The Church of England is
encouraging people to get involved with a new nationwide project aimed
at bringing people together locally to help each other grow fruit and
vegetables in their own gardens.
Grow Zones is being supported by Shrinking the Footprint, the Church
of England’s national environmental campaign, and has been endorsed by
BBC Gardening expert Alys Fowler.
Under the project, local teams will share skills, tools and produce to eliminate food miles.
A resource kit has been developed to help a facilitator and team get organised and growing without any expert knowledge.
“At last, an easy to use guide on how to get a community group up and running," said Fowler.
“At last, an easy to use guide on how to get a community group up and running," said Fowler.
"This is a brilliant resource for anyone who wants to gather some
like-minded people together to get gardening. Now all you have to do is
get out there and garden.”
David Shreeve, the Church of England’s national environment adviser, said: “Churches and faith groups are ideally placed to establish Grow Zones.
David Shreeve, the Church of England’s national environment adviser, said: “Churches and faith groups are ideally placed to establish Grow Zones.
"Many younger families have the enthusiasm whilst older people often
have the gardens which they would welcome some help with and so here's
an excellent way to bring congregations together.
"Grow Zones not only provide practical opportunities, but can produce
a very real sense of community with all ages sharing in a 'real-life
good life'.”
Grow Zones was set up by EarthAbbey, a Christian project which aims
to help people live more in tune with the earth, and is being supported
by the Big Lottery Fund's Local Food scheme.
It has been successfully piloted in Bristol Diocese by local priest the Rev Chris Sunderland.
He said: “The Grow Zones Kit has been developed to help teams get organised and growing without necessarily having any expert knowledge.
He said: “The Grow Zones Kit has been developed to help teams get organised and growing without necessarily having any expert knowledge.
"At the beginning the project was a way to get people growing their
own food but it has proved to be an amazing friendship and community
forming project too.
"It seems easier for people to make friends over shared work.”