Hereford Gardenshare
Welcome to Transition Hereford’s GardenShare
What is it?
The overall aim is to bring underused garden space into production thus increasing local food, providing opportunities for people without large gardens or access to allotments to grow their own food and support people to develop gardening and other relevant skills.
Who is it for?
The GardenShare scheme works by carefully matching people who have unused garden space with would-be growers, who then share an agreed amount of their produce in return.
What are the benefits for the grower?
Whilst gardening and growing your own fruit & veg has never been so popular, many people’s enthusiasm is limited by having insufficient garden space of their own. Private garden spaces offer secure manageable areas for growing, without some of the problems of open allotment sites. It can give gentle healthy exercise (mind your back!), top quality food, mental relaxation and a lot of quiet enjoyment. Other such schemes nationally find other benefits too – like friendships made, tight family food budgets eased by quality food production and potential opening up of life interests.
What are the potential benefits for Garden owners?
Many people find their gardens too much for them as the years pass, and miss having fresh fruit and veg grown in what may have been a very productive garden in previous years – they can see their garden productive again and eat fresh fruit and veg which tastes wonderful. Similarly as for growers, other such schemes nationally find other benefits too – like friendships made, tight family food budgets eased by quality food production and potential opening up of life interests.
This is a quote from Roger, a garden owner in Totnes -
“Dawn (gardenshare grower) has transformed a neglected and scruffy back garden into a place of colour and beauty. She has produced wonderful displays of flowers and delicious vegetables, and I feel she has become a friend as well. I am so grateful for all she has done. This is a splendid scheme.”
Why do we need such a scheme in rural Hereford?
The popular Hereford Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Association report that they have a lengthy waiting list (currently 160) for a local allotment, so it could be a wait of some years. Few people living in town are blessed with large enough gardens to have a useful size veg plot, particularly at a stage in life when there are lots of hungry mouths to feed and plenty of energy. New housing and starter-type homes generally are very limited in garden space, or may need to meet the football and sandpit needs of young families rather than growing fruit and veg.
How does it work in detail?
When someone contacts the scheme (by phone or email) after a chat about how it works a GardenShare co-ordinator will come out to meet garden owners to agree details of how best they would like their land used. This would include access times, security, safety and the share of produce or help in garden as ‘payment in kind’. (A character reference or CRB check may also be requested by the grower or suggested by co-ordinator if the owner seems vulnerable).
Similarly a GardenShare member will also meet potential growers so the scheme and their commitments to a suitable garden owner will be fully explained.
Then a possible local match will be suggested and the GardenShare co-ordinator will arrange and attend a meeting of both parties at the garden plot to help both parties agree details and record what is settled upon as a Gardenshare Agreement.
Individual GardenShare Agreements
These are written, signed records of the management details that have been discussed and agreed between individual garden owners and growers, with the help of a Gardenshare co-ordinator. It is likely to cover details of times and access, dogs and children allowed, structures like polytunnels and water butts, what mulching materials to be used, compost heaps and muck, chemicals, notice arrangements, the % produce share or work offered (specified), water use, outside loo use, storage space, owner’s tools – any permitted use and agreed care of, and disclaimers – both parties to take all reasonable care but are not legally responsible nor the Gardenshare scheme for loss or injury.
No money will change hands and the sharing arrangement can be terminated at any time with either party giving a short notice if the arrangement no longer works for mutual benefit.
This is a private agreement between two individuals, mediated by the GardenShare scheme.
What if there are problems we can’t resolve?
GardenShare members will remain available to both parties for advice and assistance and, in the event of any unforeseen difficulties, will help suggest a solution. The grower will also be supported with practical advice (where necessary) from experienced gardeners, be offered training sessions and help from other scheme members on larger tasks where possible.
Ongoing support
The grower will also be supported with practical advice (where necessary) from experienced gardeners, be offered training sessions and practical help from other scheme members on larger tasks where possible. Surplus produce and veg plants can also be shared.
Will the scheme work?
It works well in many other areas, with schemes varying in detail and organisation. In March the Brighton scheme was featured on Women’s Hour on Radio 4 see below:
Examples of Grow Your Neighbour’s Own pairings
Pauline’s garden in Hangleton:
Above left is how Pauline’s garden looked before Ron, Paul and others turned it into the community garden you can see in the other two pics. There is a lot of growing space on this garden, other gardeners in the area are always welcome to help out if they have not been paired with a garden of their own.
More photos coming when we can get them from the gardeners…
Grow Your Neighbour’s Own is run by the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership and supported by grants from Sussex Community Foundation
Who is organising the GardenShare scheme and why?
This GardenShare scheme is organised on behalf of Transition Hereford, a local grass-roots movement towards increasing local sustainability.
We are keen gardeners who want to see others able to enjoy and benefit likewise. As Transition Hereford supporters we wish to help bring more land into productive use. We also want to promote communities and individuals build up their skills and resources to live more sustainably and co-operatively. And we hate waste!
How to contact for more information or to register your interest
Preferably email us on: gardensharehereford@hotmail.co.uk
If you want us to call you leave us a number and please suggest when you are likely to be available.
Or call our contact person, Charlotte on 01432 343577 who will take a few details and get one of the GardenShare team to call you back. Please be prepared to leave a message if no reply!
