“I love everything about it, it makes me happy.” – a year 5 student
Founded in 2020 and funded by EF the following year, Shalbourne Community Growers have gone on to flourish. Shalbourne is a village near Hungerford in Wiltshire, England. The project’s leaders, Wendy Maxwell and Polly Cox, bring a commitment to the best eco-friendly practices and a strong sense of serving the local community. Here they share about these things and why they matter to them:
In late 2020 Polly and I established a farm business tenancy on about an acre of land. Our idea was to start a community garden, growing vegetables, fruit and flowers, run by us with the help of local volunteers. The following year we put up a polytunnel and were also awarded a grant from the Emergence Foundation. This truly set us on our way. We formed a Community Interest Company and got growing.
Dig the no-dig
We grow the veg using the no-dig method, never disturbing the soil or the valuable micro-organisms within it. We grow with our local environment very much in mind, making our own compost and keeping the use of plastics minimal. We use no power tools, everything is done by hand and we use no artificial pesticides, fungicides or fertilisers. We produce weekly seasonal veg boxes for the local area and when we have a surplus of produce we make weekly donations of fresh veg to the local food bank in Hungerford.
Five years and growing strong
The project is going into its fifth growing season and we have a loyal band of around 15 people who turn up weekly in all weathers. They all say that volunteering helps them, whether they are lonely, recently bereaved, carers for loved ones or people who don’t have their own garden and want to learn more about growing food. We share our ideas and people learn about growing in harmony with the environment. The local GP surgery has recently been contacted with the plan of using the garden for social prescribing.
Happy children, healthy minds
We also have a small group of vulnerable children who struggle in a classroom environment. They come weekly from the local primary school and help with tasks on the plot. They also enjoy tasting the produce straight from the plant. Here are some of their comments:
I feel free in the garden. It is hands on and different from being in the classroom. A (yr 4)
It is really fun. I like to make plants grow. It’s lovely to cuddle John the cat. E (yr 4)
We get to learn new things. The wormery is interesting. I feel safe when I’m here. H (yr 5)
I love everything about it, it makes me happy. IR (yr 5)
I like all the work, the wheelbarrowing and pruning. It makes me feel useful. P ( yr 5)
It’s amazing, I love trying all the foods like the little tomatoes and I love John the cat. H (yr 5)
Building a network
Throughout the year we make efforts to host social gatherings to bring people together, both our volunteers and their friends or family are welcome. We have organised harvest suppers, communal lunches, Lammas and solstice celebrations. We encourage people to bring dishes to share made from our own grown produce, or put on a delicious offering for people to come and enjoy. We attend regular monthly markets in the local town of Hungerford where we sell our produce and raise awareness of our project. Doing this helps us reach out to more volunteers and potential customers who might like to buy our veg boxes. We also invite local groups to the site for tours and are happy to host talks to tell people about our journey and what we have achieved. By talking to people we hope to inspire others to do the same in their community, or to seek out an already existing similar project. It is enriching to meet others and learn about the many similar ventures that are up and running now. Building a network of support and sharing our knowledge with others can also be a great help.
Rippling out
As a community we all have the power to make a difference, whether it’s for the people we collaborate with, the environment we cherish or the wildlife we share this planet with. Together even small actions can create a positive ripple of change.
From left to right: The polytunnel in mid-summer; happy volunteers with abundant veg for our weekly boxes; setting up stall at the Mayday Fair
Shalbourne Community Growers are at: 1 Carvers Hill, Shalbourne, Marlborough, Wilts.SN8 3PS
Polly Cox and Wendy Maxwell are on Instagram, look for shalbourne_community_growers, and also on Facebook. They can be contacted through either platform.
