Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses took over the Council park greenhouses in 1997 to demonstrate organic food growing methods.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the project was to keep the greenhouses open as a resource to the public and to promote organic food and plant production
Partners
The project works in partnership with St Mungo's (homeless charity) which provides volunteers on site 2 days a week. Local primary schools also visit the site.
Methodology
We are a charity run by volunteers. We have a daily site supervisor and volunteers who welcome the public. There are 22 volunteers including 11 trustees of the charity. The site consists of two large greenhouses, about a third of a walled garden, a small forest garden, lots of veg plots and two sets of beehives. Volunteers enjoy fresh picked salad, bread and cheese in exchange for their efforts. The greenhouses mainly sell seedlings of organic kitchen herbs in spring and summer, with a limited amount of other veg on sale as and when it's ready (on a first come first served basis).
Promotion
The project is promoted via leaflets and to people walking in the park and visiting the greenhouses. There are also open days around 6 times a year.
Resources
We fund ourselves via sales of organic kitchen herbs, apple juice and seasonal vegetables with occasional funding from 'Awards for All' and Heritage Lottery Funds via a Brockwell Park bid in 2008. The facilities are 2 x Hartley Clearspan Greenhouses and land in Brockwell Park. The items of equipment needed are gardening tools. Organic compost and a few seeds are also bought in.
Evaluation
The initiative is evaluated at monthly trustees meetings
Future Developments
The aims for the future are to:
- Agree a 25 yr lease with Lambeth Council.
- Repair the remaining broken windows.
- Increase food production levels.
- Plan a horticulture training programme.
- Build toilets and a new kitchen