By Tess Wilmot August 2019 is the halfway marker of the Food Plymouth Growing Community Abundance project and gives us time to catch our breath before the Autumn arrives and all the harvesting events get underway. The network of community growers has grown amazingly during the first six months of the project, during which there have been special community growers gatherings and the 12 open community gardens in July. In addition, to date we have attended seven community events across the city with the Food Plymouth stand and the Growing Community Abundance displays and locally grown food and plants. Most people we have met are amazed to discover that there are over 40 community gardens in Plymouth and they love seeing where these are. On the evening of 8th August, six of the community growers came together to plan the next few months with me. It was great to consider the distance we have travelled together as we shared the beneficial connections that are blossoming as a result of the project. In addition, it is the start of a new phase of the project as the growers are stepping up and helping to design and facilitate some of the events and the opportunities coming up in the autumn. The aim is to share the workload and for the growers to work together to gain experience in designing and leading on different aspects of the project. |