Growing new worlds in schools & local communities
Today me and Catherine went to Baltic Street Gardens, an amazing child-run community space. This is where Helen Trail (a post-doc from the University of Glasgow) researches. The site was set up by two brothers, and I met one of them. The outdoor centre also acts as a local food hub for the community in the East End of Glasgow. I really liked the raised beds! And there were chickens too. The kids seemed to be really enjoying using the space and feeling free.
Today, myself, along with Cheryl and a geography undergraduate (thanks Rachel!) head to the garden to clear the site and lots of weeding. We also plant some radish and salad leaves.
Today we were rained in – so I chat with Julie, Ruth, and Victoria about the future of the site and our summer plans. We discussed at length about how to integrate the garden into a diverse range of activities and lessons.
Out with Catherine and Julie for another fantastic day in the garden!
Our sunny streak continues, and so we made lots more progress in the garden!
Today was another cracking day to be out in the garden. We continued to develop the site under the sun – with a focus on getting all our chitted potatoes in the ground!
I really tried to make the most of the good weather while we had it! So the Boclair students continued to help with digging out the site, building the infrastructure, and creating a pea teepee!
I did a week-long visit to Tucson ahead of the team visit later in the summer. During this time I shadowed members of the Community and School Garden Program at multiple sites (elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as amazing community-run gardens, and the classes at the University of Arizona). I found the visit utterly inspiring, and I was genuinely moved to see the enthusiasm, care, and hope among all the participants. And while it’s overwhelming to see all the different elements of the program after 10 years, I think there are lots of tips and ideas for small programs we can adopt back at Glasgow. The spaces the young people were dwelling and gardening in had such a transformative effect on their wellbeing–and it’s this aspect that will always stay with me, and motivate me.
Victoria, Ruth, and myself head to the garden centre and hardware supplies for more supplies. We have lots of discussion about the future and practicalities of the garden (it’s great to work with such an enthusiastic team). Back in the garden, Boclair pupils help get the soil and initial infrastructure set-up. I think I would best describe this process as managed chaos–and so much fun! The weather holds for us
Today I delivered all the veggies from my office to the school garden at Boclair. The pupils are fantastic at helping moving the stuff and getting stuff in the raised beds. I finally get to meet the amazing Ruth, and together with Victoria, we have a meeting about the future direction of the garden.
