Support

We help support individuals, groups, businesses and charities in sustainable growing methods

➀ supporting charities:


Charitable Growing
This is is our special project which encourages gardeners to raise money for their favourite good cause by growing and selling plants and produce.

Groups wishing to raise funds for a chosen project – which might or might not be garden related – such as a church roof appeal, raising the running costs for a crèche, or maintenance of a wildlife area can get in contact with us for support.

Green Gardeners will help the scheme from start to finish. Our only rule is that all activities must be carried out using sustainable principles. This is another way we promote sustainability through gardening.
shapeimage_2

This is the support we can offer to groups wanting to set up a Charitable Growing project

1. Planning and Organising

  • deciding on a realistic timescale for the project
  • recruiting volunteers: sharing out the roles
  • using the training manual
  • legal issues, such as plant protection rights and the payment of VAT
  • planning how much to grow

2. Growing the Plants
  • choosing what to grow: herbaceous plants, pot plants, cut flowers, trees and shrubs, herbs, vegetable plants; unusual seeds and propagating material 9such as potatoes), soft fruit, tree fruit, salads
  • month by month production calendar
  • resources required. e.g. salvaging post; using members’ greenhouses
  • following the sustainable production principles

3. preparation of the Products
  • increasing the range of products on offer
  • processing foodstuffs – e.g. coleslaw
  • hygiene and other health and safety issues
4. Selling the Plants
  • effective packaging
  • selecting the plants – quality, size and p and d free.
  • pricing policy: using commercial plants as a yardstick
  • planning the sales event
  • organising the sales layout area: having storage areas, supplying a plant crèche
  • effective plant displays – using information on labels; photographs
  • selling techniques
  • handling money, giving receipts
5. Reviewing the scheme
  • publicising the amount of monies raised
  • reviewing the aspects of the scheme that went well and didn’t go well

Some members of our network have been working with community gardens since the early 1970’s. Our approach is to help with the specific sustainability aspects that go beyond normal gardening, such as growing on derelict sites with toxic ground, deterring vandalism and collecting and conserving water where there is no piped supply.droppedImage

We have helped in such things as managing space for multiple purposes, supporting the growing of plants for environmental purposes such as storing carbon, and sowing flowers to brighten up colourless, blighted areas


click for Supporting Businesses