Green Shoots sustainable food growing project at Transition Town Forres awarded £23,198 from the People’s Postcode Trust and £9,594 from National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All

A local group teaching how to grow food sustainably has been awarded more than £32,000 to expand its work.

Green Shoots, based at Transition Town Forres (TTF), has accepted £23,198 from the People’s Postcode Trust (PPT) and £9,594 from the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All programme for the second phase of the project.

Coordinator, Barney Thompson, explained the PPT funding will be used for educational outreach work with schools, early years nurseries and other children’s groups.

He said: “This will involve food growing activities; raising awareness around climate change, biodiversity and the importance of growing and composting; developing food gardens, raised beds, compost bins and orchards; as well as hosting children at our garden and centre. We aim to work with 16 schools and other organisations, enabling in-depth experimental learning, cultivating enthusiasm and upskilling staff.”

The lottery funding is being used for running Green Shoots’ Growing After School (GAS) club and developing its garden.

“We will engage more children and families,” said Barney, “as well as produce educational videos for our YouTube channel and run community workshops. These will start this month with a scything workshop, then cover composting, cooking your harvest, seed saving, sauerkraut and pickling, natural seasonal gifts and more”

Green Shoots launched in April 2022. Participants look after the local ecosystem, eat chemical free fruit and veg’, as well as save money.

Barney said: “So far, we’ve worked with Anderson’s, Pilmuir, Dallas, Dyke and Logie Primary Schools and Forres Academy, as well as Pilmuir Nursery. We ran sessions on their sites, focusing on essentials of food growing such as soil health and composting, sowing, planting, plant care and harvesting. We also hosted classes from Pilmuir and Anderson’s at TTF and look forward to more.”

A total of 35 people attended GAS in the first phase, many of whom have become regular attendees.

“It’s an opportunity to make new friends,” added Barney, “and tackle social isolation. We set up and filled 10 new tattie box raised beds, using compost, top soil, leaf mould and cow manure to yield broccoli, kale, onions, garlic, tatties, edible flowers, salads, and more, which families have taken home to enjoy.”

GAS sessions are open to all and run weekly in term-time, every Wednesday 4-5.30pm. Green Shoots are looking to recruit volunteers with horticultural knowledge who like working with children to help out the two workers who deliver the sessions.

For more information email ttfgreenshoots@gmail.com.