This week’s podcast is all about our local community in N4. Since 2009 we’ve had a front garden community growing project on the go in Finsbury Park in North London and we’ve all hugely benefitted from knowing our neighbours during this crisis. As some have been self-isolating, other have shopped and dropped for them, and knowing that you are cared for by those living around you has been great for morale.
Over the past 10 years or so, we’ve held Cake Sunday community get-togethers in a number front gardens, two or tree times a year,
and we’ve also closed off the road à la street party for Chelsea Fringe Mega Cake Sundays every year or so too.
Unable to meet up during Lockdown, and realising that the urge/need to ‘grow your own’ was stronger than ever, we decided to order seeds to give-away in a front garden, at a distance of course, to help keep our spirits up and to enable everyone to fulfil their gardening urges!
With marvellously quick delivery from Nicky’s Nursery, we ordered ‘Cosse de Violette’ French climbing beans, a lovely spicy cut and come again salad mix,
and the ever popular tromboncino climbing summer squash (just look at it go!).
Loads of neighbours also asked about where they could buy compost, which has become a rather sought-after commodity, so it was a huge relief that we discovered that Thompsons of Crews Hill (near Enfield in North London) were back in operation again. They’re a fab family-run business that supplies gardeners and landscapers with compost, turf, manure etc. and all the things that keeps us gardeners working. So pronto, we ordered a delivery of 120 bags of multi-purpose compost to help all of us get sowing and growing.
For those who are self-isolating, we dropped off seeds through letter boxes and compost in front gardens, and other neighbours were encouraged to collect what they needed, keeping a distance as they did so.
Not everyone has outdoor space to grow in, so we also bought some lovely herbs for window boxes and planters from Herbal Haven to fulfil the gardening needs of all the community. Over a few days, all the compost and seeds were whisked away and we’ll be having a tomato and chill plant give-away in a few weeks time too.
The hearty appetite to ‘grow your own’ added another 30 or so households to our already 100 strong growing project and it will be wonderful when we can all meet up again for another Cake Sunday, whenever that might be!……..
Out of my shed 
Love it , really lifts my spirits. I love anything todo with gardening . Iam a seed a holic and plant aholic just love it . 🌻🌻🐝🐞
Thanks Heather!
Do have a look the community project page on my blog https://outofmyshed.co.uk/btg/ It has a fair amount of how to’s and a history of how our project started. Whereabouts are you?
Wonderful & all reposted + shared on!
xxx
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Hi Naomi – thanks for sharing your thoughts/knowledge and info about these great community events. I am interested to know how they are financed? Does the community contribute? Do you receive funding from an outside source?
cheers Joy
Hi Simone, That’s a good question! We are mostly funded Islington, our local council, through a community grant, as they like the fact we not only grow food and green up the streets, but we help build a sense of community within our neighbourhood. After 10 years, there’s definitely a villagey feel to the area. For the compost give-away, lots of people made donations, so in the end, we only spent £70 out of the budget on 120 bags of compost, but the budget gave us the ability to fund the original purchase. We also raise funds when we have our Cake Sunday events and a local estate agent also donates £500 a year to our project as they love what we do for the community. Hope that helps.