Wellview Gardening -Grow Your Own Project

Description

Wellview tenants participate ‘Grow Your Own’ fruit and vegetable garden at Wellview which provides numerous benefits for the tenants. This initiative promotes sustainability, allowing tenants to cultivate fresh produce right at home, reducing grocery costs and ensuring access to nutritious, organic food. Gardening also offers therapeutic benefits, enhancing mental well-being and reducing stress. Additionally, it fosters a sense of community as tenants can share gardening tips, exchange produce, and collaborate on communal gardening projects. Overall, our ‘Grow Your Own’ garden initiative aims to enrich the lives of the residents by promoting healthy living, sustainability, and community engagement.

Aim of Initiative

An admirable aspect of this initiative is the commitment to organic farming practices. Tenants do not use pesticides, opting instead for natural and environmentally-friendly methods to nurture their vegetables. By prioritizing organic produce, the community not only ensures the health and safety of their produce but also contributes positively to the surrounding ecosystem. This also creates a more hospitable environment for a diverse array of plant and animal species to thrive. Beneficial insects such as pollinators find sanctuary in these pesticide-free gardens, contributing to a balanced ecosystem.
Moreover, this initiative serves as a practical solution in addressing the challenges of expensive groceries. With the rising costs of living, access to fresh and nutritious vegetables can often be a luxury. By growing their own produce, tenants at Wellview House not only save money but also guarantee a regular supply of healthy vegetables for themselves and their neighbours.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative targets tenants living in Wellview House, a social housing complex for older people. While Fold Housing provides the necessary equipment such as tools, seeds, and plants, it is the tenants who take ownership of caring for and nurturing the crops and plants. This collaborative approach empowers tenants and fosters a sense of community and responsibility

3 Steps critical to success

1. Seeking funding for the purchase of essential equipment, tools, a polytunnel, soil, plants, and vegetables is a critical step to success. Securing these financial resources is fundamental to establishing and sustaining the project, enabling the provision of necessary materials and infrastructure. Without adequate funding, it would be challenging to achieve the project’s goals and ensure its long-term viability
2. Ensuring tenants take the lead in caring for and cultivating the vegetables was also an essential step to ensure the projects success. Recognizing this, Fold Housing organized a meeting with tenants to discuss the importance of maintaining the garden. This meeting successfully motivated several tenants to volunteer their time, ensuring the vegetables, plants, and flowers are well looked after. Their active participation and sense of ownership are vital to the project’s sustainability and flourishing
3. Ensuring that organic vegetables are shared with other tenants living in Wellview House is an important practice. This initiative has been particularly beneficial as it significantly reduces grocery bills and provides tenants with access to nutritious vegetables like carrots, cabbages, potatoes, and sweet peas. By sharing the harvest, the community not only promotes healthy eating but also fosters a sense of solidarity and mutual support among tenants

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. The weather poses significant challenges, particularly during periods of frost. Frost can damage vegetables and increase the need for protective measures, making the ‘Grow Your Own’ initiative more difficult and costly. However, the purchase of a polytunnel has been instrumental in mitigating these issues. The polytunnel provides a controlled environment that shields plants from extreme cold, thus ensuring better growth and productivity during harsh weather conditions.
2. Fold staff face ongoing challenges in seeking funding to ensure a steady supply of gardening equipment for tenants. The constant need to secure financial resources requires continuous effort and dedication, often involving complex grant applications, fundraising initiatives and navigating limited budgets. These challenges must be overcome to ensure that tenants can consistently participate in and benefit from the ‘Grow Your Own; gardening project.
3. Ensuring there are enough vegetables to be shared equally among tenants presents significant challenges, particularly when a vegetable hasn’t grown well. This can create shortages, making it difficult to distribute produce fairly. This requires careful planning, efficient resource management, and sometimes finding alternative solutions to meet the needs of all tenants

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Provides invaluable education to tenants, empowering them to grow and harvest their own vegetables. This not only equips them with practical gardening skills but also fosters self-sufficiency, enhances their understanding of sustainable practices, and promotes healthier eating habits. The knowledge gained through this education leads to a more engaged and informed community
2. Decreases social isolation by providing tenants with opportunities to work together in growing their vegetables. This collaborative effort fosters a sense of community, encourages social interaction, and builds stronger relationships among tenants. As they engage in this shared activity, tenants experience increased social support and a greater sense of belonging
3. The ‘Grow Your Own’ initiative also offers significant economic benefits by lowering tenants’ grocery bills. With an abundant supply of homegrown vegetables, tenants can reduce their food expenses, making fresh, nutritious produce more accessible and affordable. This initiative not only supports healthier eating habits but also provides substantial financial relief for the community