money awarded the group were able to buy a 330
gallon water tank which had previously been used to carry
orange juice, the group were happy that they were able to re-use something which would have
otherwise been thrown away.
The group have a winter break so didn’t get to install the new water system until early 2014, but it
was ready in time to catch the spring rainfalls.
“It is fantastic to be able to fill our watering cans up to water the seedlings as it was very difficult
before we had this system. It’s even better that we aren’t using mains water, more cost efficient,
sustainable and better for the vegetables”.
The group are currently building a butterfly garden, using techniques they picked up on the course,
they are planting herbs and other plants that will attract butterflies.
In 2014 the group are looking to continue with their vegetable gardening and are also planning on
preparing edible hanging baskets which can be hung around the gardens. They want to take part in
some events that involve the wider community, helping to run food growing workshop sessions.
“Thanks very much for helping us out with this opportunity. Our volunteering experience has already
improved by having a watering system in place”
.
Quotes from Stephen Whittaker, volunteer with group.