Another spring and another ‘Cake Sunday’.
This is the second year of our community veg growing project and many neighbours got together last weekend in a front garden in North London to pick up their free seeds and to discuss the veg growing scheme for this year over tea and cakes.
Last year we experimented with growing corn, squash and runner beans in growbags in front gardens, with the help of a Capital Growth grant.
It was a huge success, especially the runner beans, so this year we’re giving away free runner bean, spinach and radish seeds (thanks to funding received from the Cripplegate Foundation and Islington Gardeners) and as before, large growbags, full of rich compost, will be delivered to residents’ front gardens in a couple of weeks.
We also have a specially concocted mix of annual and perennial wildflower seeds to give away, which we sourced from Landlife Wildflowers, to sow at the base of our street trees. These tree pits really enliven the area and do encourage dog owners to be more responsible about where their dogs do their business!
Once again, one of our local community police officers was on hand to offer support,
and signed up the local police station at the end of our street to join the veg growing scheme.
This year we’re doubling the number of participating households from 50 to 100 as more neighbours are keen to join in growing vegetables and above all, want to get to know other residents in their neighbourhood. As numbers of participating households increase, the Blackstock Triangle area in Finsbury Park is becoming an even more friendly place to live!
Out of my shed 
Looks even better than the last Cake Sunday! The June issue of Which? Gardening has just arrived on my desk, and the article about the project is looking good! I’ll make sure you get plenty of copies when it’s officially published, next week.
Veronica x
I’m such a cake person and dissapointed that you did not invite me! They all looked so nice!
Andrew
Sorry Andrew! Will make sure you’re invited next time. V.best Naomi
Cool! Looks great Naomi – please put me on the list for next year, if there any seeds left over my guerilla gardening could do with any help it could get : )
Wow that’s fantastic! Will have a stroll around the neighbourhood next week. Don’t suppose you want to move the idea down to Seven Sisters?
Kim
Really cockle warming, Naomi. I can’t begin to say how right the world feels and looks with the sort of work you’re doing.
What a fabulous event (and project).
I’m very envious – I’m in a village now, but even when I was in London, getting our area organised would have been difficult – population very mobile indeed. Hmm — really making me think…
Thanks Kate. As Nicolette said below, it is great to feel part of the area and to know your neighbours. People do come and go, but there are still some people who’ve been in the area for 30, 40 and even 50 years and they really love getting to know their neighbours again. V.best Naomi
It was a great event, full of enthusiasm for growing things, for beautifying the neighbourhood, and for connecting with neighbours. Well done Naomi for another feat of organisation. Re Kate’s comment above: it’s amazing how much like a village an urban community can feel.
[…] we’ve organised a Cake Sunday event for next weekend, so that participants can meet up over tea and home-made cake and collect […]
Hi. I’m just wondering if you are having any stalls. My company is Muttalicious and I make dog treats, muffins and bespoke cakes. If you are please provide me all necessary information. Many thanks Rayna
Hi Rayna, really sorry, it’s a community event, with the emphasis being that everything is free! Please do feel free to join us though (and enter your dog if you have one?) and if you’d like to donate any dog treats as prizes, we’d be delighted. V.Best Naomi