When I was out canvassing in Stroud Green, I’d often walk past a little unloved flowerbed which runs along the front of the Hornsey Vale Community Centre. I am a trustee there, and had many a ‘pang’ about how the space should be made use of for growing things both beautiful and edible. After the election, I told myself, after the election…
It turned out that I wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Members of Transition Crouch End were also planning and plotting, and today we started to make our shared vision a reality.
After weeding and de-littering the area, we stacked up big old tyres as planters (kindly donated by a local garage), and then filled them with compost. Plants such as herbs, geraniums and sunflowers have been put in and we’re setting up a watering rota – essential, of course, in this weather.
I returned home covered in soil and engine oil (from the tyres – the rolling of which was a joy. I definitely recommend rolling tyres).
The plan is to apply for funding for ‘Stage 2’, which will be to build a raised bed and replace the tyres with a more permanent garden.
This summer should be pretty blooming though, and it only took a small group of us a few hours work. The hope is that local people will get involved and it can really have a feeling a shared ownership. That’s the idea with transition towns, after all – building community, sharing skills, and moving away from multi-nationals and an oil-based economy, and towards growing food locally.
I had loads of fun today. Physical labour is to be recommended, I feel, though if I ache like a billy goat tomorrow, I may revise my opinion…
It turned out that I wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Members of Transition Crouch End were also planning and plotting, and today we started to make our shared vision a reality.
After weeding and de-littering the area, we stacked up big old tyres as planters (kindly donated by a local garage), and then filled them with compost. Plants such as herbs, geraniums and sunflowers have been put in and we’re setting up a watering rota – essential, of course, in this weather.
I returned home covered in soil and engine oil (from the tyres – the rolling of which was a joy. I definitely recommend rolling tyres).
The plan is to apply for funding for ‘Stage 2’, which will be to build a raised bed and replace the tyres with a more permanent garden.
This summer should be pretty blooming though, and it only took a small group of us a few hours work. The hope is that local people will get involved and it can really have a feeling a shared ownership. That’s the idea with transition towns, after all – building community, sharing skills, and moving away from multi-nationals and an oil-based economy, and towards growing food locally.
I had loads of fun today. Physical labour is to be recommended, I feel, though if I ache like a billy goat tomorrow, I may revise my opinion…
Got to be careful with those tyres. Then they are used on eathships they have to ensure they are not going to pollute the groundwater, eg leachates with the potential to create toxicity on the natural environment.
ReplyDeleteSorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Worry not, it's dealt with. They're on gravel, with a plastic liner containing compost - peat-free, naturally!
ReplyDeletePhew, I can sleep nights once more. Cheers.
ReplyDelete