Whatever space you have access to, get growing this spring.

On the face of it growing food at such a small scale, might not seem particularly impactful, at least not from a food security point of view. However, growing food, from windowsill-scale to belonging to a network of local community gardens, can really change outlooks for the better.

Putting your hands in the soil has an immeasurable power to connect you to the seasons, to your food, to yourself, and to your community. Even if all you do is grow a couple of tomato plants on your kitchen windowsill, you can be reminded to slow-down, to think a little more deeply about where your food comes from, to talk to your neighbours about what sorts of things they are growing or like to eat.

So, why not give it a go this year? Within our programme partnership and within our vast network of Sustainable Food Places there are so many ways to get involved.

Nationally

Nationally, there are several well-researched and well-stocked resources that you can get your teeth stuck into:

From the Soil Association, there is the Plant and Share month (1st - 30th April 2024) encouraging individuals, families, and schools to grow even in the smallest of spaces - find out so much more here: Growing | Food for Life Get Togethers (fflgettogethers.org).

From Sustain, there is the Good to Grow week (22nd - 29th April 2024), where perhaps the most invaluable resource is their map of local community growing projects all over the UK: Map | Good to Grow (goodtogrowuk.org).

The Royal Horticultural Society has it's own map of local gardening groups all over the isles: Find a local gardening group / RHS Gardening

The Orchard Project has created a map of community-led orhcards in England and Scotland: Orchards Map - The Orchard Project

Regionally

Whilst the National resources are pretty comprehensive, you might prefer to peruse the local growing projects that you can get involved in within your own region. Moreover, by getting in touch with our members you can also start your own project!

SCOTLAND:

Aberdeen: Food Growing Directory | Granite City Good Food | Aberdeen

Forth Valley (Clacks, Stirling & Falkirk): Sustainable Food Map | Forth Valley Food Futures

Glasgow: Find Local Food Services | Glasgow Community Food Network (glasgowfood.net)

Highland: Highland Good Food Map | Highland Good Food Partnership

WALES:

Blaenau Gwent: Community Growing Projects - BG Food (bgfoodpartnership.co.uk)

ENGLAND

LONDON: London map | Capital Growth

Blackburn with Darwen: Community Gardens - Blackburn with Darwen Food Alliance (bwdfoodalliance.org.uk)

Bradford: Grow Bradford is an initiative to unite people and places around the themes of food growing and developing ourselves within community

Brighton & Hove: Volunteer in community gardens – Brighton and Hove Food Partnership (bhfood.org.uk)